.308 Win 155gn bullet choices....and why?

[bgblue1978]

I shoot the sierra TMKs because hlthey were what i found when i wanted to try a 155 and they shoot very well in my rifle. load development wasnt difficult, they shot well at a wide range of depths. Some people say they only run 155s when rules dictate but for me they reliably have less drop and drift than the 175/178 i was using before with slightly less recoil. i have had good success shooting them out to 1k on steel, but havent had the opportunity to shoot groups past 300 yet

 

[Hengehold]

I bought a bunch of the Nostler blemish and over-run bullets for MR shooting (600yds or less). I have not shot them yet but the price was great.

Check out the specials here
http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-products/factory-over-runs.html

-TH

 

[Bart B.]

You'll need a 29" or longer 308 Win barrel to keep 155's supersonic through 1000 yards in moderate to cooler weather. And a 1:13 twist for best accuracy with over the counter match bullets. Berger, Lapua and Sierra ones are equal, but your barrel may do better with one versus the others.

How long is your barrel; what's the twist?

 

[Hengehold]

Bern shooting Fullbore / Palma since ‘05, 155’s are called for under Fullbore rules, Palma too everywhere else but USA. 2155’s were my choice when I started, then 2156’s when they appeared.

That first batch of 2156’s sorted to three distinct base-to-ogive lengths so I started using Berger’s 155.5’s & never looked back. (Have noted BtO varitations of up to 0.020” lot-to-lot with 155.5’s but seating them the same [not mixing batches!] they shoot great where 2156’s didn’t.) They’re usually available, popular overseas, and shoot predictably well out to 1,000 yards.

Scenars might too but they cost more.

Tried 155 TMK when they first appeared too. While admitting I didn’t start from scratch with load- and seating-depth testing, I wasn’t impressed with ‘em shot at 600 yards.

Nosler’s 155 is almost identical to Sierra’s 2155, inexpensive & shot well in my 308WIN-chambered Garand a few years ago.

Never felt a need to try anything from Hornady so no opinion there.

I know you are a strong proponent for Benchmark in a 308. Have you noticed that your barrel life is less than 3,000rds with that faster burning powder?

Thanks

-Trevor

 

[Bart B.]

If you are only shooting 500 yds, the original SMK 155(#2155) will work just fine and probably be the least expensive.

The original 2155 (new in 1991) tested 1/2 MOA at 600, 2/3 MOA at 1000 yards.

I don't think others shoot more accurate. But the newer ones buck the wind a tiny bit better.

 

[spclark]

I know you are a strong proponent for Benchmark in a 308. Have you noticed that your barrel life is less than 3,000rds with that faster burning powder?

Dunno Trevor, I’ve only been using it for two seasons now across three (or is it four?) barrels. Throats don’t seem to move any faster than when I was using Varget (first off, years ago) or IMR 8208XBR.

 

[memilanuk]

You'll need a 29" or longer 308 Win barrel to keep 155's supersonic through 1000 yards in moderate to cooler weather.

Bull.

And a 1:13 twist for best accuracy with over the counter match bullets.

Again, bull.

 

[rijndael]

Bull.

Right, it's BS. I'm doing it with a 20" barrel, at sea level, and even on cold days.

 

[Bart B.]

Dear Bulls,

How fast are your bull`s leaving?

What's the peak measured pressure pushing them out the barrel?

If it is high enough..... and you're using the same conditions and standards as I .......

 

[steve123]

I bought a bunch of the Nostler blemish and over-run bullets for MR shooting (600yds or less). I have not shot them yet but the price was great.

Check out the specials here
http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosler-products/factory-over-runs.html

-TH

Yeah, Sportsmans warehouse had them on sale for $199/1000, I should bought them out.

I just goof around with a 40x and irons out to 675Y which they work great for.

 

[Rtheurer]

If your shooting some of the newer 155gr Bullets offered by almost any of the manufactures, a 1:13 twist barrel is a poor choice. Don't fall for that 1980's thought process.
Very Few if any folks across the world that shoot fullbore are using the 2155 Sierra Match King. Great little bullet but... Just not used hardly at all. I use them at 300, 500 and 600. Switch to the longer bullets after that yard line like most if not all Fullbore shooters.

 

[sharps618]

UPDATE:
little range time yesterday, the 155's proved their point but hard to convict anything at 100yds. Ran some 168's also, both were sub MOA's at 100, and 200.
Now thta I have enough fitted brass, and a break-in procedure out of the way, stepping out to 300 and 500 next week.

 

[100FUEGOS]

155.5 full bore... the way

 

[sharps618]

Some range results from last week; Note that these shots occurred with 20 rounds of finishing break-in, lots of room for tweaking. But happy so far

 

[Travis Roberts]

(First post!)
I run 155 Scenars out of my 20” Bartlein with suppressor at 2930 using 2000-MR. No pressure signs and shoots great. 2.4 MIL less elevation at 1000 than my 175 SMK load.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Just a thought, but you might contact Erik Rhode here. He's on our country's Palma Team. They shoot 308's out to 1000 yards.
My Email with him suggests strongly that the 155gr Berger Hybrid and the Sierra Palma bullet, same weight, shoot about the same out to 1000 yards, with a slight edge going to the Berger.
Testing shows consistent 1/2-moa results out to 600 for my 700 bolt gun.

 

[howabouttheiris]

I shoot the Palma .308 155gn S-2156s out to 1000.

With 47.0gn of IMR4064, I get 3125fps (chrono) out of my 30" Savage. Calculator says hypersonic to 1250 or so.

When not shooting 1k, I have a 2nd strong node at 43.5gn that I use when not going past 600.

 

[nakneker]

John Whidden had an article on here about his experience with Berger 155s or 155.5s, its worth researching and finding the article. Basically he was shooting heavies until a friend of his came out to his house and spent some time on his 1,000 yards range, after a couple of saturdays getting bested by his buddy’s 155s he gave them a try and became a believer. It’s an interesting article with a load of info and more in it. I did a quick search and didn’t find it, I was going to paste it to make it easy.

 

[rijndael]

(First post!)
I run 155 Scenars out of my 20” Bartlein with suppressor at 2930 using 2000-MR. No pressure signs and shoots great. 2.4 MIL less elevation at 1000 than my 175 SMK load.

That's pretty zippy for a 20" barrel. What's the charge weight?

 

[Hengehold]

I shoot the Palma .308 155gn S-2156s out to 1000.

With 47.0gn of IMR4064, I get 3125fps (chrono) out of my 30" Savage. Calculator says hypersonic to 1250 or so.

When not shooting 1k, I have a 2nd strong node at 43.5gn that I use when not going past 600.

That is a pretty stout load. I think the fastest I have pushed #2156 SMK is about 3050-3075 fps with varget. I usually end up in the 2970-3025 range and primer pockets never loosen up. What brass do you use and How many times can you reload before pockets open up?

-T