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308, 300 yd pure accuracy bullet

Lifesfordeath

Life is but a dream...
Silver $$ Contributor
Hello,

What do you guys recommend for a 300 yd 308 bullet if you're trying to squeeze the most accuracy out of it?

I know it's a, you have to try this bullet and this one and this one to see what your gun likes type of question but where would you start? Something lightweight say, 168gr berger or something heavy say, 200-20x berger?

Is there an inherent difference in pure accuracy (with very very light to no wind) between bullets of the same shape, hybrid for example based on their weight? Would a flat base bullet be better suited for this shorter range?

Barrel is a 1:11 twist 28" with a 170 Freebore and the rifle is setup for FTR shooting prone off a bipod.
 
Every gun has it’s preference. You’ve got a bit of freebore there, 185 Juggernaut or 200.20’s, with those come more recoil, which plays with accuracy. I guess I’d try Berger 155.5’s and see if they like the jump with less recoil, you want accuracy, not necessarily 3x’s the speed of sound.
 
With that long of a freebore, you are limited in one major tuning aid when using higher and shorter boat tail bullets. You simply can’t get it in the lands and have enough bullet in the neck for adequate tension.

ideally, a flat base bullet at around 135 grns similar to what the HBR shooters used before the case capacity rule was dropped would be ideal If pure accuracy was the goal.

Keep in mind, 300 yards is still short range Benchrest territory, so having a good set of flags, if allowed, as important as anything.

I shoot the 155 Sierra in front of a big dose of Reloader 15 in my 308.
 
Given the rifle setup, 185 Juggernauts, 185 Hybrids, or the 200.20X bullet. You will be hard-pressed to find more "accurate" bullets than these. Depending on the typical conditions at your range, the wind can play a substantial role in precision at 300 yd with a .30 cal F-TR-type bullet. Having shot 300 yd F-Class matches for years, I can tell you that higher BC is worth a lot if there's any wind at all where you shoot. Forget the flat-base and light weight bullets (i.e. 155s), you'll just be giving up a significant amount resistance to wind deflection. The difference in recoil between a 155 gr bullet at 3000 fps and a 200 gr bullet at 2650 is not zero, but it's not huge, and can be managed. The difference in pure precision between some of the better commercially-available bullets in the 155 to 200 gr weight range is not really a consideration, either. Most can be loaded with excellent precision if you're willing to take the time to go through a proper load-development regimen. Wind conditions, however, are non-negotiable, and light weight bullets traveling faster typically don't provide even close to the same results as the heavier, higher BC offerings.
 
You never can tell...

A custom BR bullet may be worth a look, even with a 0.170 free bore.

The 300 yard distance is so close compared to what happens after the velocity really starts to drop, that the priority on trajectory at distance and maintaining velocity is de-emphasized so flat base bullets can overlap with the boat tails in this region.
 
Ned Ludd said:
Given the rifle setup, 185 Juggernauts, 185 Hybrids, or the 200.20X bullet. You will be hard-pressed to find more "accurate" bullets than these. Depending on the typical conditions at your range, the wind can play a substantial role in precision at 300 yd with a .30 cal F-TR-type bullet. Having shot 300 yd F-Class matches for years, I can tell you that higher BC is worth a lot if there's any wind at all where you shoot. Forget the flat-base and light weight bullets (i.e. 155s), you'll just be giving up a significant amount resistance to wind deflection. The difference in recoil between a 155 gr bullet at 3000 fps and a 200 gr bullet at 2650 is not zero, but it's not huge, and can be managed. The difference in pure precision between some of the better commercially-available bullets in the 155 to 200 gr weight range is not really a consideration, either. Most can be loaded with excellent precision if you're willing to take the time to go through a proper load-development regimen. Wind conditions, however, are non-negotiable, and light weight bullets traveling faster typically don't provide even close to the same results as the heavier, higher BC offerings.
Click to expand...
Many thanks have tried the 185 hybrids and weren't too thrilled with the results, later tried the 169 SMKs and they appeared to shoot a little better but really need to do more load development.
 
