Need advice on 1000 yard bullet for .308

[Matt_G]

I want to try my hand at F-Class.
I have a Ruger KM77VT MKII in .308 Win.
26 inch barrel, 1 in 10 twist.
It's wearing a Leupold Vari-X III 6.5 X 20 scope right now.
No bipod so I will be shooting open class.

I know that 168 gr. Match Kings are notorious for going transonic before reaching 1000 yards and when that happens accuracy goes in the crapper.

So my question is, should I order some Sierra 155 gr. Palma Match Kings (#2155) and have at it, or should I wait for the 175 gr. Match Kings (#2275) to become available?

Everything I have read says both are up to the job and that it's more important to just get out and shoot. For that reason I am leaning towards the Palma bullets because I can get some of those NOW.
However, I thought I would ask here before pulling the trigger.

BTW, I hope to find a good load using CCI BR2 primers and IMR 4064.
I have 16 lbs of that powder and bunches of those primers.

Any feedback appreciated.
Thanks guys.

 

[bwaites]

I want to try my hand at F-Class.
I have a Ruger KM77VT MKII in .308 Win.
26 inch barrel, 1 in 10 twist.
It's wearing a Leupold Vari-X III 6.5 X 20 scope right now.
No bipod so I will be shooting open class.

I know that 168 gr. Match Kings are notorious for going transonic before reaching 1000 yards and when that happens accuracy goes in the crapper.

So my question is, should I order some Sierra 155 gr. Palma Match Kings (#2155) and have at it, or should I wait for the 175 gr. Match Kings (#2275) to become available?

Everything I have read says both are up to the job and that it's more important to just get out and shoot. For that reason I am leaning towards the Palma bullets because I can get some of those NOW.
However, I thought I would ask here before pulling the trigger.

BTW, I hope to find a good load using CCI BR2 primers and IMR 4064.
I have 16 lbs of that powder and bunches of those primers.

Any feedback appreciated.
Thanks guys.

Berger sponsors the National FT/R team and designed a 155 1/2 grain bullet for them. Have you considered them?

Bill

 

[Matt_G]

Actually I had not considered those.
I took a look and I'm liking what I see except for the price.
I'm unemployed right now and need to pinch pennies.
The money saved by going with Sierra's on just a hundred bullets would pay for the gas to the range...

 

[bwaites]

Actually I had not considered those.
I took a look and I'm liking what I see except for the price.
I'm unemployed right now and need to pinch pennies.
The money saved by going with Sierra's on just a hundred bullets would pay for the gas to the range...

AHHH....yes, the compromises one must make to stick with a hobby!

The Sierras are good bullets, and lots of people use them to good effect!

Bill

 

[Matt_G]

I think I'll go ahead and order 500 of the Palma's.
Glad I caught the fact that Sierra has changed their lineup.
I have an old poster on the wall that shows the #2155 as the Palma bullet.
Now the 2155 is a SMK 155 gr. and the Palma has changed to #2156.
Big difference in BC between those two bullets.

#2155 Ballistic Coefficient:
.450 @ 2600 fps and above
.443 between 2600 and 1800 fps
.417 @ 1800 fps and below

#2156 Ballistic Coefficient:
.504 @ 2700 fps and above
.470 between 1800 and 2700 fps
.430 between 1500 and 1800 fps
.380 @ 1500 fps and below

 

[bwaites]

I think I'll go ahead and order 500 of the Palma's.
Glad I caught the fact that Sierra has changed their lineup.
I have an old poster on the wall that shows the #2155 as the Palma bullet.
Now the 2155 is a SMK 155 gr. and the Palma has changed to #2156.
Big difference in BC between those two bullets.

#2155 Ballistic Coefficient:
.450 @ 2600 fps and above
.443 between 2600 and 1800 fps
.417 @ 1800 fps and below

#2156 Ballistic Coefficient:
.504 @ 2700 fps and above
.470 between 1800 and 2700 fps
.430 between 1500 and 1800 fps
.380 @ 1500 fps and below

Yes, there is. I thought you were discussing the new Palma bullet, which were in short supply back in May when I was last around the Palma guys at the Washington State Palma matches. (The F class matches are held concurrently.)

The guys shooting the new bullet liked it.

Bill

 

[BountyHunter]

I think you need to consider the facts that 155 gr palma shooters are normally using 30-32" barrels with a tight bore configuration and 13 twist.

Those are three things working against a 155 in a 26" standard bore 1-10 twist.

Think I would go to the long range target forum and ask the F class guys what they think before I buy 500 bullets that might not work in your gun.

BH

 

[bwaites]

I think you need to consider the facts that 155 gr palma shooters are normally using 30-32" barrels with a tight bore configuration and 13 twist.

Those are three things working against a 155 in a 26" standard bore 1-10 twist.

Think I would go to the long range target forum and ask the F class guys what they think before I buy 500 bullets that might not work in your gun.

BH

That's a good idea. I know the FT/R shooters I've shot with are shooting the Berger.

Bill

 

[bowhunthard88]

I've been getting good results with the Hornady A-MAXes. They make them in a 155gr, 168gr, and 178gr.

A good bullet, they also take the transsonic "jolt" better than the MKs, if you are shooting far enough. I'm using the 178gr. in a 1:11".

 

[milanuk]

Berger 155.5 BT, or any of their heavier bullets, should work great. Might run out of gas with the bullets over 190gr if you don't have a chamber cut to suit - but with the new 210 BTs you might be able to dodge that as well. The Sierra 2156, the S175MK, S190MK, etc. should also work just fine.

All can and have been used to make it to 1k from various length barrels and twist rates. I've personally punted the 'old school' 2155 (and its clone from Nosler) to 2900+ fps from two different 26" factory barrels - one a 1-10", and one a 1-12". .308 Winchester just isn't that persnickety about what works. A 30" 1-12" would be closer to what I'd consider 'ideal', capable of handling anything from 155 to 190gr, and possibly even 210gr. But find a load that works well in your gun, and that you can find components for easily, and go shoot. Working on your wind call will trump nearly any theoretical ballistic 'edge' you might achieve between two different loads.

 

[cinch]

Don't forget about Lapua 155 Scenars. They'll do 1000 all day long.

 

[trebark]

+1...

I think you need to consider the facts that 155 gr palma shooters are normally using 30-32" barrels with a tight bore configuration and 13 twist.

Those are three things working against a 155 in a 26" standard bore 1-10 twist.

Think I would go to the long range target forum and ask the F class guys what they think before I buy 500 bullets that might not work in your gun.

BH

I have a Rem700 varmint with a 26" 1:12 twist factory barrel. It shoots .5moa with the 175SMK at 2628fps.

Given your relatively short barrel, with a fast twist, you will be better served by the heavier bullets. My recommendation would be the 175SMK and find the powder charge of your 4064 that will give you .5moa. Even if it runs a bit slow, the 175SMK can make the transition to subsonic and will/should maintain accuracy at long range.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-308-1k-rifle-updated-field-pics-43510/

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f79/pa-woodchuck-fest-09-hunt-3-a-43746/

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f36/quantico-modified-f-class-w-pics-44039/

 

[Michael Eichele]

Some bullets that work well with the 308 to1K for paper,

Any of the Berger VLD's from 155-210, the 175, 190, 210 SMK's, the 155, 168, 178, 208 AMAX, 155 Scenars.

My personal favoraite 1K paper load is the 190 SMK. Very accuracte and fights the wind well. Also I have found the BC to be better than published. A close second favoraite of mine is the 155 Scenar. The BC is very close to published and is very accurate at 1K.

A very phenominal recipie is 43.9 VV N540 under the 175 SMK with BR2 primers.