Long range Varmint bullet for .308

[DaveWhite]

Greetings from my first post after leaving the People's Republic of CA, and relocating to SLC.

I have an interesting ballistics question, the answer to which is probably simpler than I know.

I have a custom .308 Palma rifle being delivered in a week or two that has been throated specifically for the new SMK 155 grain Palma bullet (2156). I am going to either Montana or South Dakota later this summer and thought it would be fun to give a go at joining the 1000 yard club on a prairie dog.

The question then becomes, "what hunting bullet would be appropriate for this chambering?" My usual varmint bullet for the .22-250 is the Nosler Ballistic Tip 55 Grain, and I was hoping to use a similar .30 caliber bullet rather than just punching through the PD's with an SMK.

 

[Klong]

I would use what the rifle was built to shoot! At 1,000 yards accuracy is KING.

 

[CJ6]

+1 You're not going to get the SPLAT factor at that distance so shoot what the rifle likes.

 

[deadlyswift]

+2 At 1000yrds you will not want to give anything up on accuracy so shoot what your rifle is set up for. No splat but a kill is a kill in my book!

 

[LWolken]

I'd give the 168 Hornady Amax a try. I have used the amax in 243ack with very good results and expansion at long ranges 1000+yds. Shooting the SMK in both 6mm and 308 the bullets at 600yds they were almost reloadable. They looked like bannanas. The problem with good shooting non expanding bullets at long ranges is that they don't anchor the animal. Even at 400yds with a 243ack shooting berger 105's I could see center mass hits on PD's but they still would crawl to their hole leaving an unconfirmed kill.

 

[30378]

135gr Bergers are fantastic.