In my hands, the 185 Hybrids generally tune in somewhere between ~.009" and .015" off the lands. With your setup and using Varget as the propellant, I'd expect you'd find a node somewhere in the 2700 to 2730 fps velocity range (Palma brass). If you ever decide to try the 200.20Xs, I'd be looking for something in the 2600 to 2630 fps range (Varget), and a seating depth of something like .006" to .012" off the lands. Both of those bullets can be loaded with excellent precision, but the rifle will always tell you exactly what works the best.

One important caveat to my previous statement regarding the use of high BC bullets at 300 yd would be that although you mentioned the rifle has been used for F-TR competition, you didn't state exactly what the intended use with the "best possible accuracy" bullet would be. If it is for use in something like an F-TR match, I'll stand by the high BC bullet statement. That is because with the relatively long strings of fire used in F-Class matches, wind reading, and therefore bullet BC, are critical. If it is to be for some other discipline where the wind might be a [somewhat] lesser factor, bullet BC may be also less critical, thus opening up a wider range of choices that may all potentially work equally well.
 
Lifesfordeath said:
Hello,

What do you guys recommend for a 300 yd 308 bullet if you're trying to squeeze the most accuracy out of it?

I know it's a, you have to try this bullet and this one and this one to see what your gun likes type of question but where would you start? Something lightweight say, 168gr berger or something heavy say, 200-20x berger?

Is there an inherent difference in pure accuracy (with very very light to no wind) between bullets of the same shape, hybrid for example based on their weight? Would a flat base bullet be better suited for this shorter range?

Barrel is a 1:11 twist 28" with a 170 Freebore and the rifle is setup for FTR shooting prone off a bipod.
Click to expand...
I would start with bullets in the 162-175g area.
 
AlNyhus said:
A BR quality 150 gr. F.B. target bullet is what I'd suggest. The Berger is an excellent choice that's extremely accurate and readily available.

Good shootin' -Al
Click to expand...
Al,
Great info. I am repurposing my FT/R 308 Win rifle for some club matches (100 & 200 yard BR for score). I was going to do some testing with the Berger 150 gr Flat base Target to see how it does initially. Do you have any starting load data for a starting point? I have Varget, RL 15 to get started with. My barrel is a Krieger 1/10" twist heavy palma, 30". Right now my rifle is weighing in around 17.5 pounds, No weight limit for the local club matched.

Thanks,
Tim
 
I would test any of the 155/155.5 range of bullets. The lower recoil is a plus overa days worth of match shooting. If u have a longer throat m wind is a factor, 185 Jugs are hard to beat.
 
Bob3700 said:
I would test any of the 155/155.5 range of bullets. The lower recoil is a plus overa days worth of match shooting. If u have a longer throat m wind is a factor, 185 Jugs are hard to beat.
Click to expand...

I'm with Bob here as reduced recoil will pay dividends at close range.

Lots of guys are suggesting much heavier bullets in this thread and that is probably good advice for longer distances, but at only 300 yards, you really wont see much benefit from the higher BC.

The higher velocity of the 155 will either ballistically out perform at only 300 yards or the difference will be negligible.

That being said, this depends entirely upon your chamber.

If you have a short throat, you will get good performance from the 155, but if you have a long free bore, that may not be the case.

I have a couple barrels that I use for FTR... One is short throat, slower twist (1:12) for 155s. the other is 1:10 twist for 185 Jugs. I never shoot 185s in the 155 barrel and vice versa.

The 155 barrel has a short throat and its undersize as well to help align the short bearing surface of the 155. (I just forget, but the barrel is either a 0.3075 or 0.307 max ID)

At 300 yards, the 155 barrel is the more accurate of the two. At 500 to 600 yards, it depends on the weather. If its fairly calm, the 155 is still hard to beat.

At 800 yards or more, the 185 barrel / bullet combo blows the 155 away. There is no contest.
 
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