.308 Ballistic Silvertips vs. SMK, LENGTH

[Farnham]

I just picked up a box of 50 Nosler Ballistic Silvertips while poking around the new Sportsman's Warehouse, because I read a good review of them in Rifleman, and I don't have any "hunting" bullets. They're 168gr, so I figured my pet .308 load of 43.7gr of Win748 with a Sierra 168gr HPBT would be interchangeable.

When I got home and opened up the box, I immediately said, "Wow, those are LONG." Side by side with a MatchKing, they're not as long as I'd first thought, but definitely longer (and cooler looking ).

So, other than giving the bullet a better BC (at least as I understand BC), how does that extra length affect the Silvertip? Do I need to seat them shallower and increase OAL? As long as I don't inadvertantly create a compressed charge (which I'm not wildcatter enough yet to play with), can I use the same OAL?

S/F

Farnham

 

[Delmar]

The SAAMI oal is 2.800, but I would recommend that you find out where the leade is for best accuracy. Nosler #5 manual does not list W748 as a powder, but no big deal. You might want to lower your charge at least 5% and work it up.

I have been shooting 308 almost exclusively for 15 years as my game getter and target blaster, and the limiting factor on Rem 700's is the magazine. I can seat cartridges out to 2.820 which seems to work best in my rifle for 168 grain loads. I highly recommend you buy a Stony Point chamber gauge to see what is safe in your chamber-either that or do the old smoke method and see what you are working with.

Nosler lists a max charge of BLC-2 as the most accurate powder tested. Powder charge lists a min of 42.5 to 46.5 grains. I have had very good luck with Reloder 15 myself, but there are many, many powders suitable.