loading .308 for competition

[Crappie Luck]

I had a request to load some .308 for a long range shooting competition.

In addition to the match grade bullets and sizing the ammo to fit that particular gun, what other recommendations would y'all have for 1000 yards groups?

What grn. should I load for 1000 yards?
I usually just load for hunting so long range competition loads are something new for me.

 

[Deer Assassin]

grain of bullet is determined by rate of twist


id just tell them to buy federal gold metal match 168 or 175

otherwise

load 168 smk or 175 smk over varget

 

[7mminatree]

Not knowing barrel length and twist, the 175 gr. SMK and working up to about 44 gr. of Varget has done pretty well in a variety of rifles that I've tried it in. IMR 4064 is another good powder, but is heat sensitve. You can get many recipes on the 1000 yard loadings. You just need to keep it supersonic out there at that distance. My own deer hunting load does pretty well also. 45gr. Varget loaded in IMI match brass w/165 gr. NoslerBTand Fed 210M primer. Shooting a 1:10 twist 20 inch barrel.

 

[Crappie Luck]

Thank you!!! I need to get my hands on this gun so I can match the length to his chamber. I'll know the twist then.
I was leaning towards the 168 grin SMK's.


Thanks for the info. I'll see what I can do for him.

 

[LanceS4803]

Stay with the 175gr SMK for 1,000yd.
The 168 goes transsonic at around the 800yd mark, which causes the bullet to get a little unstable.
Load the 175s to stay supersonic.

 

[mr.big]

168 s suck from a 308 at 1,000 yards,,the 175s are a little better and the 190s are a little better than the 175 but IME if you have 26" or longer barrel and can get them up over 2900 the 155 Sierra Palma or 155 Lapua Scenar bullet will do very well for 308 shooters,,

I have been shooting the 155 AMax with IMR8208XBR from my 700PSS and they really make the 168/175 look silly

 

[varmint1111]

I shoot 168gr amax out to 825 yards they do really well. Never shot them futher. Loaded with varget.

 

[Crappie Luck]

Thanks y'all. I'm meeting him at the reloader's bench tomorrow AM. I'm going to pick up the gun so I can load this with the perfect length for his gun.
I was planning to use Varget. If the reloader's bench is out, I might have to run out to Cookeville.

 

[Crappie Luck]

S now he's gone and bought a .325 WSM. I can't find brass for this thing anywhere.

Found some factory loads - $70.00 per box (20 ct).

I told him that I would sell the gun. For 10 boxes of ammo he could buy a brand new Remington 700.

He loves the gun, I'm not sure what to do. The brass is not even available for backorder

 

[Deer Assassin]

some people

 

[backstraps]

168 s suck from a 308 at 1,000 yards,,the 175s are a little better and the 190s are a little better than the 175 but IME if you have 26" or longer barrel and can get them up over 2900 the 155 Sierra Palma or 155 Lapua Scenar bullet will do very well for 308 shooters,,

I have been shooting the 155 AMax with IMR8208XBR from my 700PSS and they really make the 168/175 look silly

I agree,
I have really good luck at paper punching using the 155 Sierra Palma. Up to 600 using 168 smk. cant tell any difference in my gun between the 168 and the 175. I am shooting a 26" on a 700PSS, I am not sure my gun will stabilize much more.... I have a buddy that shoots the 190 and a 208 just fine with the same setup.

I have to load a thou off lands, and usually load max chart to obtain my tightest groups

 

[hunter0925]

S now he's gone and bought a .325 WSM. I can't find brass for this thing anywhere.

Found some factory loads - $70.00 per box (20 ct).

I told him that I would sell the gun. For 10 boxes of ammo he could buy a brand new Remington 700.

He loves the gun, I'm not sure what to do. The brass is not even available for backorder

The 325 brass is hard to find at times but I have seen it several times lately. 8mm bullets are extrememly hard to find also at times. When I first got my 325 I was buying the Nosler trophy grade ammo and I believe it was in the high 50s to low 60s for a box. 100 pieces of brass will last a while though.

 

[Crappie Luck]

168 s suck from a 308 at 1,000 yards,,the 175s are a little better and the 190s are a little better than the 175 but IME if you have 26" or longer barrel and can get them up over 2900 the 155 Sierra Palma or 155 Lapua Scenar bullet will do very well for 308 shooters,,

I have been shooting the 155 AMax with IMR8208XBR from my 700PSS and they really make the 168/175 look silly

I agree,
I have really good luck at paper punching using the 155 Sierra Palma. Up to 600 using 168 smk. cant tell any difference in my gun between the 168 and the 175. I am shooting a 26" on a 700PSS, I am not sure my gun will stabilize much more.... I have a buddy that shoots the 190 and a 208 just fine with the same setup.

I have to load a thou off lands, and usually load max chart to obtain my tightest groups

Thanks for the info. He diced to have me load 30-06 instead. But I would imagine the info is still the same since the guns are so similar.

 

[DaveB]

May want to bookmark this link and hit it 2-3 times a day.

https://brassmanbrass.com/product/325-w ... el-100-ct/

This vendor sold me 200 pieces of 300WSM brass at pre-panic prices when everyone else wants your firstborn.

 

[mr.big]

if I was loading the 06 for 1,000 I would start with the Berger 185 Juggernaunts and H4350 or RL17,,the 06 has lots more long range load potential than a 308,,I would probably try the 208 Amax and 210 VLDs also,,the extra powder space lets you run a heavier class bullets than in 308 and at 1,000 the highest BC bullet you can run and get there with about 1250 fps remaining velocity the better,,

 

[Crappie Luck]

thanks!!!!

That's good info :)