Hunting & Fishing 165 v. 180 SGK?

[HathcockProtege]

Hey ya'll,
I've just started dabbling in reloading. I've perused the topics on .308 Win loads and I'm aware that the topic has been beaten to death and then propped up and beaten some more. But...

I'm wondering if anyone has experience-based opinions on bullet weight selection for long range deer hunting with the SGK's. I guess my question is: Is the heavier 180g SGK bullet a smarter way to go because of the higher BC, or is it going to just poke .30 caliber holes in deer at 500+ yards?

I've heard good things about the 165's, but it would make sense to me that the 180's might be a better bullet for longer ranges...provided they would open up.

I'll be shooting a factory Tikka 595 w/ a 22 (?) 1:11 twist barrel, Millett AngleLock rings and a Mueller APT scope.

I've pretty much decided I'll be sticking with a hunting style bullet for the foreseeable future, but I'm open to using whatever. I suppose I'm just more comfortable with the hunting bullet at this time.

And Yes; shot placement is everything.

Thanks in advance for any assistance,
-The Kid.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

It is most unusual for a any big game bullet, that is also suitable for LR shooting, north of 500yds, to provide meaningful expansion much below 1800 FPS impact velocity.

For example: A 178 gr A-Max started @ 2700 FPS, drops below 1800 FPS @ around 525 yds. That does not mean it will not kill game cleanly further out, with proper shot placement, but only that bullet expansion becomes a sometime thing below that velocity threshold.

Bob

 

[HathcockProtege]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

Good point. I need a chrono.

 

[ccoker]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

Define long range...


I ran the 165 BTSP gamekings for several years, never shot a deer over 300 yards with them, but they were accurate and worked fine..

I am running the 165g Accubonds now, higher BC
I got them to shoot a little better (1/2" at 300 yards)
this weekend I got to test on a deer at 250
complete pass through, seems they weren't quite as explosive as the Gamekings, I am sticking with them and got more coming

My load of 45.3 of Varget gets me 2580 FPS out of my 20" LTR

I had a Tikka last year and 45.5 with the Gameking was one ragged hole, same with my buddies Tikka Varmint

I feel 100 confident at 300 yards, need to verify my 4 and 500 yard zeros, running a Kahles CL 3-10x50 with the multizero reticle where I can dial in 5 zeros.

Using the Hornady calculator and plugging in my FPS and published BC of the 165 ABs I was very close to my projected zeros at 2 and 300.
Hope to get to the range and test at 500 this weekend which would be as far as I would shoot assuming I get good groups on paper and only if I had a super solid rest when hunting.

 

[HathcockProtege]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

For my skill/knowledge level, 500+ is long range. Thanks for the input.

 

[XTR]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

Shooting a 308 I'd stay with the 165 or lighter. If you get up to a 175/180 you're having to load it really hot to get good MV. If you go with a 150 you can get a higher MV and less drop over your average hunting ranges. You should be able to get a zero at 200 or so and hold on target w/o worrying about bullet drop to 300 yds and the BC on boat tails really doesn't start paying dividends till you get out over 500 yds.

I'm shooting sierra 150gr pro hunters and 165gr HP GKs. If I get any kills this yr I'll post up info.

 

[ccoker]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

FWIW:
My LTR didn't like 150s in either the Accubonds or SSTs
tried numerous loads..
I ran the #s and I would have to get the 150s up to 2800+ FPS to get them to shoot any flatter out to 500 than the 165s
Given that the 165s should drift less in the wind and that my gun prefers 165s, AND I couldn't feel any recoil difference whatsoever, I stuck with 165s..

I do plan to try some 750 and 1K yard shooting and will see how 175s shoot in my gun, I have 4 boxes of Fed Gold match to try out but I won't mess with gun until after hunting season is over

 

[HathcockProtege]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

Here's another factor:

I'd like to whack steel and groundhogs (using sighter shots beyond 500) out to around one thousand, so I'm thinking that the heavier SBT GameKing will serve me better than the 150's for doing ALL of the above.

XTR, I would definitely agree if I only planned on shooting no more than 300, but, as I said, this gun will be pulling triple duty as a long-range g-hog and steel killer, and a long-ish range deer killer if needed.

At any rate, for more precise shooting, I prefer to put my cross-hairs on my target rather than shoot hold-over/off. I'll be running a Mueller APT (whenever if gets here) with a nominal 75MOA of internal adjustment. Running the same scope on my .22 LR, I managed to be the cause of 39 groundhog deaths within a 5-mile radius of my house. I'll report back when I see what it will do.

ccocker:

I'd be very curious to hear how you do comparing your 165's to the heavier stuff @ 750-1k! Thanks again. It's been helpful.

 

[XTR]

Re: 165 v. 180 SGK?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HathcockWannebe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's another factor:

...

XTR, I would definitely agree if I only planned on shooting no more than 300, but, as I said, this gun will be pulling triple duty as a long-range g-hog and steel killer, and a long-ish range deer killer if needed.

...</div></div>

I'm working up loads for 150s and 165s for my 308 for similar thoughts, though i do have a second 308 that I'm going to shoot in F class that will be worked up in 175SMKs

I think you'll need to work up loads for several bullets and see what works. I've read that most people's rifles shoot 165 GKs with the same dope as 168 SMKs, might be a good answer there for you, 168s for targets and 165s for game.

The good news is that with a 308 you aren't going to burn up 20% of your barrel working up loads.