.308 bullet selection

[beermj1]

So, I just finished building my rifle. It's a Remington 700 sps varmint on an AICS with a Leupold mk4 4.5-14x50 ffp scope. I loaded up some Hornady amax bullets at 43.0 grains and got 3/4 in groups at 100 yards, and about 1.5 in groups at 200...when I did my part.

Anyway, there are a number of bullets that I want to try. I want to get into long range shooting, but I'm not sure how to figure out the best bullet for my gun.

Along with the 155 gr amax I was looking at the following:
155 grain Lapua Scenar
155.5 Berger
155 gr SMK palma
175 Berger Match
and 175 gr SMK

Should I work up the best loads for each one individually then compare them, or is there an easier/faster way to determine what will shoot best?

thanks

 

[Supersubes]

Re: .308 bullet selection

I prefer the 155 Lapua's so that is normally my first stop. I wouldn't even consider testing all those bullets. Find one that works, buy a bunch of them, and just shoot.

Continue to shoot until doing your part isn't an intermittent thing.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: .308 bullet selection

I prefer the
Bergers
Hornady
Nosler Ballistic Tips
import bullets, then

Sierra

In that order.

 

[sniperdude]

Re: .308 bullet selection

for me 175's shoot pretty consistant (sierra). Now this may sound a little weird but after talking with some guys who shoot a lot of palma matches , they say when working up a load , always clean the barrel of copper when changing bullet brands as the copper mix is a little different from bullet manufacturers , when the 2 coppers mix in the barrel it can cause fliers , it can give you the impression that particular load isnt good. With that info I had went to the range to again try some bergers that didnt group too well when I worked up my load. Clean barrel and the load shot more consistantly.

 

[beermj1]

Re: .308 bullet selection

Thanks, that's a good thing to know!

 

[okiefired]

Re: .308 bullet selection

I would fine tune the Amax's. You're already getting good results with them and thier hard to beat.

okie

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: .308 bullet selection

I have had very good luck with the Lapua Scenars in 155, and they are fairly tollerant to jump length. If your throat isnt too long, the Berger 155 VLDs work well, if you can get them to shoot well at magazine length. I am using the 175 SMKs in my PSS 308 because I have a bunch, its a 1/12 twist as well. I have yet to try the 155s in it, but I have a feeling they will do better than the 175s.

Kirk R

 

[vman]

Re: .308 bullet selection

Lapua 155 Scenars should do you very well.

Im looking at trying out Berger VLD 175gr Hunting projectiles for my next load, in my 700P 1:12" twist.

Scenars are for banging steel, and the VLDs for large game

 

[Bob Roach]

Re: .308 bullet selection

My old PSS 1 in 12 liked 155's better than 168 or 175.

My advise see what 155 bullets are available in quantity. Get some and try them out. For powder see what is available also. In 2010 I would probably start with Varget or RL15 if you can find it. After that is IMR 4895.
I believe the 1992 Palma Load was:
Winchester Case, Federal 210M Primers, 44.8 grains of IMR 4895, 155 Sierra seated to an overall length of 2.80
My guess is this load will work with other bullets as well. Start low and work up to make sure you are safe when doing this.

 

[beermj1]

Re: .308 bullet selection

Thanks guys! I think i'm just gonna stick with the Amax for now. I haven't got the chance to tune the load yet and it seems to be shooting fairly well so far. So we'll see how it does

 

[flyboy]

Re: .308 bullet selection

I don't know about your SPS but 43grains is slow behind 155's in mine. See about pushing them alittle faster.

 

[beermj1]

Re: .308 bullet selection

That was my first attempt at loading, so i started low. I have a box loaded ranging from 43.0 to 47.5 grains of varget. My plan is next weekend to go out and do some shooting at 200 yards and see what groups best.

 

[beermj1]

Re: .308 bullet selection

so, i went to the range today, with a box of 155 gr AMAX bullets loaded with 43.0-47.5 grains of varget in 0.5 increments. With 43.0 grains i saw 3/4" groups at 100 yards and 1.5" groups at 200. I set up my target at 200 yards and shot. i saw groups about the same until i got to 46.5 grains where i a really nice group; 5 shots. i had one flyer about 1 1/2" from the other 4 which were a 3/4" group

PS. i took a picture, but i have no clue how to post them on here

 

[heydavemd]

Re: .308 bullet selection

Find what you can afford and can easily get. No sense finding a bullet that works good, only to find that its hard to track down or so expensive that its hard to justify buying enough to shoot regularly. There is no one magic bullet, just the one that shoots the best out of your weapon. Sorry, this probably didn't help much. But its the truth. Same with powder. Doesn't matter how great it is, if you cant find it, its no good to you.

 

[dpreston]

Re: .308 bullet selection

the 175 vld's shoot great out of remington rifles. 1/2 moa accuracy.... dropped a doe at 300 yards in its tracks