Which bullet would you go with?

[distantfoe]

Which .30cal bullet would you choose:
A 155gr .5 bc or a 180gr with .5 bc
From what I've seen, the ballistic programs don't show much of a benefit in a heavier bullet versous a lighter bullet with the same bc.

 

[bailey1474]

There won't be any benifit to the heavier bullet except for energy. Since you can push the lighter bullet faster, it will actually have a flatter trajectory and less wind drift. For our little deer around here, I know which one I would go with!!

PS- I'll get Lerch to take your PP home and I'll get that installed this weekend for you. It'll be ready Monday as long as he doesn't forget to take it home!!

 

[distantfoe]

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing one of the benefits of a heavier bullet.

Oh, and thank you for your help with the Palm Pilot.

 

[Fiftydriver]

Depends on what your shooting these bullets out of. 308 Win or 30-06 I would certainly say the 155gr. 300 Win Mag class either way will work. 300 Wby and larger, 180 gr would be the minimum I would use just because the added bullet weight really tames down these big magnums.

Besides that, what BJ says is good advice. Match them to the game or purpose for the rifle and you will be fine either way.

Personally I am a big bullet man so I would probably opt for the 180 gr in 30 cal but to be honest, for alot of situations there would be little to no practical differnece between the two except penetration.

Kirby Allen(50)

 

[budlight]

You just don't see high BC light bullets. So your question is kind of invalid. Any class of bullet design from any single manufacturer gains BC with weight.

In 30 cal a light SBT will always have a lower BC than the 190, 200, 220, 240's

I bought 200 Sierra 30 cal 200's just to tune the rifle in with a relativley good BC of .560 I did reload a box of 190 SBT's, But I decided that the 200-240 gr. heavier bullets shot more consistantly



Bullet Name Diameter inches Weight grains Sectional Density Ballistic Coefficients
.308 dia. 200 gr. SBT .308 200 .301 .560 @ 2600 fps and above
.552 between 2600 and 2300 fps
.555 between 2300 and 1900 fps
.560 @ 1900 fps and below

 

[distantfoe]

I've been trying to stick with the lighter bullets.(<180gr) The rifle I'm trying to load for does not do well with the heavier bullets. It's hard to get enough velocity to get any use out of the heavier bullets. Although the 155gr scenar with a advertised bc of .508 seems pretty attractive. Compare this to a 180smk @.475, or 175gr berger with .537. At any rate I would expect 3700fps with the 155 and maybe 3100 with the 180gr bullet range.

 

[lerch]

600fps difference for 25gr extra wieght, that doesnt seem right to me????

Nosler list the 155gr bullet in a 300 rum around 3550fps and the 180 at 3250fps

I bet you can push the 180 faster than you think


good luck
steve

 

[Michael Eichele]

If I were hunting sheep or deer or punching paper, I would use the lighter bullet with the same BC as the heavy one for faster shooting. I would use the heavy bullet for game that required more lead such as moose or bears even elk.

There are 155's out there that have better BC's than several 180's such as the 155 SCENAR which I have personaly tested at .499-.502 at 1K. I have also tested the 155 AMAX at .474 to 1k. A slower twist and longer bbl and I am sure one could get .485-.490 out of that 155 AMAX. I dont remember what the BC is on the 180 SMK, what I do know is that they dont make 1K fired out of a 308 winnie. The 155 Palma, Scenar and Amax all fly straight at 1K from the 308. Some of that is a function of velocity and some is BC.

 

[Centre Punch]

The 155 Scenar is a noticeably longer sleeker bullet then the dumpier 185 Scenar, it also has a larger radius ogive, i'm not sure of the exact ratio.

Ian.