What .308 bullets can I shoot to 1000 yards with this reamer?

[Dgd6mm]

Maybe we need to backtrack a little here... what exactly does the OP (@MoneyWaster ) want to do with this gun? Plink at steel? Shoot an occasional PRS type match? Shoot FTR?

Running 200s effectively really needs a dedicated chamber, and a little longer barrel, for best performance. That said, it'll still shoot pretty well as is. Same with the 155's... for years 'Palma' shooters swore that there was no way they'd make it to 1k supersonic unless pushed at least to 2950 fps, and that to do that required a 30" barrel, minimum. Both of which have been proven false, numerous times in numerous guns.

All the stuff about annealing, using mandrels, holding your nose just so... are all well and good, but to be honest, largely irrelevant to this discussion. Those things are useful if you're trying to dial in the final accuracy to where you can put more shots in the 1/2 moa X-ring on an F-class target - they aren't what's killing your hit percentage on a *2.5 moa* steel target.

I think what you really need is just practice, in the wind. The .308 Win is plenty capable, with any of the bullets mentioned in this thread - 155, 175, 185, 200, etc. - but you *have* to call the wind better than folks running more forgiving calibers, whether they be 6/6.5 or magnums. And that takes practice - lots of it.

Well said Monte. I often have wanted to try the Berger 168 Hybrid, but I cheap out for plinking steel out of my rifle. When I run out of my 175 SMK stash I'm going to use Hornaday 178 Match BTHP.

 

[Tempest]

With his 26 inch barrel I dont think the 200s are really going to get up enough speed to out shine a 155 going a heck of a lot faster. If you do load up for 200s to get going fast enough the brass is really only good for one maybe 2 shots and the primers will be too loose.

Not if you shoot Lapua Palma brass w/small primer. Currently around 20 reloads on mine. There is a reason 90% of FTR shooters shoot a 200g bullet.

 

[David101]

Not if you shoot Lapua Palma brass w/small primer. Currently around 20 reloads on mine. There is a reason 90% of FTR shooters shoot a 200g bullet.

Well I do shoot FTR with Lapua Palma brass and I have also done the maths and the tests and know exactly what velocities the different weight projectiles need to run at to give a improvement in wind bucking ability. I have also with a fellow competitor or two taken things to the limits pressure wise I know how much head room if any there is. Our experience has been if we are pushing them to where they need to be the brass will last no where near 20 3 or 4 would be lucky more like 2,3.

 

[MoneyWaster]

With his 26 inch barrel I dont think the 200s are really going to get up enough speed to out shine a 155 going a heck of a lot faster. If you do load up for 200s to get going fast enough the brass is really only good for one maybe 2 shots and the primers will be too loose.

I'm definitely interested in brass life.

 

[MoneyWaster]

I shoot Palma so maybe I am biased but I feel like the 155 grain category is highly overlooked for the 308 sized cartridge. I dont have any experience with anything over the 190s in a 308. and to be honest I always found the 155 smk (2156) to shoot better at 1000 then the 185 and up.

It may be worth trying to go to a faster lighter bullet.

Just my 2 cents

Nick

I was wondering if anyone would mention the 155s. How fast can you push them in a 26" barrel? If someone can give me a velocity number I can run the ballistics.

Thanks guys for all the responses. You've given me lots to consider. Much appreciated!

 

[MoneyWaster]

Maybe we need to backtrack a little here... what exactly does the OP (@MoneyWaster ) want to do with this gun? Plink at steel? Shoot an occasional PRS type match? Shoot FTR?

Running 200s effectively really needs a dedicated chamber, and a little longer barrel, for best performance. That said, it'll still shoot pretty well as is. Same with the 155's... for years 'Palma' shooters swore that there was no way they'd make it to 1k supersonic unless pushed at least to 2950 fps, and that to do that required a 30" barrel, minimum. Both of which have been proven false, numerous times in numerous guns.

All the stuff about annealing, using mandrels, holding your nose just so... are all well and good, but to be honest, largely irrelevant to this discussion. Those things are useful if you're trying to dial in the final accuracy to where you can put more shots in the 1/2 moa X-ring on an F-class target - they aren't what's killing your hit percentage on a *2.5 moa* steel target.

I think what you really need is just practice, in the wind. The .308 Win is plenty capable, with any of the bullets mentioned in this thread - 155, 175, 185, 200, etc. - but you *have* to call the wind better than folks running more forgiving calibers, whether they be 6/6.5 or magnums. And that takes practice - lots of it.

milanuk,

You've probably hit the nail on the head here. I need to shoot in the wind more and learn how my current load behaves under various conditions. I was simply looking for a little better performance than what I'm currently getting. Having said that, a bullet change likely won't be the thing that makes me better. I simply need to shoot more.

 

[David101]

There is more to it than just the pure velocity. Reaching say 3000 fps in a 30 inch barrel requires quite a bit less powder than in a 26 inch or shorter barrel. The burn time of the powder can be just that slightly longer. For several reasons the recoil with a 30 inch barrel is less, first because it is just heavier. The turbulence of burning less powder helps. So while a shorter barrel can still reach the velocity it is easier for the shooter to have a better technique, better follow through, tracking of the gun recoil management all those things that go towards being more accurate.

But getting them to go the same speed will certainly at least give you the same wind bucking advantage. No one like starting behind the starting line.

Faster and more powder doesn't always just work either. You get to a point when the fps/grn of powder changes. As in you get less fps per 0.1 grn of powder. I could stuff more powder in and get 155s to go faster as I am actually well below even book max but at 3020 fps they give the best groups. Perhaps when pushed faster the pitching and yawing of the bullet in acceleration is just to much and upsets the accuracy.

 

[memilanuk]

I was wondering if anyone would mention the 155s. How fast can you push them in a 26" barrel? If someone can give me a velocity number I can run the ballistics.

2900-2950 should be doable with a warm-ish load. I've ran em @ 2830 form a 20", 2940 from a 24",and 2950-3050 ftom a whole bunch of 30" tubes. The fps gain per inch of barrel goes down markedly past 26" or thereabouts, so you need to balance what all you want the gun to actually do.