Going The Distance

[Jayhawker]

I have used Berger bullets exclusively with very good results in my bone stock Savage .308, 10/1 twist. Out to 300 meters, I can consistently get less than a M.O.A. and on a good day, less than a half M.O.A. using 150s and 135s with Varget powder and Federal Match primers. My effort to make a purse out of a sow's ear.
Now I want to move on to 500 meters which is the limit of our range. Yesterday, I made-up and fired at 100 meters, a variety of Berger 175s and 168s with the Varget and some Rx 15. I got my usual less-than-one MOA with those weights, but at 100 meters, I can easily shoot into the twos and threes (and yesterday, a .192) with five-shot groups at 100 meters with the 135s and 150s. Would this be an indicator that I should stay with the 150s and 135s for out to 500 meters? Or are they too impractical to put up with our constant breeze and wind? In other words, are the heavier bullets going to be relatively better in the wind or can the 150s and 135's hold their own out to that distance? What has been your experience?

 

[Dave P]

Kansas winds? Definitely the berger 175's. Much less wind drift than 135/150's.

Give me some velocities and bullet info and I will run the calculator for you.

Dave

 

[Jayhawker]

Dave:

Thanks for the offer but I've never shot this rifle through a chronograph-don't even own one. The best I could come up with would be whatever is in my Lyman manual.

Pete

 

[Swampy]

Jayhawker,

Mill Creek is a nice range..... can't wait for the next Highpower match there in July.

Re 500 yard shooting: Once you get past 300-400 yards the BC of the bullet and it's ability to resist wind drift really come into play. In calm conditions you might find that one of the lighter bullets would do fine at 500 and a little beyond, but once the wind kicks up and you have to start watching the leaves, dust, flags, mirage, etc.... then you will be VERY glad to have a heavier bullet with a better wind bucking ability. At that point the lighter bullets will really get bounced around and your groups will suffer.

BTW... I shoot a Match Grade M1 Garand chambered in .308 both Across the Course and at 600 yard belly matches. All my short line loads (200 & 300) are based on the SMK 150. Pushed hard this bullet does fine in moderate winds out to 300. Beyond 300 it starts to have problems and at 500 in any kind of wind at all it's screwed......

Up until two years ago my 500 and 600 yard loads were based on the SMK 168 and SMK 175. Both are good bullets, the 175 being the better choice.

When I took over the JLK business I switched (Of course....) to the JLK 175 VLD for my long line loads. My 600 yard scores immediately took a 3-4 point jump, strictly because of it's superior wind bucking ability. Those sudden wind switches and drop offs that happened right between the time I came off the spotting scope and got back on the trigger, and my own mis-judgments of the wind now did not hit me nearly as hard when the bullet finally reached paper.

Conclusion: For anything past 300 yards, and if you want to shoot in any kind of conditions, you need to look to heavier, higher BC bullets.

Just my 2 cents....

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever
2007 NRA Missouri State 600 yard Service Rifle Champion..... with an M1