New to .308... Help me with advice

[xsn10s]

I'd run the numbers through a calculator on whatever ammo you bought to see if they'll do what you're wanting. Just a quick glance and SG ammo has 185 berger gold medal match in stock if these don't give what you want. I'm not sure which hornady 168's you got but I'm betting the 185 berger has a better form factor than them or the 175 sierras. And not by a little

Yeah I agree that the 185's would probably perform better out to 1k but with the 20" barrel I'm not sure by how much. For 1k and Pdogs maybe the best compromise is a tipped match bullet. Like a ELDM or a TMK. 175's have a better bc but I'd go with which ever shot the most accurately. It'll be a compromise any way you look at it. One thing I'll note like someone else stated the acrobatics is a huge part of the fun. Easier to see it with a 223 or 22-250. Cheaper too.

 

[new2mud]

With that short of a barrel you may want to shoot the two different types of ammo you have at distance and see what it does. I shot factory 168s out of 18 inch 308 and they keyholed at 800. That was that rifles limitation.

Twist certainly plays in here, since we see lots of 1:12 and 1:10 barrels. My 1:10 20" shot 190 Nosler CCs and 208 A-max just fine. I don't know how well a 1:12 would stabilize those out of 20".

 

[sierracharlie338]

Twist certainly plays in here, since we see lots of 1:12 and 1:10 barrels. My 1:10 20" shot 190 Nosler CCs and 208 A-max just fine. I don't know how well a 1:12 would stabilize those out of 20".

Yes of course. The twist on the rifle I mentioned was a 11.25.

 

[new2mud]

Yes of course. The twist on the rifle I mentioned was a 11.25.

Ha—I tried to list the most common twist rates and you come in with an in-betweener twist!

 

[xsn10s]

Yes of course. The twist on the rifle I mentioned was a 11.25.

Mine is 1-12" 24" pushing 168's at 2750- 2820 fps depending on my load. Stabilizes them fine. But you're correct that it is barrel dependent. MM stabilized 208's in his 1-12 308 win, but at higher elevations. 168's can keyhole when they go trans sonic, I've been lucky that mine don't

 

[sierracharlie338]

Ha—I tried to list the most common twist rates and you come in with an in-betweener twist!

That was the manufacturers common twist rate apparently or maybe just what he had on hand when he built it. Who knows haha

Mine is 1-12" 24" pushing 168's at 2750- 2820 fps depending on my load. Stabilizes them fine. But you're correct that it is barrel dependent. MM stabilized 208's in his 1-12 308 win, but at higher elevations. 168's can keyhole when they go trans sonic, I've been lucky that mine don't

Yeah I'm at sea-level basically and don't get the benefit of that higher elevation unfortunately.

 

[xsn10s]

Yeah I'm at sea-level basically and don't get the benefit of that higher elevation unfortunately.

When I was at sea level I didn't notice keyholing at 930 yards. I was shooting at rocks and not paper though so not confirmed. The accuracy was consistent so I assumed it was still stable. Same as now at 1320 yards 2200 ft elevation. Steel taargets, but I didn't take the walk to confirm lol.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Alright, in light of pink mist club priorities I propose the 168 TMK is probably your best hope. If you can get it to 2650, which should be pretty easy in a 20", it'll get you to 1k supersonic and maybe have enough retained velocity to spray paint the prairie.

 

[sierracharlie338]

When I was at sea level I didn't notice keyholing at 930 yards. I was shooting at rocks and not paper though so not confirmed. The accuracy was consistent so I assumed it was still stable. Same as now at 1320 yards 2200 ft elevation. Steel taargets, but I didn't take the walk to confirm lol.

Yeah I didn't have a choice and had to confirm on paper. We didn't have motorized anything to get us there and back either LOL.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Ha—I tried to list the most common twist rates and you come in with an in-betweener twist!

Mine is 1-12" 24" pushing 168's at 2750- 2820 fps depending on my load. Stabilizes them fine. But you're correct that it is barrel dependent. MM stabilized 208's in his 1-12 308 win, but at higher elevations. 168's can keyhole when they go trans sonic, I've been lucky that mine don't

Gents I stand corrected. I had my rifles mixed up. The 18 inch 308 was a 1:12 twist. My GAP 308 is a 1:11.25. I was shooting the 18 inch during this scenario.

Still, keyholing at 800 was rather disappointing.

 

[xsn10s]

Still, keyholing at 800 was rather disappointing.

Maybe look into the 190 SMK, if your twist can handle it. A guy shooting a 7.5mmx55 Swiss used 190 SMK because he believed they stayed stable trans sonic. I've never used them so I cannot confirm. It's on YT.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Maybe look into the 190 SMK, if your twist can handle it. A guy shooting a 7.5mmx55 Swiss used 190 SMK because he believed they stayed stable trans sonic. I've never used them so I cannot confirm. It's on YT.

Dont have the rifle anymore and have since moved on to newer flashier cartridges lol! I still shoot 168s in my 308 500 and in for deer population control

 

[xsn10s]

I still shoot 168s in my 308 500 and in for deer population control

I soooooo want to open up the can of worms by asking which bullet, but I shall refrain lol.

 

[Black Hat]

I've shot everything from rabbits to steel at 1300m with the 185 juggernaut at 2660fps.

For me it's about run what you've brung.

All my rifles have only one load that is used in them.