Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

[deadnbrkn84]

So the story kinds goes like this... I was shooting a 168 Nosler Custom Comp at 2.810" and 45.0 Varget. The load shot pretty darn well (usually one ragged hole at 100 yards, and pretty good at 2,300. Even ok out to 600. The problem started when we chronoed the load. It came it at about 2530 fps. Pretty slow. So I decided to bump it up to 45.1, 45.2 to try and get around the 2650 fps range. Then the problems started. The groups noticeably opened up. So I started to chase another load again.

I'm re-thinking bullet grain weight. I want a bullet that's not terribly expensive (read Berger) because I shoot a lot. So I'm thinking of sticking to Nosler or Sierra's (155's, 168's, or 175's). I want something that I can shoot out to 1,000 or maybe even 1,200 yards. I'm thinking of the 175's because I want something that will do a bit better in wind if I need it to. I typically have been using Varget, but I bought a pound of RL-15 to try as well.

Here's my equipment:

700 AAC-SD 20" 1:10 twist
Nosler Brass
CCI BR2 primers
Varget/RL-15 powder (or something else I can buy in bulk)
I run Alpha Type 2's and can load as long as the mag will hold.

Questions:
1. Are 168's good at range (800,1000+) I know it's the age old question....
2. How much better will the 175's be in wind?
3. Are 155's worth looking at? Do they hold up in wind?

Lastly if anyone has any loads with said powder/bullets etc, with a 20" barrel please let me know. Thanks so much, I know this is a bit scattered, it's been on my brain for days now....

 

[redbullitt]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

Honestly I'd not worry too much about the velocity if the load shoots well. If it opened up that much with such a small change in powder then I doubt you are on a good node any ways. I'd take an accurate 2530 fps from a 20 inch barrel, especially for any "normal" kind of shooting. BUT I am usually using a 175 smk...

What kind of problems started up? Just worse grouping?

That said, you could try the 178 AMAX too. It is cheaper than the sierra stuff by a little bit and it works well in my rifles.
I would probably just buy a box of each if I were you and give them a try.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadnbrkn84</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was shooting a 168 Nosler Custom Comp at 2.810" and 45.0 Varget. <snip>The problem started when we chronoed the load. It came it at about 2530 fps. Pretty slow. So I decided to bump it up to 45.1, 45.2 to try and get around the 2650 fps range. Then the problems started. The groups noticeably opened up. So I started to chase another load again. </div></div>

A) Adding 0.1 gr to a 45 gr load is not going to give you 120 fps. Heck you've only added 2.2%, and you should expect no more than 0.8% velocity gain (from that 2.2%) or 20fps.

B) the accruacy went south because you went away from the accuracy node towards a scatter node.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm re-thinking bullet grain weight. <snip> So I'm thinking of sticking to Nosler or Sierra's (155's, 168's, or 175's). I want something that I can shoot out to 1,000 or maybe even 1,200 yards. I'm thinking of the 175's because I want something that will do a bit better in wind if I need it to. I typically have been using Varget, but I bought a pound of RL-15 to try as well.

Here's my equipment:

700 AAC-SD 20" 1:10 twist
Nosler Brass
CCI BR2 primers
Varget/RL-15 powder (or something else I can buy in bulk)
I run Alpha Type 2's and can load as long as the mag will hold.

Questions:
1. Are 168's good at range (800,1000+) I know it's the age old question....
2. How much better will the 175's be in wind?
3. Are 155's worth looking at? Do they hold up in wind?

Lastly if anyone has any loads with said powder/bullets etc, with a 20" barrel please let me know. Thanks so much, I know this is a bit scattered, it's been on my brain for days now.... </div></div>

C) That 20" barrel is costing you maybe 75-100fps in velocity or about 1/2-2/3 of what you need.
D) 168 SMKs are not very good must past 800 yards. The 175 SMKs are very much better.
E) The 155 SMK (2156) can be pushed 150-200 fps faster than the 175 SMK and with similar BCs are good out towards 1200 yards
F) the 175 are a little better in the wind than the 155 (2156)
G) The 155s really need to be pushed hard, and here, a longer barrel is good. The 175s are a little more tollerant of <lack of> MV.

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

if you`re going to shoot LR.... stay with 175-185 gr. bullets.... 155`s will get there but heavier bullets will make you look better.... if your gun is twisted for them.( 1-10 or 1-12 )... 168`s can have problems with unstability at LR.
If you "play" velocity does`nt matter much... assumming it shoots.
If you compete.... the longer it takes the bullet to get to target matters.
The .308 is one of the most tested cartridges....3500 rnds.+++ barrel life...to get the most out of your gun... load up near the max your gun will take.
OMHO..... worth just what you paid for it...
bill larson

 

[Timo Turl]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

178 BTHP

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

Ok well thanks for all the help guys. Looks like 175/178 is the correct pill. Kinda what I was figuring.... Does anyone know good loads for 175SMK's and 178's AMAX/HPBT Match with Varget or RL-15?

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

Also looking at the Hornady's wouldn't the 178 HPBT be much better then the AMAX? they have a much higher BC at a marginal price difference.

Also I would assume that the Nosler 175 custom comp's are pretty much interchangeable with the SMK's as the BC's are at least stated to be the same. If so that's cool because I can often get the 175 custom comp's much cheaper.

 

[wrhunter]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

If all you are doing is punching paper the 178 BTHP might be the way to go. If you want a target bullet that does well on critters too than try the AMAX. Also I found it easier to locate the AMAX over the BTHP. At least locally...

As for loads my AAC-SD seems to like 43ish of Varget so far. I got some ejector marks at 44.8 but primers were fine. My groups spread a bit between 43.3 and 44.5 then came back at 44.8.

I am also trying IMR 8208xbr. 41.5 looks good so far.

Be sure to start low and work up.

 

[lonely_wolf]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

What about the 168 AMAX's? From what I understand they are an improved 168- More stable than the 168 SMK's with similar ballistics to the 175 SMK.

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

I'm not totally concerned about hunting with it but I am starting to do more competitions so that is my main focus.

I'm not familiar with the Hornady bullets at all, is that true with the 168's?

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

accuracy before speed, it is not a race but a hitting contest.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadnbrkn84</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Does anyone know good loads for 175SMK's and 178's AMAX/HPBT Match with Varget or RL-15? </div></div>

I use 44.5g of varget with the 175smk in winchester brass and WLR primer, COAL 2.825", in my 20" remington tactical I get 2550fps. It has good ES and prints nice 1/2 moa groups at 100y and a little under 3/4 moa at 700y.

Another good one is the 168 berger vld, powered by Varget 45.8g in Winchester brass and a COAL of 2.815 gives 2640 out of this same rifle and it shares the BC of the 175 smk. This is my deer load, and shoots well but just a touch larger than the 175 load above but still well under moa at 600y. I didn’t shoot it any further as that was my personal cut off for hunting with this rifle.

 

[caseyru67]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

I'm trying to figure out my loads(175 smk and 43.5 varget) are doing great at 600 but open way up at 800. They are going 2550 +- 50 fps. I am going to try to boost them to 2650 and see what happens. From what I have read here, the farther you shoot, the more the imperfections; in the rifle, barrel, etc affect accuracy. I'm shooting a stock rem. 5r and it does great to 600.

 

[aojones]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

I have had better luck with 175 SMK in wind and at distance then with the 168's, seem to buck the wind a little better at the 1000 yard ranges.

 

[Will Fennell]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

Casey,
Where are you shooting in SC?

 

[caseyru67]

Re: Ok need some real advice... 155's, 168's, or 175's

Pallmeto Gun Club.