What to do with my 308? Ranges out to 1500 yards

[Bellatrix]

Here is the deal, I have two rifles, one 22LR and my trusty 308. The latter is ready for a new barrel. I have shot quite a bit out to 1000 yards with it, although not F-class.

Now I want to shoot out to about 1500 yards, maybe a mile. Keep in mind that I do not seek extreme accuracy at these ranges, I do not hunt or compete and would rather hit a large target than miss a smaller one (if that makes sense...). Getting a new rifle is not budget friendly at this moment, but I can be persuaded about this.

I still have lots of brass, dies, bullets for shorter distance work, hunting rounds and so on in 308, I would stay with this caliber if possible. So I guess it boils down to these options, in order:

1) Get a 28" 9 twist barrel throated for 215 Bergers. I have understood that the 215s are harder to shoot than the 185/200, which are more used in FTR. But since I want to shoot 1500 yards, would the added benefit of the higher BC from the 215 make it a better option than at 1000 yards? Experiences really appreciated.

2) Screw the 308 and go 260, 7-08, 284 or even 300WSM? Keep in mind I have a short action.

3) Sell my 308 (or keep it and sell my car ) and buy a more suited LA caliber. Then my 22LR would be my main short range rifle, so I do not have to burn up my barrel at 50-100 yard work. (?)

Inputs from more experienced guys much appreciated!

 

[Tony1320]

You should be able to make hits out to 1500 if your just hitting steel. Look up Mark and Sam on youtube they make hits out further than that with a .308 using a Berger 175 LRBT

 

[284winner]

If your not tied to the 308 for any other reason than the barrel, go with a cartridge that comfortably makes the 1500 yard journey let alone the mile. The 284 will work in a short action but you won't get the full potential or be able to use 175/180s without single feeding. The 260, 7WSM or 6.5 WSM would work well for that purpose. Too bad your stuck with the short action.

 

[JBT47]

.260 AI will do it with 140 Hybrids

 

[Kurz]

I guess that the deciding factor will be budget.

You can keep all your .308 brass and gear if you want to try some of the heavier, more ballistically efficient bullets. Bear in mind that these are not cheap in the first place. I was looking at the Berger 215 gr. Hybrid or the Warner FL 198 gr. solids which I use.

I doubt that you have the mounts or the scope which are designed to take you out to 1,760 yards, conveniently. Normally, this will require a scope with lots of elevation and windage range plus an additional scope base for added range in elevation. Neither of these are cheap.

 

[Tempest]

Agree with above. 1 mile is a stretch for a .308. Even at 1,250 yards, you are going to need lots of travel in your scope elevation. Spend some time on JBM and see how much elevation you need for the round you are planning for the distance.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I hate to spend others money, but if rebarrel eminent, step into a ballistically superior case, your joy will only increase.

 

[DHuffman]

I was drilling a rock @ 1500 with a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 142 smk's @ 2775 Saturday morning. Savage model 12 action in a Choate tactical stock with a 28" Shilen barrel.

I was fire forming Lapua .308 win Palma brass I converted to 6.5 Creedmoor and got bored hitting a piece of steel @ 1130 and it was taking 56 - 57 moa to hit @ 1500. I had 50 on the vortex viper pst with a 20 moa base and I held the last 6-7 on the reticle.

Once fire formed I run them at 2830

 

[Sniper338]

Sell the 308 stuff and get set up with something better in 6.5 or 7mm.

260
260AI
6.5 saum
7saum

What you want is screaming 7saum to me, if it will really function in a SA correctly

 

[R.Morehouse]

If you can scope the barrel and really see how bad it is re-chambering may be an option. I didn't see how long the 308 barrel is or the twist, but you may be able to go with the 300WSM or open the bolt face and go with the 300SAUM.

 

[Bellatrix]

Tons of great advice here, thanks!

I really do not care if I have to single load rounds due to long OAL. I can always develop another load with magazine OAL for shorter ranges and hunting. But beyond 1000 yards, single feeding doesn't bother me at all. So cartridges like the 284 are possible.

