.308 Suitable to 1000

[MrBottleneck]

I was really contemplating converting my .308 to something else but, it shoots so darn good out to 700 I kinda hate too. We often shoot steel out to 1000 and my 6br and 6.5cm do just fine.
Been playing around with the 308 (28" bull Shilen) loads and got away from the the 168smk because its just not a good choice for 1000 and instead went with the 175TMK.

I have been doing load development for the Seirra 175TMK it has a much higher bc at .545 versus the .462 of the 168smk.
At 41.9 of Varget its chronoed at 2674 by the time its at 1000 its going 1387fps and 1.218 mach
At 42 its chroned at 2704 and by time its at 1000 its at 1405fps and 1.23
According to my readings of Litz you should stay above 1340fps or 1.2 mach
http://www.accurateshooter.com/ballistics/transonic-effects-on-bullet-stability-bc/
I know I can go higher and will try Sunday but, how do those preliminary testing numbers look so far for reaching 1000?
Thanks for any input.

Also happy upcoming 4th to everyone and most importantly thanks to those that layed down their lives for Independence/Freedom.

 

[retired]

lets put it this way
not my first choice
will it hit a large target at 1000, yes. large steel yes
is it a 'TARGET"( as in small groups) no.
i am at either end of the spectrum for 1000
a 6 dasher and a 300 win mag.
( for the record, the mil considers the 308 a 800 round.sniping)
that means consistent hits, not random hits

 

[#40Fan]

What length of barrel, what bullet/muzzle velocity does the Mil use?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I prefer the regular mk over the tmk in a 308

 

[HomeSlice]

lets put it this way
not my first choice
will it hit a large target at 1000, yes. large steel yes
is it a 'TARGET"( as in small groups) no.
i am at either end of the spectrum for 1000
a 6 dasher and a 300 win mag.
( for the record, the mil considers the 308 a 800 round.sniping)
that means consistent hits, not random hits

How can you say this? I’ve seen some of the F/TR guys hang right with or beat the F-Open guys...

 

[Bart B.]

Given stuff with equal accuracy, a 308 will better a 300 in decent conditions.

A 6.5x284 equally precise will out perform both.

 

[Blowby]

SMK 175's work with Varget and H4895 for me. I am in the same situation as you, gun shoots great and I'm not changing it until the barrel is shot out. It's the AAC version so just a 20" barrel and very happy with results out past 800 yards.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Makes you wonder how the Palma competition teams shoot all those clean targets with the 155gr Palma bullet from Berger or Sierra at 1000 yards...

I would opine that switching to one of those bullets and more practice might be an option.

Or, contact John Whidden and talk to him.

 

[Medic505]

How can you say this? I’ve seen some of the F/TR guys hang right with or beat the F-Open guys...

Because he doesn't know squat.

 

[Erud]

Serious question: do you enjoy the challenge of doing something difficult, or do you prefer an easier path to success? A .308 can do very well at 1000, it just takes a little more effort to make it happen. As mentioned above, FTR shooters top the F-open guns on occasion, and Palma guns with 155’s beat the Any rifles as often as not on the sling side.

A skilled shooter/wind reader quickly makes up for a lot of ballistic advantage.

 

[Rstrick0352]

lets put it this way
not my first choice. will it hit a large target at 1000, the mil considers the 308 a 800 round.sniping)
that means consistent hits, not random hits

Not mine either but the statement that it’s considered an 800m round by the MIL is categorically incorrect. Known distance daytime COF requires hits at 900+- and 1000+-, from the prone for those two shots, on a man sized steel torso target. In the 10 target COF you can only have 1 miss and 1 reengagement. All the other shots/distances are fired from a barricade (standing, kneeling, or sitting) with 100-300 being 2 MOA in size, 4&5 are mini ISPC, 6&7 are an RTE target and 800 is a full IPSC. Oh yah, that 700 shot is standing. That is fired with the M-40 A6, a 19.5” barreled .308(>2700fps MV). All done in full body armor. That 800m gun statement is colloquially used in regards to our 16” gas guns which we regularly and confidently make shots out to 800m with.

