What 30 cal bullet choice

Hey all, I am getting everything together to start loading for my Savage 99 in 308

The factory rounds I shot out of it were a 150gr, 168gr, and 178gr

The 150gr appeared to be a bit on the hot side for it as it did not want to eject the spent cases easily. I am guessing that I could load those to a mid range and not have the same issue?

It liked the 168gr, those just seem to be more expensive overall than the 150gr bullets.

Did not care for the 175gr at all.

This will be mainly used for shooting paper at the range, and maybe the occasional hog hunt. What are everyone's thoughts on bullet choice? Should I just spend the extra on the 168gr or would the 150gr with a mid load be good to go?

Thanks

I have a 30-06 that shoots the Barnes 168 gr. TTSX.... It is a great bullet and pretty darn accurate, I took my first, and only 5 pt. Bull Elk 2 years ago with one.

I say shoot what the rifle likes....I used to promote the 155-168 Amax's as a great do all bullet but they are on their way out to be replaced by the eld series and at a premium in cost unfortunately. years back I got a bunch of the 150gr hornady interlock's for free with their get loaded promo. they were nice bullets for the price point. the 150gr interlock is on sale for under .23 a bullet on midway. (the Amax's are .26 and .27 currently as well) the sst's I hear a good as well.

then theres the trusty Remington corelok, sierra's game kings, and so on. the barnes stuff is nice but comes at a premium. if you keep an eye out you can pick up accubond and ballistic tips from shooter pro for a good deal. their cosmetic blemished but I've never found anything wrong with them.

I second what squirrel slayer says. If you are primarily punching paper, shoot what the rifle likes. I don't find hogs to be particularly hard to put down especially if you can pinpoint where your bullet will hit. I shoot 150 gr Speers and generally do head/neck shots to minimize meat loss.

I should have done some more research first. To start, the 150gr, were very accurate and I shot a one inch group at fifty yards off hand. They were just sticky to eject.

That said, I just researched the manufacturer list fps on them and they list at 2825 fps. Checking the manual that was a top end load at about 58,000 psi. In contrast the 168gr was listed at 2670 and manual has that around 49,000 psi.
So I should be able to load a 150gr and keep away from the upper loads and maybe end up with a good shooting round. Obviously this is dependent on the rifle liking that bullet at a slower fps.
Others agree with that assessment?

I am not by any means an expert. However, I find the best accuracy in my rifles are loads that are a little less than maximum. As far as I know, finding a good load is pretty much trial and error. Have fun!!!

What twist?

I would.certainly try varget and.the 168 MK for a paper punching load

If you push it.out.past.600 yrds you really need to step up.to.the.175s.

1/12 twist. Anything I'll be doing won't exceed 200 yards

The do all for my 308 hunting is the Barnes 130 TSX.

With a 1:12 twist try the 150gr. SMK with IMR 4895 loaded around the mid point of the book listing @ 0.020 off the lands. You just may have a pleasant surprise.

Haiku_Rodney, my 10 FCP-SR 24" LOVES the hot loads. 44.7gr(.3 below max) Varget for 175 SMKs and 44.6 (max) for the 185 Berger Juggernauts. Both show sights of ejector marks and the Bergers are actually separating the anvil from the primer cups. First load I've ever had that happen with. No primer flow or cratering though...

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Through extensive load development and testing ive been able to find loads that my Savage Model 10 FP likes. 150,165 and 168 haven't started testing the 175's yet. But for just punching paper the 147-150's may keep the cost down.

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Originally Posted by hardnosestreetcop

Through extensive load development and testing ive been able to find loads that my Savage Model 10 FP likes. 150,165 and 168 haven't started testing the 175's yet. But for just punching paper the 147-150's may keep the cost down.

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Are you having luck with the lightweights in a 10 twist? I can't seem to get them to group.

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Don't overlook Sierra Gameking bullets. The 165 gr Gameking is extremely accurate as well as the 180 gameking. Both will shoot well with Varget, Win brass, 210m primers 42 to 44.5gr is a good window.

If only there was an online store that sold bullets by the bullet. Don't have to buy a box of 50 (Barnes) or 100 (most manufacturers). I only got the 185 Juggernauts and 175 MatchKings because I got a smoking deal on them. Both great for a 10 twist. They especially love the 5R rifling.

