Initially you mentioned:
I guess it is a matter of what we define mid range at? With a .308 Winchester cartridge I see mid range as around 500 to 600 yards and 600 to 1,000 as long range for a .308. The only concern I see is at longer ranges between 600 and 1,000 yards (target) you want your bullet to remain super sonic and not drop to sub sonic before getting where it is going. The heavier the bullet the slower the muzzle velocity and the slower it gets down range. At mid range faster is not always better depending on the rifle, bullet and powder burn envelope. Pushing bullets like the 168 grain family powders like CFE 223 and Power Pro 2000 MR will likely deliver the fastest muzzle velocity but with their pressure curves will likely not be the most accurate. For mid range target faster is not always better at least in my opinion anyway.
I see what your getting at. I’m just trying to find what grain this gun likes best.
Then I would pick a bullet and work with it or a powder and work with it. Changing only one thing at a time. Generally with the .308 Winchester I like the 168 and 175 grain bullets leaning towards Sierra, unless we get higher end with bullets like Berger. Even with that said I have gotten some very good results using 150 grain HPBT bullets. When working up various loads I try to change only one contributing factor at a time be it brass, powder, primer or bullet. While some loads are considered good across the board it is a matter of finding out which loads perform the best in your specific rifle with repeatable results. That's my best guess anyway.
Yes , one can get carried away changing too many things too quickly. My 308 shoots 178 grain bullets very well. I bought a box of federal 168 gm and it shoots those extremely well. I just have to give some 168’s a try. There’s always the search... Thanks.Then I would pick a bullet and work with it or a powder and work with it. Changing only one thing at a time. Generally with the .308 Winchester I like the 168 and 175 grain bullets leaning towards Sierra, unless we get higher end with bullets like Berger. Even with that said I have gotten some very good results using 150 grain HPBT bullets. When working up various loads I try to change only one contributing factor at a time be it brass, powder, primer or bullet. While some loads are considered good across the board it is a matter of finding out which loads perform the best in your specific rifle with repeatable results. That's my best guess anyway.
Ron
I did this years ago just to prove things out using a few powders. This works out exactly as Driftertank mentions. Using several powders, loading .308 Winchester, I was looking at a velocity of right around 2400 FPS. While I could keep my velocity tight after trying a few loads the same velocities did not yield the same groups downrange. With all things the same, less of course the powder charges, the big difference was my pressure curves or more to the point my areas under my curves. Some powders accelerated my bullets faster than others so while my muzzle velocities were all about the same some powders got my bullets there quicker than others. Some powders achieve peak pressure faster than others.While it all gets interesting the end result is no, if a given bullet shoots well at a given velocity with one powder it will not behave the same when shot at the same velocity using a different powder. Just the nature of the beast.
I agree with the 3031!! I have 4 243's and a 7mm/08 and they ALL grouped best with any bullet weight I tried. I tested Varget, 3031, 748, 760, imr4350.
