FTR Bullet Choice

[savageshooter86]

If you were only able to chose between the 175 SMK and the Hornady 178 AMAX for FTR shooting to 1000 yards, which bullet would you chose?

Barrel is a 12 twist 30" length

 

[gaboon]

175 smk

 

[Sling]

Check out the Berger 185gr Jugg.

 

[savageshooter86]

I know I could shoot Bergers but not wanting to pay over $40 a box. Just needing a good bullet to work with to learn the rifle and the game. I had been shooting Hornady 178 BTHP but they are not being produced right now

 

[roninfl.]

Get a box of each and your rifle will give you the correct answer !!

 

[300 RUM]

185's will not shoot well in a 1:12 twist, I would stick with SMK168 or the 175's

 

[morpheus]

Please do not attempt to shoot 168 SMKs out of a .308 at 1000 yards. Geez, you'd think they would've put a warning on the label by now. This is the first thing I warn people about before they come to our 1,000-yard matches at AEDC.

Also, the Berger 185s shoot quite well out of my 1:13" barrel, despite what "the internet" (and the box label) says. I know plenty of people who shoot well with them in 1:12" barrels, particularly 30" length or more.

 

[300 RUM]

Please do not attempt to shoot 168 SMKs out of a .308 at 1000 yards. Geez, you'd think they would've put a warning on the label by now. This is the first thing I warn people about before they come to our 1,000-yard matches at AEDC.

Also, the Berger 185s shoot quite well out of my 1:13" barrel, despite what "the internet" (and the box label) says. I know plenty of people who shoot well with them in 1:12" barrels, particularly 30" length or more.

Well I shoot 155's at 1K from time to time. I never had much from the 185's in a slow twist, but to each is own, whats wrong with 168's anyway?

 

[morpheus]

In most applications with a .308 Win., the 168SMK goes trans or subsonic before it makes it to 1,000 yards. The bullet was designed for ~300 yards, not 1,000. Without knowing any better, newbies bring their Federal GMM 168 SMK factory loads to our matches and keyhole over and over and over (until we stop them)! It is the shape not the weight of the bullet. The 155 and 175 SMKs typically do just fine at 1,000, since they were designed for that purpose.

 

[Sling]

That`s right. Don`t shoot 168grSMK at 1000yds. They are not designed for it.

 

[savageshooter86]

I know not to use 168 Smk to 1000. Only thing is if I just buy one box they will be out of stock when I find what the rifle likes

Berger states 12 twist up to the 185 lrbt, then need a faster twist after that. G Salazar also notes slow twist worked well even with heavy bullets

Guess try a box each and prey they are available when I find the one it likes

 

[broncman]

My 12 twist savage loved the 185 bergers, 175 smk, 155 sierra palma.
Now I changed barrels and solely shoot the 185. They are very easy to tune and have shot very well for me which gives me more confidence. Then I know it was conditions and not load.

 

[Shynloco]

In most applications with a .308 Win., the 168SMK goes trans or subsonic before it makes it to 1,000 yards. The bullet was designed for ~300 yards, not 1,000. Without knowing any better, newbies bring their Federal GMM 168 SMK factory loads to our matches and keyhole over and over and over (until we stop them)! It is the shape not the weight of the bullet. The 155 and 175 SMKs typically do just fine at 1,000, since they were designed for that purpose.

+2

 

[teele1]

185 LRTBT will shoot in a 12 twist. Now just think of all the money you spend to go to a shoot including fuel, motel, food, and the cost to reload even with less expensive bullets, the extra cost of Berger bullets isn't that much. It took me a long time to realize that.

 

[kperry]

The World Champion US FTR Team shot 185 Bergers thru 12 twist Krieger barrels..

 

[paulT]

The World Champion US FTR Team shot 185 Bergers thru 12 twist Krieger barrels..

which 185g berger bullet /powder was used for loading, also what barrel Length with no. of groves was used, thanks.

 

[XTR]

And Russell Simmons took second in the Worlds by one point shooting 155s. I was squadded with him on the last day. I was shooting 215s and finished about 80 places behind him.

It's not the bullet!


If I were going to have one gun for F-TR it would be set up for the 185s.

With regard to 185s and MV. I think I've found that the accuracy node for them that we can reach with a 308 is in the range of 2775± 25FPS or so. I don't think pushing them much faster gets us anything because your groups start to open up and we can't reach the next node where ever it is. You can get there with just over 44gr of Varget in either Lapua or WW brass (the load will vary) You'll have to test it in your rifle to see what it likes.

 

[paulT]

Hi XTR, Which of the berger 185g bullets would you tend to use for FTR, The juggernauts easy to tune but the hybrids do seem to have an edge at 800-1000y according to BC, also are you using palma brass with the 185g bergers.

 

[broncman]

The juggernaut has proven to be very easy to tune for me and honest 1/2 moa. The hybrids may have an edge bc, but the juggernauts have proven to be more accurate than my wind reading skills. Last weekend at Oak ridge was only my fourth 1000 yard match and I did very well for my abilities. I finally have a load that gives me confidence.

The juggernaut is capable of winning matches....as is the 155 and several others. Sometimes a bullet maker comes up with a timeless bullet...one that works in a very large variety of guns and yardages.

As with some of the SMK offerings that are proven performers time after time.... I beleive the Juggernaut to be a timeless design!

 

[kperry]

The Berger 185 used was the Juggernaut match target - #30418 , which would be the same as the older BTLR Long Range Target . Barrels were 30" 4 groove .