 

[watercam]

We Palma shooters can do much better than Man Size targets at 1K with 155s. I am no High Master but I shoot plenty of 1moa Xs out there with iron sights and sling. Granted our target has larger X, 10, and 9 rings but still...Read the wind. There is no substitute. No matter the cartridge, wind plays a role. Embrace it, feel it, shoot often. Not much else to consider.

 

[Rstrick0352]

We Palma shooters can do much better than Man Size targets at 1K with 155s. I am no High Master but I shoot plenty of 1moa Xs out there with iron sights and sling. Granted our target has larger X, 10, and 9 rings but still...Read the wind. There is no substitute. No matter the cartridge, wind plays a role. Embrace it, feel it, shoot often. Not much else to consider.

I’m aware. You’re also doing it with much different equipment and conditions. My post was meant to reinforce to the OP that his .308 is more than capable.

 

[eric32]

you need to have a 10 twist barrel for the newer 175TMK/RDF and others. To take advantage of the BC at distance.

 

[MrBottleneck]

you need to have a 10 twist barrel for the newer 175TMK/RDF and others. To take advantage of the BC at distance.

Mine is a 10t Shilen bull 28".

 

[retired]

i believe they currently run 20/24/26. the current load is a 175 smk at 2650.
do not yell at me they have their standards and that is their answer.
( the original m118 lr ran close to xxxx fps but it was a bolt gun load that ate m14's, so they "compromised" on the current pos load.)

gentlemen, i have always said show me the data. i cannot locate the data to back up my claim, so i have removed it. the 168 mil(m852) load was only 2550 and the bolt gun only m118 lr was much hotter. bent op rods in m14's.

What length of barrel, what bullet/muzzle velocity does the Mil use?

 

[eric32]

Mine is a 10t Shilen bull 28".

Then try out some of the new bullet designs the new 168gr TMK and 168gr ELD have very good performance. I was using a 168gr TMK at 2780 fps and that was a great load.

 

[retired]

it is easy to say if you READ what i said.
the 10 ring is 10" in ftr, in SMALL GROUP SHOOTING 1000 benchrest the 10 ring is aprox 1/3 of that. i clearly said SMALL GROUP shooting..

How can you say this? I’ve seen some of the F/TR guys hang right with or beat the F-Open guys...

 

[retired]

get some berger 175's, some rl15, and do what the mil did.
(the original m118 lr had a smk 175, i like the begers better.)
add rl15(maybe the new rl16) and you should be able to do very well at large targets.
work up a load..in a bolt gun you should be way past 2800 , closer to 2900, maybe more in the 28 " bbl.

I was really contemplating converting my .308 to something else but, it shoots so darn good out to 700 I kinda hate too. We often shoot steel out to 1000 and my 6br and 6.5cm do just fine.
Been playing around with the 308 (28" bull Shilen) loads and got away from the the 168smk because its just not a good choice for 1000 and instead went with the 175TMK.

I have been doing load development for the Seirra 175TMK it has a much higher bc at .545 versus the .462 of the 168smk.
At 41.9 of Varget its chronoed at 2674 by the time its at 1000 its going 1387fps and 1.218 mach
At 42 its chroned at 2704 and by time its at 1000 its at 1405fps and 1.23
According to my readings of Litz you should stay above 1340fps or 1.2 mach
http://www.accurateshooter.com/ballistics/transonic-effects-on-bullet-stability-bc/
I know I can go higher and will try Sunday but, how do those preliminary testing numbers look so far for reaching 1000?
Thanks for any input.

Also happy upcoming 4th to everyone and most importantly thanks to those that layed down their lives for Independence/Freedom.
View attachment 1055157

 

[JFrank]

get some berger 175's, some rl15, and do what the mil did.
(the original m118 lr had a smk 175, i like the begers better.)
add rl15(maybe the new rl16) and you should be able to do very well at large targets.
work up a load..in a bolt gun you should be way past 2800 , closer to 2900, maybe more in the 28 " bbl.

Retired
I'm wondering about the 175 gr running any where close 2900 FPS with RL -15 ?
I can't get close to that in my number 11 T
How many grains would you say are required also what brass is strong enough? I've heard Winchester is good although I've not tried any.
Just wondering
Jim