Just relocated to Houston to start a new job after being layed off in January. I'm living out of a hotel room right now and have no way to reload. I'm considering Hornady 178BTHP, Lapua 155 Scenar and Bryan Litz's factory loads. Anyone had luck using a factory 308 load in an F T/R competiton?
F T/R Competition Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
- Thread starter blue_ridge
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Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
I've used Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics 175 gr Tactical load in numerous competitions, mostly 600 yd midrange, but more recently at my first 1000 yd match. It performed extremely well. Although it may not be specifically optimized for your particular rifle (I believe the load was developed using a LaRue 20" OBR), it shoots well out of several different rifles I have and is far superior to any other factory ammunition you will find. As long as <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> don't do something stupid, the AB 175s have generally provided vertical dispersion of ~0.5 MOA, sometime even less. Most other factory loads I've tried including FGMM and Black Hills were in the neighborhood of 1.0 MOA vertical dispersion. Because of the AB175s' extremely low vertical dispersion, I don't have to worry much about elevation and can focus most of my attention on wind reading during a competition. This is of significant benefit to me because my wind reading skills aren't the greatest.
If you're interested, here are some links that contain results I've had with the AB 175s:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...522#Post2488522
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...192#Post2820192
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...149#Post2667149
I've used Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics 175 gr Tactical load in numerous competitions, mostly 600 yd midrange, but more recently at my first 1000 yd match. It performed extremely well. Although it may not be specifically optimized for your particular rifle (I believe the load was developed using a LaRue 20" OBR), it shoots well out of several different rifles I have and is far superior to any other factory ammunition you will find. As long as <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> don't do something stupid, the AB 175s have generally provided vertical dispersion of ~0.5 MOA, sometime even less. Most other factory loads I've tried including FGMM and Black Hills were in the neighborhood of 1.0 MOA vertical dispersion. Because of the AB175s' extremely low vertical dispersion, I don't have to worry much about elevation and can focus most of my attention on wind reading during a competition. This is of significant benefit to me because my wind reading skills aren't the greatest.
If you're interested, here are some links that contain results I've had with the AB 175s:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...522#Post2488522
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...192#Post2820192
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...149#Post2667149
Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
gstaylorg, thanks for the comprehensive report. Will probably lean towards Applied Ballistics tactical load if I don't hear anything else. Hornady has a 178 BTHP that is significantly cheaper, so I wonder if anyone has experience with it?
gstaylorg, thanks for the comprehensive report. Will probably lean towards Applied Ballistics tactical load if I don't hear anything else. Hornady has a 178 BTHP that is significantly cheaper, so I wonder if anyone has experience with it?
Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
PM McCourt Munitions on here (Andrew). Not only is his ammo very very affordable, the only thing hindering it's bughole accuracy in your rifle is the fine tuning to your particular set-up...which he will also do for you. You not only get superb handloads, you get unmatched CS!
I shot my first and only 1k match with his 175 JLK's and it was obvious, his ammo was ON, I however was not.
I have some of his Berger 185 BTLR I am trying out now.
Goodluck, God bless.
PM McCourt Munitions on here (Andrew). Not only is his ammo very very affordable, the only thing hindering it's bughole accuracy in your rifle is the fine tuning to your particular set-up...which he will also do for you. You not only get superb handloads, you get unmatched CS!
I shot my first and only 1k match with his 175 JLK's and it was obvious, his ammo was ON, I however was not.
I have some of his Berger 185 BTLR I am trying out now.
Goodluck, God bless.
Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
J-Rod, thanks for the input. That sounds real good. I have some data for my handloaded Berger 185's and Lapua 155's that were great in my rifle. So I'll have some reference to start with.
J-Rod, thanks for the input. That sounds real good. I have some data for my handloaded Berger 185's and Lapua 155's that were great in my rifle. So I'll have some reference to start with.
Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gstaylorg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've used Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics 175 gr Tactical load in numerous competitions, mostly 600 yd midrange, but more recently at my first 1000 yd match. It performed extremely well. Although it may not be specifically optimized for your particular rifle (I believe the load was developed using a LaRue 20" OBR), it shoots well out of several different rifles I have and is far superior to any other factory ammunition you will find. As long as <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> don't do something stupid, the AB 175s have generally provided vertical dispersion of ~0.5 MOA, sometime even less. Most other factory loads I've tried including FGMM and Black Hills were in the neighborhood of 1.0 MOA vertical dispersion. Because of the AB175s' extremely low vertical dispersion, I don't have to worry much about elevation and can focus most of my attention on wind reading during a competition. This is of significant benefit to me because my wind reading skills aren't the greatest.
If you're interested, here are some links that contain results I've had with the AB 175s:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...522#Post2488522
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...192#Post2820192
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...149#Post2667149</div></div>
Since you appear to get less vertical dispersion with AB rounds than with GMM you are assuming AB ammunition is better; but, since dispersion is also a product of rifle quality, as well as shooter consistency, such as the shooter's relationship with the gun and the ground, an understanding for ES may be a more useful measurement in making determinations about ammunition quality.
Generally, holding elevation with the aid of consistent velocity effectively makes the target bigger allowing for some error in wind counter without consequence.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gstaylorg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've used Bryan Litz's Applied Ballistics 175 gr Tactical load in numerous competitions, mostly 600 yd midrange, but more recently at my first 1000 yd match. It performed extremely well. Although it may not be specifically optimized for your particular rifle (I believe the load was developed using a LaRue 20" OBR), it shoots well out of several different rifles I have and is far superior to any other factory ammunition you will find. As long as <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> don't do something stupid, the AB 175s have generally provided vertical dispersion of ~0.5 MOA, sometime even less. Most other factory loads I've tried including FGMM and Black Hills were in the neighborhood of 1.0 MOA vertical dispersion. Because of the AB175s' extremely low vertical dispersion, I don't have to worry much about elevation and can focus most of my attention on wind reading during a competition. This is of significant benefit to me because my wind reading skills aren't the greatest.
If you're interested, here are some links that contain results I've had with the AB 175s:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...522#Post2488522
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...192#Post2820192
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...149#Post2667149</div></div>
Since you appear to get less vertical dispersion with AB rounds than with GMM you are assuming AB ammunition is better; but, since dispersion is also a product of rifle quality, as well as shooter consistency, such as the shooter's relationship with the gun and the ground, an understanding for ES may be a more useful measurement in making determinations about ammunition quality.
Generally, holding elevation with the aid of consistent velocity effectively makes the target bigger allowing for some error in wind counter without consequence.
Re: Factory 308 Ammo for F T/R?
I shoot F-class at Bayou for almost every match we have. I've seen several people shooting factory ammo, from Remington green box to Bryan Litz's stuff. Most seem to do fairly well. It's good practice, if nothing else. I have a couple of rifles that shoot Black Hills ammo really well. I wouldn't hesitate a bit to shoot Black Hills or Federal in a match. I wouldn't get too up set if I didn't win, but be happy I was out there shooting.
We have a 1000 yd match this Sunday. Get some ammo and come out and shoot with us.
I shoot F-class at Bayou for almost every match we have. I've seen several people shooting factory ammo, from Remington green box to Bryan Litz's stuff. Most seem to do fairly well. It's good practice, if nothing else. I have a couple of rifles that shoot Black Hills ammo really well. I wouldn't hesitate a bit to shoot Black Hills or Federal in a match. I wouldn't get too up set if I didn't win, but be happy I was out there shooting.
We have a 1000 yd match this Sunday. Get some ammo and come out and shoot with us.
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