.308 155gr options

[Randoman5]

I'm getting ready to start reloading. At this point I've got everything I need but components and I think I've decided I want to run 155 class bullets out of the 26" 1-12 barrel of my SPS Varmint.

I've been messing around with my ballistic calculator and it looks like 155 Lapua Scenars are probably the best ballistic option in .308 for shooting long range in any kind of wind. My purpose is to shoot some matches at Thunder Valley in Ohio and possibly other places.

However, Lapua Scenars are pretty damned expensive and I've been looking at other options in the same class. I know that Sierra makes 155 Palma Match Kings and that Berger has a 155 class aimed in this same direction.

My specific question is what other high BC 155s are available and whether you would recommend them.

 

[Trevor300wsm]

I've had very good luck with the Berger 155 Hybrids. They shoot very well out of my 24" Bartlien 1:11.25 twist. They aren't cheap, but if you are going to run a .308 and want close to 6.5mm ballistics, this is gonna be your best option. I have not shot any of the 155 palmas so I can't speak on those.

 

[Skyranch]

Palma

okweber.com

 

[Sig Marine]

I can only speak of the Lapua Scenars and the Sierra Palmas and personally, I preferred the Scenars. The Sierras had very inconsistent length and base to ogive measurements from lot to lot while the Scenars were much more consistent and shot more accurately in my rifle.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Ya might wanna re-check your ballistic App...

Your best bet for wind drift is a heavy bullet...208AMAX, 210 berger hybrids etc.

You don't need them going that fast...even at 2550ft/s, they will shoot inside the 155s at 3000ft/s.

A good compromise is the 178HPBT or the 185 Berger Juggernauts around 2700 to 2800 ft/s...what the FTR guys rock.

Needless to say, you NEED a long barrel to get the most out of any caliber, despite short barrels being en vogue.

 

[Kamkaze]

I've never ran any of the above but I will admit Ive heard the same that running a 155 scenar around 3100-3200 was the best ballistically but again thats what Ive read not what I know.

 

[Randoman5]

Ya might wanna re-check your ballistic App...

Your best bet for wind drift is a heavy bullet...208AMAX, 210 berger hybrids etc.

You don't need them going that fast...even at 2550ft/s, they will shoot inside the 155s at 3000ft/s.

A good compromise is the 178HPBT or the 185 Berger Juggernauts around 2700 to 2800 ft/s...what the FTR guys rock.

Needless to say, you NEED a long barrel to get the most out of any caliber, despite short barrels being en vogue.

Hmmm......

I'm not sure that's going to work in my 1-12. Besides I don't think 208s or 210s fit in magazine length and the time of flight is way too long in the wind. I'll have to check out the 185s but I think the 155 is still the way to go, particularly if you don't know the exact distance of the target. Also... Not sure how long a barrel one would need to run 3100 fps in a .308. Are you sure you're not thinking of a 30-06... or 300 Win Mag. As far as I can tell 2900 or so is the best you can do with a 155, and that's as close as you can get to the 6.5s without swapping barrels.

 

[Kamkaze]

I will ask my buddy that reloads I may have been mistaken.

 

[Randoman5]

I doubt I could push a 185 faster than 2650. Same wind drift at 1000 as a 155 scenar at 2900 but 1.4 mils more elevation. That's a difference of like 5 moa.

 

[MitchAlsup]

My specific question is what other high BC 155s are available and whether you would recommend them.

Scenars, SMK (2156), Berger 155.5 Full Bore, Berger Hybrids all work well.

If you can find the node near 2925-2950 fps you are good to go.

The argument wrt wind is valid, BTW.

 

[Randoman5]

Scenars, SMK (2156), Berger 155.5 Full Bore, Berger Hybrids all work well.

If you can find the node near 2925-2950 fps you are good to go.

The argument wrt wind is valid, BTW.

I'm a little confused what you mean by your last sentence. Maybe I'll try some of each. The difference between the the Sierra and the Lapua or Berger is only around 10 or 15 bucks for 100 rounds. Maybe I'm being a little too cheap.

 

[Randoman5]

Research suggests the 208 Amax will work in the 1-12 barrel and you can actually get pretty respectable velocity out of the 26 inch barrel. Also, even thought it's slower it has less drop and way less drift. But, it won't fit in the magazine.

Might be something interesting to try out, but I can't see it becoming a go to load unless I do something where I have enough time to single load every round.

 

[dauntedfuture]

There are two different Sierra 155 bullets, the 2155 (OLD) and 2156 (New) the 2155 is more blunt and less efficient. The 2156 picks up a few points on BC. About the fastest you will be able to run a 155 is 300 out of a 32" tight bore barrel, and a select few rifles can make 3000 fps, most are a bit less. The only issue you are going to have is that your factory rifle throat is very long and those 155s are all short bullets with short bearing surfaces. It might be a trick to get the bullets to stay in the case and be close to the lands.

More to your specific question, I have experience with the Lapua Sceners and Berger as well as 2155 and 2156. In my custom .3075 1-12 bore 30" Krieger barrel rifle, the 2155s, and Bergers all shot very well out to 1000. I have some experience with Lapua 155 and I think they will shoot well too, preliminary testing at 200 yds is promising. I was not able to get the 2156s to shoot all that well, or they were not as easy for me to get to shoot as the 2155s.

