.308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

[Gosu]

Been shooting 178 grain Amax and 168 grain Nosler HPBT. I understand the significance of the 178 Amax at longer distances but is it necessary for sub or 300 yard or less?

What do you guys use for 300 yard or less? The range or area that I was using for 600 no longer exists and the only one available is now 300 yard max.

 

[JGorski]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gosu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Been shooting 178 grain Amax and 168 grain Nosler HPBT. I understand the significance of the 178 Amax at longer distances but is it necessary for sub or 300 yard or less?

What do you guys use for 300 yard or less? The range or area that I was using for 600 no longer exists and the only one available is now 300 yard max.

</div></div>
I love the 155AMAX over 47grs RE15, Win brass, CCIBR2s. Very accurate load. 2.850"oal.

 

[223ai]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

I'd pick one bullet for everything, personally. I'd rather not have to re-zero for different bullet weights. I say stick with the 178's.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

Your subject matter is why I only use the 168 SMK. One bullet to cover everything. I will admit I'm thinking about going to the 175 SMK because I generally shoot 308 Win for long range only and the heavier bullets have obvious advantages.

 

[roggom]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

For 300 or less I would stick with the NOScc in 168. They will do anything that the SMK's will. I have done some weight comparisons between the two and the Nos had less deviation than the SMK, but they NOS did have more deviation in meplat length.

Now I have also found the HNDY Match 168 to be a good contender as well, over 44.8 Varget WLR RP brass. Just that the ogive is a little different from the SMK and NOScc, so you have to work up your seating depth. I seat mine at 2.830 and it shoots sub moa just fine. They are only a few dollars cheaper than the Nos on the retail market, but if you get your C&R license, Grafs gives dealer prices. I can tell you it is waaaaaay less than retail.

 

[bricktop]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

Howabout a flat-base? They tend to be more accurate than boat-tails, and boat-tails really shine the best when bullet velocity is low, which you may not get to at 300 yards. The Berger 150 Match FB comes to mind. Windage difference between that at 2850 fps and a 175gr LRBT at 2650 fps is only 7.4 inches vs 6.2 inches with a 10mph crosswind at 300 yards. Drop is 12.5 inch (150grFB) vs 14.1 inch (175grLRBT).

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

150 - 168gr bullets for 300 or less would be my advise.

I shoot for good but cheap. The lighter bullets are cheaper so I get to shoot more.

 

[Gosu]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

It is interesting that everyone for the most part likes the 168. Honestly, the 168 Noslers are far more accurate in less than 300 for me than the 178 AMax. I have found though the Nosler HP is irregular in cut and is often fragmented. Still, that being said I keep solid .4-.6MOA groups at 300 with it.

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gosu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is interesting that everyone for the most part likes the 168. Honestly, the 168 Noslers are far more accurate in less than 300 for me than the 178 AMax. I have found though the Nosler HP is irregular in cut and is often fragmented. Still, that being said I keep solid .4-.6MOA groups at 300 with it. </div></div>

I too like the 168 Nosler (Custom Comp's and BT's). I recently bought 2 boxes of 1,000, Nosler Custom comps from Powder Valley. $210 and shipped via USPS. Poor Mail Lady came to my door and asked me to come to her van to carry them in

I find the 168's to be the most economical for 300 or less. My rifle prefers the 175's for longer distances. I've built "Cheat Sheets" for both so it's only a matter of flipping the laminated page when I change.

Yes, the Nosler HPBT's are irregular at the tip (meplat). I bought a Montour Meplat Trimmer and just give each bullet a trim. It uses the ogive to index so this also gives me a more uniform OAL when seating them as. The Base to Ogive measurements are pretty uniform for these bullets so the final trim makes all the bullets extremely uniform for bullet length as well. Any reduction in BC is made up for in uniformity of bullet flight.

 

[Gosu]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Deadshot2</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gosu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is interesting that everyone for the most part likes the 168. Honestly, the 168 Noslers are far more accurate in less than 300 for me than the 178 AMax. I have found though the Nosler HP is irregular in cut and is often fragmented. Still, that being said I keep solid .4-.6MOA groups at 300 with it. </div></div>

I too like the 168 Nosler (Custom Comp's and BT's). I recently bought 2 boxes of 1,000, Nosler Custom comps from Powder Valley. $210 and shipped via USPS. Poor Mail Lady came to my door and asked me to come to her van to carry them in

I find the 168's to be the most economical for 300 or less. My rifle prefers the 175's for longer distances. I've built "Cheat Sheets" for both so it's only a matter of flipping the laminated page when I change.

Yes, the Nosler HPBT's are irregular at the tip (meplat). I bought a Montour Meplat Trimmer and just give each bullet a trim. It uses the ogive to index so this also gives me a more uniform OAL when seating them as. The Base to Ogive measurements are pretty uniform for these bullets so the final trim makes all the bullets extremely uniform for bullet length as well. Any reduction in BC is made up for in uniformity of bullet flight. </div></div>

We are on the same page. I plan on buying a Meplat Trimmer just have not made it there yet.

 

[JoshcBoucher]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

I had an old box of 125gr., 308 spitzers. Figured I'd "use them up" in my 5R. Used H4895- 46.6 gr., with a COL of 2.7. Didn't really fuss too much on them, in the "process", and the shots surprised me. Put the first 10 shots in a 1 in. group. Got serious, and put the next 5 in a 5/8 group, at 100 . I'm planning on a load developement for them, when I have time. Might be a fun plinking load.

 

[lal357]

Re: .308 Bullet Choices for 300 Yard Or Less

i was using 168gr. amax's for a few years using it from 100 to 300yards i move to 155 gr. amax's last year and my groups are sweet i use it for our 300 f class matches and shoot in the 190-196 range last mactch was 195-3x and 196-8x i dont bother shooting at 100 anymore not as much fun. hopefully going to shoot this same load out to 1000 yds in june to see what me and the gun can do.
load is 46.0gr varget gm210m primers and either lapua or hornady match brass as always work up your load what works in mine might not in yours