I currently have a Rem 700 being built chambered in .308 with a barlein 5r 10 twist MTU contour and finished at 23". Im curious what bullets and powder you guys would suggested to start with. I have lots of Varget. No RL15 though. Im thinking 190g SMK's and varget to start. This will be the first .308 I have shot. Thanks.
Best bullet for a .308 10 twist
- Thread starter stinnett1981
- Start date
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
How long is the throat going to be, and how far do you plan to shoot it? Are you loading mag length or single loading?
If you are shooting 600 or less I'd shoot the 175 SMK or the 168SMK for a target bullet. The more expensive and heavier bullets only really pay dividends out past 800 yards. (the 168 SMK is a 600 yd max range bullet, it will tumble between 800 and 1000)
Hornady 178 HPBTs are a great bullet
For hunting if you shoot the the 165 SGK you can load them to shoot the same dope to 400 yds that you use with the 175s/178s.
Unless you are into serious competition at 1000 yds I'd stay away from the Bergers, they cost almost 2x more and don't buy you anything measurable at shorter ranges.
If you are shooting 600 or less I'd shoot the 175 SMK or the 168SMK for a target bullet. The more expensive and heavier bullets only really pay dividends out past 800 yards. (the 168 SMK is a 600 yd max range bullet, it will tumble between 800 and 1000)
Hornady 178 HPBTs are a great bullet
For hunting if you shoot the the 165 SGK you can load them to shoot the same dope to 400 yds that you use with the 175s/178s.
Unless you are into serious competition at 1000 yds I'd stay away from the Bergers, they cost almost 2x more and don't buy you anything measurable at shorter ranges.
The smith has 4 reamers for .308. I told him I want to shoot 168g to 190g bullets and not turn necks. He said he has a reamer with enough free bore to load the 190g SMK's to fit in the factory Rem 700 hinged floor plate mag. He said if I put a Badger Ordnance detachable mag system then it would be tight. I dont know the exact specs of free bore though. I thought about buying a reamer, but after talking to the smith I just decided to trust him. He has built many rifles in .308 and told me the reamer he will be using will work just fine for what im wanting to do.
This rifle will be a all around gun. I plan on target shooting, deer hunting from the ground and coyote hunting. I might go to a local range and try out FTR. I never shot FTR though... I have lots of hunting ground where friends and family go shooting alot. I plan on shooting it from 100 yards all the way out to 1000 yards. The range that I will be going to is 600 yards. I will ONLY be shooting from a harris bipod. Thanks!
This rifle will be a all around gun. I plan on target shooting, deer hunting from the ground and coyote hunting. I might go to a local range and try out FTR. I never shot FTR though... I have lots of hunting ground where friends and family go shooting alot. I plan on shooting it from 100 yards all the way out to 1000 yards. The range that I will be going to is 600 yards. I will ONLY be shooting from a harris bipod. Thanks!
With the 23" barrel lenght I'd go with 168-178 grain bullets. More then likely it would end up being the 178 Hornaday BTHP. I'm shooting those in my FTR 30" with H4895 out to 600 and like what I see, scores are not that bad either, need a little more Cortina to the load. When I was running the first .308 barrel I had (Savage LE), I was shooting 178 Amax's with Varget, good combo at 600 and alright at 1000. BUT nothing special, mostly because I was real green at load development at that time. I'm better at it now and STILL LEARNING, thanks to this Forum. There are plenty of good powders for the .308 and the bullets you want to shoot, but the 2 you mentioned will do the job. I have QL if you'd like to get together and run some #, just shoot me a PM and we'll do it.
Thanks. Im gonna have to post a WTB for bullets because I cant find any online. I can only find the 190g SMK's. I found some 180g SMK but hear they are not great. I keep hearing go with the 175g or 190g SMK? Why is that? Im gonna try a few local shops before I post the WTB.
I sure hope this rifle is a shooter! Its a Rem 700 SA thats being trued, 30 cal Bartlein 5R 10 twist MTU contour being chambered in .308 with a recessed target crown (obviously), HS precision stock (black) with aluminum bedding block thats being skim bedded to action, 40X LE trigger thats being fine tuned to 1.5 pounds, Badger Ordnance heavy recoil lug, Badger Ordnance bolt knob, Badger Ordnance 20 moa rail thats being bedded, Badger Ordnance rings that are being lapped, whole barreled action is being Ceracoated graphite black and topped off with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24-50 30mm tube with a Illuminated FFP mildot reticle. I will be shooting off a Harris bipod. Im supposed to get the rifle back in 6 weeks. When I do I will post lots of pics! This will be my first custom rifle!
PLEASE KEEP POSTING MORE INFO AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT LOADS AS ITS MY FIRST .308 THAT I WILL HAVE SHOT. THANKS!
I sure hope this rifle is a shooter! Its a Rem 700 SA thats being trued, 30 cal Bartlein 5R 10 twist MTU contour being chambered in .308 with a recessed target crown (obviously), HS precision stock (black) with aluminum bedding block thats being skim bedded to action, 40X LE trigger thats being fine tuned to 1.5 pounds, Badger Ordnance heavy recoil lug, Badger Ordnance bolt knob, Badger Ordnance 20 moa rail thats being bedded, Badger Ordnance rings that are being lapped, whole barreled action is being Ceracoated graphite black and topped off with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24-50 30mm tube with a Illuminated FFP mildot reticle. I will be shooting off a Harris bipod. Im supposed to get the rifle back in 6 weeks. When I do I will post lots of pics! This will be my first custom rifle!
PLEASE KEEP POSTING MORE INFO AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT LOADS AS ITS MY FIRST .308 THAT I WILL HAVE SHOT. THANKS!
Bartlein. No its not gain twist.
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