What .308 rounds have worked best for you?

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I have been testing more and more 308 rounds. I handload and am looking for more options. I normally shoot A-Max 168gr with 44.5 gr of Varget(recently switched). The rifle (700 SPS Tactical) is shooting 5/8" at 100 with this setup. I am getting almost exactlythe same performance out of a similar load with Sierra Match Kings. My question is other than these two projectiles, what are some others (beside A-Max's & SMK's) that have been really accurate for you? I am just trying to try everything and vary my loads.

 

[ricehombre]

Nosler 165 BT, Berger 168 VLD, and Speer 165 BTSP. Settled on RL 15 only.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Awesome, just added them to my shopping list...thanks

 

[MtnCreek]

If you're going to stay on the 100yd line, try 155gr amax over 4895.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I shoot it at long range( out to 600yds) , I use 100 yds as a base for my groups. the A-Max's seem to really out perform the SMK's past 300-400 yds though. It is all paper shooting, no live game with this rifle. I will stretch this out to 700-800yds later but have another caliber for 800+ shots.

 

[ngaither]

I shoot the exact same load with the Sierra Match HPBT and get <.5 MOA at 200 yards all day long with the SPS Tactical. I didn't get as good of result from the Hornady but I'm very interested in trying out Berger VLD bullets

 

[Bad Flynch]

With the .308 and 168 gr. bullets, it always pays to try some really old-tyme favaorites:

2-300 meters, try IMR3031, around 37-37.5 grains. For years, Remington shipped many of their 40-X rifles with test groups from this loading.

IMR4895/H4895 Classic .308 powder.

IMR4064 is, arguably, the most accurate .308 powder on the planet, but is a nuisance to load. One of the modern electronic powder measuring machines should straighten that out.

H414 has been overlooked. I have seen it shoot very small groups. It must be loaded at nearly maximum. It meters great.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Wow, thanks.

 

[Jasper1573]

175 grain Sierra matchking
43 grains Reloader 15
Lake City brass
CCI 34 primer

Shot 1.75 inch group of 5 rounds this past weekend from Rem 700 .308 Win 5r at 300 yds.

 

[REL1203]

I live by 168Amaxs and SMKs under 44.0 RL15, but I have been branching out recently trying to find a 1,000yard load. I have 400 155g Lapua Scenars, and just recently got 200 178 Hornady Match BTHP that have a very high BC.

 

[kennedy]

168 smk, H4895 powder, twice have got .4 in 5 shot groups at 100 yds, mostly .6 to .9 depending how I do my part.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Awesome guys, thanks. Here comes the fun part. I get to try all of these suggestions. The sad part is as I het older, I'd rather work up a good load and reload a few cartridges than shoot the rifle. Well nah, but darn close. I really am enjoying the reloading aspect alot more.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I shoot it at long range( out to 600yds) , I use 100 yds as a base for my groups. the A-Max's seem to really out perform the SMK's past 300-400 yds though. It is all paper shooting, no live game with this rifle. I will stretch this out to 700-800yds later but have another caliber for 800+ shots.

168's don't stay stable that far out. It's great at 300 yards, which is what that bullet was designed to excel at doing. But at .308 velocities it becomes unstable right around 600, and performs abysmally at 800.

I like to use Sierra 175 gr MatchKings. It's an old standard that'll do well without too much development work.

 

[Demos]

In my Garand, Hornady 168 BTHP have been giving me better groups than the A-Max or SMKs.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like Sierra MatchKings for practice and GameKings for hunting soft skinned game. for tougher game I used to use Nosler Partitions but recently changed over to Nosler AccuBond instead. They seem to be very effective, have a slightly better BC and even cost less. (Partitions cost A LOT these days)