I guess my best bet is to rebarrel to 6.5/7 something, instead of a new 308 chambered for 215 Bergers. Playing around with JBM tells me the 215 at 2500 fps does quite good vs 140 Bergers at 2800 fps. At least for wind drift. But I really do like the thought of a 6.5 something.

 

[CJ6]

Look into the 284 (or 1 of it's modified versions (Shehane etc)). Single load it with the 180-190 class bullets. No bolt changes needed as you would with a WSM /SAUM case (added expense). Get as long a bbl as you can for some free FPS (30-32").

 

[Drop Port]

I really do not care if I have to single load rounds due to long OAL.

That would make it easy for me stick that 215 in a WSM case and drive it 300-400+ faster than your 2500fps. Hits will also show up better than the smaller calibers.

 

[284winner]

Tons of great advice here, thanks!

I really do not care if I have to single load rounds due to long OAL. I can always develop another load with magazine OAL for shorter ranges and hunting. But beyond 1000 yards, single feeding doesn't bother me at all. So cartridges like the 284 are possible.

I guess my best bet is to rebarrel to 6.5/7 something, instead of a new 308 chambered for 215 Bergers. Playing around with JBM tells me the 215 at 2500 fps does quite good vs 140 Bergers at 2800 fps. At least for wind drift. But I really do like the thought of a 6.5 something.

I have a SA 284 with a 180 free bore. Seems long for a SA but it would work prefect for the 175/180 being single fed and with a coal of 2.9, you can run 160-168s in a magazine. The 162 Amax/eld bullets love the jump. It's a win/win.

 

[ebb]

Leave it at home.

 

[cmillard]

a mile is not a stretch. keep in mind that craig slack and bruce artus in 1999 were hitting out past 3100 yards with the .308, although in Ackley version, with a 220 sierra, 28" obermeyer 8 twist. those 220s were launched at only 2400 fps. so, those 215 grain needles even out of a .308 win would be better off than the 220s at 2400. I would stick with the .308 since you already have all the stuff for it. if your receiver is a Remington 700, have it trued up prior to putting on a new barrel.

 

[Tempest]

He's going to need a lot of scope and base.

I just got back recently from shooting mile and beyond with a .338 LM. At 1760 yards, I needed 57 MOA with a 300g Berger at 2800FPS. And that was at 3,500ft elevation in the high plains. Not saying it can't be done with a .308. But he's going to need a TON of elevation in the base, scope, reticle.

 

[dsinfour]

The 308 doesn't have the horsepower to go past 1000 yds. and make hits all the time.. When I shot 1 mile the 308 shooters gave up at 1200 yds. and they were pushing big bullets.. The 308 can't push them fast enough. when shooting past 1000 yds. don't bring a knife to a gun fight... You need to push bigger bullets faster than a 308 can do...Good luck and keep them in the center..Going past 1000 yds there are a lot better choices than using a 308...

 

[cmillard]

pump the brakes a bit, the .308 DOES have the "horsepower to go past 1000 yards and make hits." although I have not personally done it, plenty of people have. and those that have shot way out there, they are usually running some sort of adjustable rings/base setup like an ivey. the guys in "precision shooting at 1000 yards" (craig slack and bruce artus) had essentially home made ring/base combination to be able to hit out that far. and if I'm not mistaken, a 220 grain bullet from that .308 was recovered and it was banana peeled. so, I would say that if it has enough velocity to banana peel that bullet, it has enough horsepower for.........

 

[XTR]

I have a rack of 308 barrels, 2 full custom F-TR rigs and a R700 (and a Savage in 223). I shoot F-TR, and I do truly enjoy stretching the 308 out to 900m or 1000 yards, but beyond that you are transiting into the range of futility. Take a look at the drop on a 308, even pushing revved up high BC F-TR bullets, beyond 1000 yards. The range at Bridgeport DE shoots 1040 or something like that and not 1000 yds. 308s need 4moa or more for that last 40 yards over their standard 1000 yard come up.

I shoot the 308 because I like the whole "match racing" or "one design" vibe from F-TR. If I wanted a rifle for any long range use other than the limited competition of F-TR or Palma it would not be a 308. If you want to stretch things out I'd build something else. I'd look at 284Win or a 300WSM.