190gr SMKs in 308 win.

[mikeg1005]

I might join a 1000yd range at which point I'm going to upgrade from reloading 168gr SMKs to something heavier(work good at our 600yd range)

Reason I am thinking 190gr is because our local gun shop has boxes and boxes of them and they aren't moving.

I have heard of people using 208 a-max with great results... but they are always out of stock so I figured I'd try 190gr'ers.

I'm currently shooting a savage 10FP 1:10 twist with 24" of barrel (lands length)

I can get a 168gr moving 2825 fps without any pressure signs(could probably move them faster)

I'm shooting for 2500-2600fps with the 190gr (or faster)

I currently am using IMR-4064 but have found people recommending using a slower powder like RL 17 or 19 if I'm going above 175gr in weight.

Has anyone developed a load that works? I'm mainly looking for which powder(s) since I'm going to need something slower than IMR-4064. The load itself I'll tune to my gun.
Thanks,

MIke.

 

[81sfo]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

Think about why your shop has boxes and boxes of them.so does our shops here in Houston ,always find 190 smks in stock.I think they are not that great of a bullet compared to other 30 cal bullets. Try them see if you get good results. At the local 1k matches here there only one guy using 190 jlks,pushing them at 2750 out of his 26" barrel.the rest of us in the f/tr class use 155 grain lapuas or new smks palmas for 1k.

 

[mikeg1005]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

Thanks for the insight.

I figured it was because he was running a one man shop out of a very small store front and in the suburbs of Chicago very few people have the ability to shoot past 200yds... comapared to cabelas which is only 15 mins away.

I have heard a lot of good stuff about the 155gr but that in windy conditions they aren't nearly as forgiving as the 190s.

Hes got a lot of 180s but from what I have found is they aren't much better than 168s.

MIke.

 

[Mike]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

I'm going to try the 190s in my TRG. However, if I can't get at least 2700 I'm not going to use them. I'll be using RL-17

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

I have had good uck with 190gr Bergers and 44gr RL17 I got just over 2700fps.

 

[onlyfineknives]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

I run the 185 Berger BT target bullet (not the vld) out of my 308's. You give up a little elevation to the 155, but the 185 handles the wind much better.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm going to try the 190s in my TRG. However, if I can't get at least 2700 I'm not going to use them. I'll be using RL-17 </div></div>

Mike, You should be able to make 2700 without a problem.

I made 2700+ with RL17 under 200gr Sierra Gameking in a 20.5" Rem 1/12 bbl.

This is what worked in my rifle,

200gr Sierra Game King BTSP
Win brass
CCI 200
2.81" OAL
20.5” bbl
RL-17
50.0 gr – 2620 fps
51.0 gr - 2670 fps
51.5 gr – 2700 fps
52.0 gr – 2730 fps

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

With varget and a 21" rock barrel I was able to get 2570 with berger 190's.

180smk's are just a tiny bit better than 175 smks provided you can keep the velocity near the same for the two.

190smk... never tried them.

 

[shadow4]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

I've shot thousands of rounds of several different bullet weights in the 308 cartridge, and the best performer at long range for me was the 190SMK's. You might have a different experience. I think the reason you see a bunch of them in stock everywhere you go is b/c most people never even experiment with them b/c most people are looking for max velocity, and the flattest trajectory when it comes to the .308. Most people think that this bullet is only for the 30cal magnums. In reality its the magnums have a better selection of heavier bullets, but this is a great bullet wieght/bullet for the .308 (in my opinion).

I personally would have never even tried them but a shooting buddy whom I respect told me to try them. Once I did try them though, its all I ever shot from then on. If I still had a rifle chambered in 308win, that is all I would ever load.

Btw, I was only pushing them 2550fps. This bullet had less vertical than any other bullet I've ever shot. I've shot many 5 round shot groups with this bullet at 1000 that had 3" or less of vertical (now the horizontal b/c of the wind was a different story). I've also shot my best group at 1000 with these bullets as well.

 

[Suasponte]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

I have found it hard to reach 2600fps with the 190's. The recommended accuarcy load is 40.5gr of IMR4064 in the Sierra manual. With that load and Hornady match brass I could only get to about 2400fps out of my Savage 10FP. However, they shoot like a dream. 10shots groups at 100 meters average .5moa and less.

Terry

 

[Michael]

Re: 190gr SMKs in 308 win.

Hey Kieth, good to know you're still among us!

42.3 grains RL15 or 43.2 grains varget in a 26 inch pacnor with a huge chamber dimension and very long throat ( lots of freebore) will get 2635 with a 7SD at 75 degrees f and 1100 asl.
The book numbers are not representative of the actual trajectory or windage deflection of this bullet in 308.
On paper and at distance it's superior to a faster 175smk.