.308 Winchester Match Ammo Info

[Ian M]

Spent the afternoon running a variety of factory match ammo through a couple of rifles, mostly interested in velocities, SD's and accuracy.
If anyone is interested here is some base info, I will put the ammo type and then the velocities and SD for the 22" and then the 26" barreled rifles. This was all five shot strings through my Oehler 35P at 10'. Uniform procedure, some results are not in line tho.

Winchester Competition Supreme 168gr
22" = 2734/06 26" = 2749/12

Black Hills Ammo Match 175gr.
22" = 2587/21 26" = 2641/17

Black Hills Ammo Match 168gr
22" = 2632/18 26" = 2679/21

Hornady TAP 168gr
22" = 2730/13 26" = 2761/09

Norma Match 168gr
22" = 2631/04 26" = 2654/13

Lapua Match 185gr
22" = 2527/03 26" = 2529/12

Federal Match 168gr
22" = 2673/12 26" = 2662/08

Handload - 45/Varget, 168 Nosler Match, BHA case, Win. primers - 10 shots each rifle
22" = 2691/18 26" = 2733/10

The handload shot as well as any of the factory match ammo. There are a lot of variables and one five shot group does not tell a hell of a lot. We wanted to compare velocities of some good match ammo with our favored handload.

 

[Mysticplayer]

Ian, great info. For me, the most interesting aspect was the small difference in vel from 22" to 26". Certainly, isn't worth it in a hunting situation.

Was the 22" cut down from the 26" or another rifle/barrel?

Anyways, looks like the factories are making some really good fodder. If this stuff shoots in your rifle, would make reloading optional for the low volume shooter.

It also shows that us rifle loonies can match and exceed the factory performance still.

Jerry

 

[Ian M]

Jerry,
Two separate rifles, a new Rem. 700 VS (26") and one of my pets, a custom M-700 with a 22" Mike Rock barrel, called a ROCK by its maker. The custom barrel usually manages lower SD's I believe. All of the ammo was capable of at or near 1/2 moa accuracy, some exceeded that by a margin. Have to say that the European stuff was very good, but my rifle likes BHA Match about as well as the handloads.
You are correct, factory match (or premium hunting ammo) is amazingly accurate and will usually do justice to a good rifle.

 

[Celt]

Another factor in the velocity being close id that Mike Rock barrels with the 5R profile are known to give better velocity than a factory tube.

That could be one reason why they are so close. I do know that even with the same tube there is not a big of a differance as one may thing in velocities because the 308 is such an efficient round. You will see much more dramatic veloicty loss with the big magnums than the 308.

FWIW
Celt

 

[GBTx01]

What bullet does hornady use in its TAP ammo? Is it the A-Max bullet? Thanks.

 

[Guest]

[ 07-16-2003: Message edited by: S1 ]

 

[Ian M]

S1,
I have shot that light TAP ammo and agree that it is superbly accurate. Nasty on Texas whitetails they are.

01
The TAP ammo that I have is loaded with a 168 hollow point boat-tail, not AMAX. This bullet is in the Hornady catalog and it is a good LR bullet, but it seems that the AMAX has the bigger reputation.

 

[Mysticplayer]

Well with the Vmax, there will not be any over penetration on the bad guy. I wonder if they know that before they rob the bank.

Jerry