Hey guys I've been thinking about bullet weight lately and want to get some of your opinions on it. Since I've been shooting (1 year lol) LR I've only shot with 175's and up. I have been thinking of trying 168's to see how they will perform for me. In you guys opinion is there a big disadvantage to lighter weight or just the learning curve of come ups and how the wind will effect the bullet. Right now I'm shooting the 185 juggernaut over 45.4gr of PP2000MR in Lapua cases averaging about 2741 fps in a Savage 10t 24" barrel with a 1:10 twist. It shoots well for me but what would I be giving up to go with say a 168 target hybrid bullet.
168 vs 175 vs 180
- Thread starter LRNEWB
- Start date
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
It matters what distance youre gonna shoot
Shooting ftr from 300-800 and eventually 1000.
Beyond 600 168s tend to blow around more. And in a 24 inch barrel the velocity will likely run out of oomph after 800 or 900. I shot 180s and 190s with maximum loads in the Palma match at Perry in the 1980s and the score at 900 was 145/150. At 1000 it was 135/150! It's that sudden.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I get the same- 900 they do ok but 1000 they hit sideways
Clarify on the 168's it is the Sierra/Nosler/Hornady 168's and it is due to the boat tail. The Berger 168 especially the 168 Hybrid shoot VERY nice. Cpt. Freeman shoots them out of his M14 and was LR National Champ with them. However the 185gr Jug is also a great bullet. Those two are what I shoot palma with and its a coin flip as to which is better.
Yeah I was looking at going with the 168 hybrids.
I've shot 168 out to 800 inconsistently. 900 is ugly. I just stepped up to 190's.
Contact Berger they are really good with communication and getting you data you will need. Headed out tomorrow. Will give you field report when I get back.
I've got your same build.
Contact Berger they are really good with communication and getting you data you will need. Headed out tomorrow. Will give you field report when I get back.
I've got your same build.
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
Well....168's have historically been the bullet to use in a .308 for shorter distance shooting (100 - 300) yds. The 175's pick it up from there and are reliable for 400 - 600 yds. Now I haven't gone beyond that, but from what Ive read (and been told by bullet makers), others have written in their experiences that the heavier (185 +) bullets pick it up for the 800 yd region and longer. The in between distances requires testing with your particular rifle to see how she'll perform in the gaps while stepping up to the next heavier bullet.
Alex
Alex
I'm running the 168 Hybrids at 2920fps in my palma rifle, they are mollyd. Load is 46.3gr Varget in LC LR brass. Last palma match I shot with them I did a 450-29X with a 150-10X at both 900 and 1000. The 185s are going 2740fps, ballistically they are nearly identical wind drift wise but the 168's fly flatter.
Alex's statements are a little off as the 168 SMKs shoot fine out to 600 and have been a staple of service rifle shooting for decades. Actually the Marines used them at 1k in their M14s with their famous G4 load, but they also had a supply of receivers for when the heals cracked. 175s do it a little better at 600 and farther. Sierra 190s work a tad better than the 175s at 1k. But with the advent of the Berger designs that whole thinking has changed.
Alex's statements are a little off as the 168 SMKs shoot fine out to 600 and have been a staple of service rifle shooting for decades. Actually the Marines used them at 1k in their M14s with their famous G4 load, but they also had a supply of receivers for when the heals cracked. 175s do it a little better at 600 and farther. Sierra 190s work a tad better than the 175s at 1k. But with the advent of the Berger designs that whole thinking has changed.
Oh sweet thanks.
OK so minimal difference and in fact a bit better performance out past 800 yards. That's good to know as I need all the help I can get ha ha ha.
I haven't tried the SMK's yet. I've only used Nosler, Hornady, and now Bergers. I think I may just stick with the Bergers with the exception of trying some Scenars one day.
No reason to try the Scenars, the Berger .30cal line up is the tops and I wouldn't mess with the .30cal SMKs. Sierra has some good bullets but aside from the 2156, rest of their .30cal line is long in the tooth as far as SMKs.
I use them (SMK's) regularly for .30-'06. They may also have improved LR performance at higher altitudes.
Since I'm moving from NY to AZ soon, I may get more info on that latter proposition. The 165SGK performs identically (to 250yd so far) with a very slight POI shift.
IMHO, their ideal distances (with the .308, and some additional advantage in the '06) should be from 200yd to 700yd.
Personally, if the 175's are doing the job or you, the 168 may be a step in the wrong direction.
Getting the .308 to step up to the plate at 1Kyd is closely related to working in marginal areas. The new 168 mentioned above appears to be a genuine advantage.
My own solution to the .308 at 1000yd is to do away with mine completely and to concentrate on the .260 Rem. Other LR chamberings I pursue are (of course) the .30-'06 and .280 Rem.
Greg
Since I'm moving from NY to AZ soon, I may get more info on that latter proposition. The 165SGK performs identically (to 250yd so far) with a very slight POI shift.
IMHO, their ideal distances (with the .308, and some additional advantage in the '06) should be from 200yd to 700yd.
Personally, if the 175's are doing the job or you, the 168 may be a step in the wrong direction.
Getting the .308 to step up to the plate at 1Kyd is closely related to working in marginal areas. The new 168 mentioned above appears to be a genuine advantage.
My own solution to the .308 at 1000yd is to do away with mine completely and to concentrate on the .260 Rem. Other LR chamberings I pursue are (of course) the .30-'06 and .280 Rem.
Greg
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Yeah you are probably right with Bergers being the top of the line.
Well here is a quick video pushing the Berger 190 VLD out to 1000 yards.
Gonna have to watch trace. Use 1080HD and full screen. You can see red target turning black.
Huge shout out to Berger Bullet Co. for all their communication in the last month to get my .308 out to this distance "Consistently!"
Now just need to work on my accuracy.
Gonna have to watch trace. Use 1080HD and full screen. You can see red target turning black.
Huge shout out to Berger Bullet Co. for all their communication in the last month to get my .308 out to this distance "Consistently!"
Now just need to work on my accuracy.
Thus very tight
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