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Originally Posted by trentcwwilson

Haiku_Rodney, my 10 FCP-SR 24" LOVES the hot loads. 44.7gr(.3 below max) Varget for 175 SMKs and 44.6 (max) for the 185 Berger Juggernauts. Both show sights of ejector marks and the Bergers are actually separating the anvil from the primer cups. First load I've ever had that happen with. No primer flow or cratering though...

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This is a Savage 99. For the m10 I could not agree more.

I've got a 99 as well. She doesn't see as much use as she once did.

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trentcwwilson I have done no load development and testing with any bullet weight less than 150 grains.

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Originally Posted by hardnosestreetcop

trentcwwilson I have done no load development and testing with any bullet weight less than 150 grains.

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I was speaking on the 150s.

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Originally Posted by Zero333

Don't overlook Sierra Gameking bullets. The 165 gr Gameking is extremely accurate as well as the 180 gameking. Both will shoot well with Varget, Win brass, 210m primers 42 to 44.5gr is a good window.

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+1 this. My Howa HB (1-10 twist) didn't shoot anything under 175gr worth a hoot until I tried the SGKs in the 165 gr BTSP. Shoots those almost as good as the Berger Juggernauts.


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Originally Posted by Boondoggle

+1 this. My Howa HB (1-10 twist) didn't shoot anything under 175gr worth a hoot until I tried the SGKs in the 165 gr BTSP. Shoots those almost as good as the Berger Juggernauts.


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Hard to beat the Juggs.

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Originally Posted by trentcwwilson

Hard to beat the Juggs.

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I didn't think anything was better than 175 SMKs. And I was wrong.


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Originally Posted by Boondoggle

I didn't think anything was better than 175 SMKs. And I was wrong.


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I got a dozen boxes of both in a sellout from a friend. 200 bucks for it all. I finally got the 175s to shoot .6" with 43.0gr of 4064 and I'm sticking to the max load of Varget for the 185s. I'll try 4064, but I don't think groups will shrink.

Wow that's a heck of a deal. I run 46.0gr of VV N550. I get 1/2 MOA out to 300 (longest I've shot groups) and there has to be a pretty good wind at full value to worry about a wind call out to 500.


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I've taken the 175s and 185s to a grand, all in the X. I LOVE the 215 Bergers, but in not enough throat in the 10 FCP-SR.

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Originally Posted by Haiku_Rodney

I am not by any means an expert. However, I find the best accuracy in my rifles are loads that are a little less than maximum. As far as I know, finding a good load is pretty much trial and error. Have fun!!!

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You can make it non trial and error. OCW method is one way.

I am still where I start out at .3 above the minimum load, usually from the specific bullet mgf (Hornady or Sierra) and work up in .3 or .5 grain steps.

Once I find an area it likes, I load loads above and below it to see if I am in the middle of a node or on the edge.

Once I am happy with that I start chain COAL unless I have a recipe already that it likes that bullet for already (usually some idea)

I still play with COAL to see if difference combo makes a difference with COAL.

So far it does not seem to.

You should find a node it likes between low and mid load and again someplace between mid load and maximum.

There may be a third node right up at maximum but I don't usually play there.

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Originally Posted by RC20

You can make it non trial and error. OCW method is one way.

I am still where I start out at .3 above the minimum load, usually from the specific bullet mgf (Hornady or Sierra) and work up in .3 or .5 grain steps.

Once I find an area it likes, I load loads above and below it to see if I am in the middle of a node or on the edge.

Once I am happy with that I start chain COAL unless I have a recipe already that it likes that bullet for already (usually some idea)

I still play with COAL to see if difference combo makes a difference with COAL.

So far it does not seem to.

You should find a node it likes between low and mid load and again someplace between mid load and maximum.

There may be a third node right up at maximum but I don't usually play there.

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In all my rifles, mostly my custom builds, I've yet to find a load in the low-mid range that they like. I tend to load within spec in .5 increments. Find what it likes, load every .1 between the previous and the next. Sure, lot of powder, bullets, and money, but it's yet to fail me.