.308 Bullet and powder selection for 18" barrel

[308garand]

I haven't reloaded .308 in a while and am needing to pick up some supplies. I know each gun is different and I'll have to find what works for my gun, I'm just trying to establish a starting point. I had a few questions about the 168gr vs 175/178gr and also about Varget vs IMR 4064.

I have always loaded heavy for caliber bullets -
In a shorter barrel will the speed of the 168s cancel out the bc of the 175s?

90% of my shooting will be under 800yrds
Are the 175s worth it or should I go with 168s?

Lastly I have a little Varget and a little 4064 but will need to get more of one. I've heard good things about both.
Any reason to pick one over the other with the short barrel?

 

[Rogue111]

I use Varget in my 18" 308 bolt action with great success! FWIW, 168gr bullets seem to group a little better in my rifle but obviously your rifle could prefer different.

 

[RobertB]

Varget and 175 SMKs/168AMAX does fine with both my 20''ers

 

[clrems77]

My 20" AI and 18" Remington SPS love Amax 168's and Varget. Hoping to try out some IMR 4064 soon. Please update with whatever route you choose!

 

[CK_32]

Varget R15 IMR 4895/4064 seem to be favorites. I'm using Varget for me 20" 700 with 175SMKs and 168amax's in front of 4895 for my 18" LR308 right now. Which combo is better not sure these are both in testing, my 700 has a 1:12 and my LR308 has a 1:10, barrel lengths are different and I haven't exactly tested each combo nor wasted my time being I'm not near enough of a accomplished shooter to not alter results with my shooting.

But from my reading I would trust either or any of those bullets/powders in either gun.


Here is 42.7 gr of IMR4895 from my 18", as you can tell the powder is well burnt off compared to the second photo which is range factory reloads.

 

[tt66]

I have a Remington 700 Tactical, cut to 18" and rechambered. My favorite load is a 175 SMK over 43gr of Varget. I have only shot to 250 yds with it but it shoots the Hornady 168 BTHP's equally as well. With the 168's, I use 44gr of Varget. When I first started shooting the rifle, I had a good load with 43gr of Reloader 15 and the 175's. It turned out that I found a good supply of Varget and made the switch.

 

[Graham]

Ball C2

 

[308garand]

I know this is going to be a little different depending on the gun but, at what point do the 175s noticeably out preform the 168s. Is it right out of the muzzle or is it pretty close until a certain distance?

 

[CK_32]

I know this is going to be a little different depending on the gun but, at what point do the 175s noticeably out preform the 168s. Is it right out of the muzzle or is it pretty close until a certain distance?

Past about 500 yards you still start to see the difference. The 175 is less vulnerable to the wind and other elements. Also heavier bullets usually carry more momentum and speed in the long run. Light is easier to get going but doesn't hold the speed as long. Heavier takes a bit more but carries the momentum better. Also the 168 doesn't do as well as the 175 around the transonic zone.



John over on youtube also has a good video on the 168 and why its limited at longer ranges.


168gr Sierra Match King (SMK) at 1000 yards .308 Winchester - YouTube

 

[308Gunner]

+1 on Varget and 175 smk I load these exclusively for my 308s

 

[StormHorny]

+ Another vote for Varget. I've tried H4895 as well, but it doesn't come close to the groups I get with Varget and my Rock River 308 w/ 20" barrel.


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[308garand]

CK_32 thanks for the video. I'm a subscriber to his channel but I guess I overlooked that video.

 

[bruddah]

Good video.

 

[stang_j_99]

Does this info in the video apply to all 168gr or just SMK's? I just bought 500 berger 168 vld's to development.......

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

stang_j_99,

No, the rules of thumb above only applies to older bullet designs (168s/175/178s).

The berger hybrid is in a different class. It has a higher BC than the 175SMK, and can be launched faster.

 

[Bob munden]

I was talking to sierra tech line, I have two really universal loads for varget, 42.2 grain of varget for either 168 or 175 smk and couldn't figure out why both shot almost identical, both extremely accurate, right around or under 3/4 of a inch at 200 and sierra response was because the bullet weights are so close and because the 168-75 bearing surface are identical, Phillip one of sierras ballistic techs said a lot of loads for either bullet should transfer from one to the other load with minimal tuning, as long as we're not talking max or over loads, I would try 42.2 of varget and cci 200 should get you on the right track, 42 gr of 4064 has always served me well to with the 168

 

[missed]

I'm shooting the 185 grain sierra game kings and 175 smk out of my 16.5" barrel with 4064 right now I want to try some faster powders to reduce the muzzle flash though.

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[Bob munden]

Try using imr 8208, it's a bit faster and has no flash out of a 20"

 

[Rumlover]

My 18" Kreiger, 1/10", prefers 175s and 150's over the 168 SMKs. Varget and RE 15 are my go-to powders for this rifle.

 

[anarchist]

I know this is going to be a little different depending on the gun but, at what point do the 175s noticeably out preform the 168s. Is it right out of the muzzle or is it pretty close until a certain distance?

Designed to shoot to the 600 yard line. They have a 13 degree boat tail which is strange. Most of the long range bullets have around a 9 degree boat tail - Sierra 155 Palma 9 degree, SMK 175 9.1 degree, SMK 190 8.9 degree, 208 Amax 8.3 degree. According to Litz, this may have something to do with them not behaving well when they go through the transonic zone.

You'd have to shoot them much faster than is possible to get to the point where the increased speed would outweigh the higher BC of the 175.

I've shot them out to 1,000, but they're not predictable at that range and it becomes an exercise in futility.


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