I know you did not ask about powder choices for 155 but Varget (ADI 2208) and H4895 are some of the most popular, Varget is inconsistent lot to lot.

 

[Randoman5]

There are two different Sierra 155 bullets, the 2155 (OLD) and 2156 (New) the 2155 is more blunt and less efficient. The 2156 picks up a few points on BC. About the fastest you will be able to run a 155 is 300 out of a 32" tight bore barrel, and a select few rifles can make 3000 fps, most are a bit less. The only issue you are going to have is that your factory rifle throat is very long and those 155s are all short bullets with short bearing surfaces. It might be a trick to get the bullets to stay in the case and be close to the lands.

More to your specific question, I have experience with the Lapua Sceners and Berger as well as 2155 and 2156. In my custom .3075 1-12 bore 30" Krieger barrel rifle, the 2155s, and Bergers all shot very well out to 1000. I have some experience with Lapua 155 and I think they will shoot well too, preliminary testing at 200 yds is promising. I was not able to get the 2156s to shoot all that well, or they were not as easy for me to get to shoot as the 2155s.

I know you did not ask about powder choices for 155 but Varget (ADI 2208) and H4895 are some of the most popular, Varget is inconsistent lot to lot.

I've read every thread I can find on the 155 Scenar and supposedly they like like to jump. Which is ideal for someone with a stock 700 chamber.

I've got a pound of Varget to start with. If I'd known about the inconsistency I would have bought a larger amount. How much variation in MV do you see from lot to lot? Is it enough that you'd suggest a new ladder test the next time I buy it?

 

[1911fan]

It's best to buy the 8-lb jug, then chrono the new jug and adjust your load. FWIW I'm running Berger 155s at 2885fps and the shoot well enough for me.


1911fan

 

[JC Steel]

go with the 155 scenars

 

[223ai]

.308 155gr options

2156 (Sierra 155 Palma) is a great bullet, similar in bc to the 155 scenar, and loves to jump a mile. I would rather shoot the 2156 than the scenar, as I found them to be more accurate.

 

[Randoman5]

Have you guys tried them both? And if so what sort of rifle and what kind of loads and speeds did you use?

 

[223ai]

2156 at 2825-2850 via 8208 xbr and a 20" Rock barrel with a 95 Palma chamber.

155 scenar at 2880 via 8208 xbr and a 22" benchmark barrel with a 308 match chamber.

Both shot great, the 2156 took a little more work but I found the bullet liked to jump a long way, and was more accurate.

I now have a 22" Spencer with a "308 special match" chamber and am working on a 168 hybrid load with 4895 or varget for the 308 only match at Rifles Only.

 

[BravestarIRL]

lapua cases
44.3gr benchmark (Cant get any other powder)
SMK 155gr Palma (2156)
.002 neck tension
.040 jump
CCI BR2
2975fps from 30" Savage FTR

 

[dcnyli]

Scenars, SMK (2156), Berger 155.5 Full Bore, Berger Hybrids all work well.

If you can find the node near 2925-2950 fps you are good to go.

The argument wrt wind is valid, BTW.

this

 

[hessian]

Gee guys, I'm astonished that no one uses 155 Hornady Amax. I shoot these at 1200 and am very satisfied with accuracy. 11.25 twist 40x. 27" barrel.Maybe 155 Berger moly'd are better, but it's difficult to ascribe any particular parameter credit.And they are readily available.

 

[scorpion168]

I'm about to try some 155 Amax, in a 1-10 twist 24" savage 10. Is this too fast a twist? Would I use 8208 or H4895?

 

[223ai]

I'm about to try some 155 Amax, in a 1-10 twist 24" savage 10. Is this too fast a twist? Would I use 8208 or H4895?

10 twist is fine, but that bullet is...less than ideal in the BC department. Great deer bullet, terrible long range bullet.

 

[scorpion168]

Thanks 223ai. Good info. How about the 155 Palma? Talking target shooting , 200-300yds.

 

[223ai]

Thanks 223ai. Good info. How about the 155 Palma? Talking target shooting , 200-300yds.

200-300 yards won't matter at all. If I was only shooting 308, and only shooting inside of 500 yards, I would be happy enough with any 155 bullet...or any 168,175,185,208 class match grade bullet. At that distance, you're good to go with just about any match grade bullet.

800+ and I'm taking the 2156 or 155 scenar powered by some 8208 or h4895, and happily.

 

[scorpion168]

Thanks. When I got started loading 2 yrs ago, Varget was the shit to get. H4895 I was told was next best. Couldn't find much of each for a while. Now I have some Varget and can get some H4895. I have a bunch of 4064, would sure trade for H4895! And I started out shooting 168 SMK's. Toying with 178's and 175's.

 

[dauntedfuture]

Reference Varget lot to lot variations; most guys I know don't re-test loads and ammo, they just adjust powder to give them the velocity they were getting that worked well. Its can be somewhere in the +/- 2g range in extreme cases but its usually closer to .5-1g. As my throat wears on some of my other rifles I add more powder to keep velocity up as I seat the bullets out, I don't re test.