Is 180 grain Bullets in 308 Winchester “Too much of a good thing”?!

[bluejay75]

Greetings Gents,

Almost every box of bullets I pick up near 180 grains call for 1:12 twist. I only have one barrel in that twist but the 178s shoot best in all 4 of my 308s.

At the moment I have 2x20 inches an 18.5 and a 16 inch. Also have a Handi rifle in going to cut to 18.5.

I'm running 43.6 grains of Varget or 44.5 Winchester 748 for 2570-2600 out of the 20 inch guns. I have VV N540, 4064 and Tac to test as well.

Question. How are you running your 180s in 308 and what are my potential impacts of a heavier Bullet at lower starting velocity in this set of short guns.

Share some of your loads and experience on game at these weights if you feel so inclined.

Bluejay

 

[257Tony]

Here are 2 recovered Barnes 180 TTSX out of a .308 win, fired into a Bull Elk at 330 yards. Excellent expansion, stopped just under the hide on the far side. Elk went about 30 yards and tipped over.

 

[bluejay75]

What was the load? Would you estimate impact velocity above or below 2000 FPS?

 

[Steves1911]

The 180gr hornady sst or 180gr nosler ballistic tips are my "woods load" from my 20" 308 ar10. I'm using 44gr reloader 15 and getting 2580 fps. Devastating on whitetail in the thick woods of WV. Never shot them past 300yds on paper or past 200yds on game as I like the 168gr vld or eldm for longer ranges from the 308.

 

[snox801]

I lean the opposite way those heavies run out of min speed to open fast. So I look around 150-160 class if it were me. Now keep in mind the 180 may not stabilize in your 1/12 if it's a mono like Barnes.
Basically if you start out slow with a big 180-190gr it hit the min FPS to open close to the same distance probably sooner than a 150 fast.
Just food for thought if for targets than heavy high bc. For game lighter faster

 

[rammac]

I lean the opposite way those heavies run out of min speed to open fast. So I look around 150-160 class if it were me. Now keep in mind the 180 may not stabilize in your 1/12 if it's a mono like Barnes.
Basically if you start out slow with a big 180-190gr it hit the min FPS to open close to the same distance probably sooner than a 150 fast.
Just food for thought if for targets than heavy high bc. For game lighter faster

 

[cohunt]

1600fps at 600 yards with a 178 eldx from a 16" 308
But 1800fps from a 150 gmx at 400 yards

1600fps at 550 yards from a 150sst

Know your expansion threshold

More drop from a heavy, but less wind drift

 

[jpd676]

Not exactly what you are looking for but I'm shooting Hornady 208 Amax's in a 20" 1/12 308; albeit at 7000' asl, or above. I'm using Re-17 and gettin 2400 fps at the muzzle. I've killed elk, antelope and deer with it; in fact, never lost anything. To each his own, but I swear by the heavy bullets in a 308.

 

[Capt RB]

WIth your 20" lever revolution will get you a good uptick in speed with the 180's as well cfe 223 and mr2000. In my 26" I shot a ladder last week with 185 jugs and 2800fps with brass that measured the same as my 43.3 grains of RL15/168smk load. I believe I will pressure out tomorrow with a higher top in the same powder. Very first time using this powder. I ran some cfe with the 195tmk with steller results. It looks like I will get more speed in the 25-35fps range with heavy bullets or 150 solids. I know it is proven in the 308 as a vender is using it for their premium offering. THe 195tmk in my rifle is running 2704 with cfe223. I tried 230 bergers(2)but the 12tw just isn't enough at 34' above sea level where I shoot most often. They were running 2515 but that had very flat primer no ejector mark but I think if I shot the third one in the warm barrel it would have shown up.

 

[snox801]

1600fps at 600 yards with a 178 eldx from a 16" 308
But 1800fps from a 150 gmx at 400 yards

1600fps at 550 yards from a 150sst

Know your expansion threshold

More drop from a heavy, but less wind drift

Yes gmx are like Barnes. I shoot the hammers so they open a bit lower.

 

[bluejay75]

Most of you guys shoot really good bullets. The ones I have in mind I know will expand down to around 1000 FPS. Sierra Game King 180 or the Speer 180 SPBT.

 

[bluejay75]

WIth your 20" lever revolution will get you a good uptick in speed with the 180's as well cfe 223 and mr2000. In my 26" I shot a ladder last week with 185 jugs and 2800fps with brass that measured the same as my 43.3 grains of RL15/168smk load. I believe I will pressure out tomorrow with a higher top in the same powder. Very first time using this powder. I ran some cfe with the 195tmk with steller results. It looks like I will get more speed in the 25-35fps range with heavy bullets or 150 solids. I know it is proven in the 308 as a vender is using it for their premium offering. THe 195tmk in my rifle is running 2704 with cfe223. I tried 230 bergers(2)but the 12tw just isn't enough at 34' above sea level where I shoot most often. They were running 2515 but that had very flat primer no ejector mark but I think if I shot the third one in the warm barrel it would have shown up.

Tracking all. I can run Winchester 748 all the way to 46.5 grains and get close to those numbers. Actually exceed CFE 223 and LE. Will shoot this morning and see if accuracy holds up that high.

 

[kraigwy]

Before the SMK 175s the SMS 180s was the go to load for long range 308s. I shot my best ever 1000 yard match at 29 Palms using those 180s at about 2500 FPS out of a M14. We were squaded next to the Army,'s AMU's team. Using the same bullet out of Their M14's they shot a 799/800.

 

[bluejay75]

Tracking all. I can run Winchester 748 all the way to 46.5 grains and get close to those numbers. Actually exceed CFE 223 and LE. Will shoot this morning and see if accuracy holds up that high.

Win 748 did 1.25 inches with the Speer 180 at 45.5. Both other charges up to 46.5 had sticky extraction.
43.6 Varget shot this with same Bullet.