Best Mag Length .308 bullet

RangerPark

RangerPark

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I've been using the Berger Hunting VLDs 185 gr in .308 for years now. I've always had good success and great accuracy in rifles in which I could chase the lands, usually settling for about a .040" jump.

All the .308 I reload for are now mag fed, including a CZ Range and Stag 10. I no longer have rifles that will take AICS mags. I find the VLDs don't group as well with longer jumps to the lands.

I'm looking for recommendations on 30 caliber hunting bullets that perform well when loaded at mag length, around 2.800", and can handle longer jumps to the lands.

I'm currently considering:
Berger 185 gr Classic Hunter
Hornady 180 gr Interlock
Hornady 178 gr ELD-X
Nosler 180 gr partition
Nosler 185 gr accubond

Please let me know about me hunting bullets you have had success with, particularly in a Stag 10 or other mag fed semi.

For target bullets, I will likely be going back to Berger Juggernauts.
 
I am not overly fond of the Berger hunting bullets or the Hornady SST. With the SST I had very inconsistent results with, Some worked text book others exploded spectacularly including a 165 .308 started at 2400fps that only penetrated one lung after hitting a 90lb whitetail doe's shoulder at 45 yards. Bergers do work fairly predictably but I dislike the meat damage they have done.
I would look to the gamechangers from Sierra or possibly the Speer Impact, but 150-180 Accubond, Partition or 165-180 grain interlock or many more cup and core bullets will get the job done.

For a targets to deer bullet the 155 Lapua has a following among some friends.
 
I finally got to measure the actual jump to the lands with the Faxon barrel, looks like a .090" jump when loaded at max mag length, 2.810". Not as bad as I thought, this is actually less throat than most Remington 700 I've owned.

So if anyone knows of a bullet that does great with a .080-.100" jump please let me know.
 
seating depth doesn't matter for accuracy, you'll be able to tune the load with the powder charge to get good accuracy, whether its .020" off the lands, or .200"
 
I have had a hard time with decent grouping using match kings for my stag 10, though I am still doing testing so, hopefully, that changes. My stag 10 does like 168 eld - M's out to 500 though, which are seated at 2.800 +/-. 002.
 
SST is a varmint bullet, explodes too fast for most deer. Interlock I had good results with. Match kings are not designed as killing hollow points. The new tipped one would be my preference for similar performance and length.
 
todbartell said:
you'll be able to tune the load with the powder charge to get good accuracy, whether its .020" off the lands, or .200"
Click to expand...

This is true. I'm not looking for a load for this rifle, I already have it. It's the same load I've used in several different .308" rifles, ever since I started loading the 185 grains VLD. Winchester case, Federal 210 Match primer, 42.6 grains of Varget and any 185 grain pill, be it VLD or Juggernaut. I don't have an issue posting this load online because I know it's safe in any properly functioning rifle, be it with a .150" jump or jammed into the lands. It's essentially the low node of that combination of components and gives the best results in every rifle I used it in. It's my Gold Medal load with those components.

todbartell said:
seating depth doesn't matter for accuracy
Click to expand...

This hasn't been my experience, especially with Berger VLD bullets. By now, I'm sure everyone reloading Berger VLDs has read this:

https://bergerbullets.com/vld-making-shoot/

In the case of the above mentioned load, going from Mag length to 2.950" in 3 different Remington 700 has resulted in several .5 MOA 5 round groups at 100 yards. One of those was even a 700 Mountain SS and would give me .5 MOA 3 rounds at 200 yards. 2.950" COAL would usually bring me at around .020" from the lands. With Remington's long throats, those rifle would still shoot best with my pet load, but would hover just under MOA without tuning the seating depth.

This is something I can't do with the Stag 10 and by extent the CZ Range. The CZ allows longer COAL, about 2.870", but right now I'm trying to develop a load that will perform well in both rifles at 2.810". I know the VLD is not the best candidate for this so I'm asking around for advice.
 
oneadam12 said:
SST is a varmint bullet, explodes too fast for most deer. Interlock I had good results with. Match kings are not designed as killing hollow points. The new tipped one would be my preference for similar performance and length.
Click to expand...

SST is out, Interlocks are still on the list and Sierra 180 GameKing are in. The heaviest tipped GameKing they have are 165 grains, I might consider those too.
 
Here's a group from this morning, bullet has .114" of jump to the lands. Likely more, since I measured that almost 300 rounds ago

oN7s6JU.jpg



Rifle shoots equally well with a different bullet .025" off lands


So, does seating depth matter? Or can you achieve good accuracy with any jump to lands, if the velocity is correct to allow the bullet to exit the muzzle during a happy place
 
Look at something that doesn't have such a long ogive. Your partition example is a good one, and game kings, interlocks, pro hunters, speer, etc. Either light and stout or heavy and soft. Don't rule out 165 and 150 grains.

What are you hunting, and how far are the shots, generally?
 
todbartell said:
Here's a group from this morning, bullet has .114" of jump to the lands. Likely more, since I measured that almost 300 rounds ago. Rifle shoots equally well with a different bullet .025" off lands.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the input. The Hornady AMAX has always worked well for me. Which one of their hunting bullets would be the closest?
 
northern skies said:
What are you hunting, and how far are the shots, generally?
Click to expand...

The accuracy exercise is mostly academic. Most of my hunting is done under 100 yards. Only deer tags this year. I grow weary of the Berger's explosive properties on game. It's not that they don't kill, it's that there's lead fragments all over the meat afterwards. All that being said, if I can't figure out a proper load before September, I'll just zero the rifle at 200 yards with Federal Fusion 180 grains and call it a day.
 
todbartell said:
Here's a group from this morning, bullet has .114" of jump to the lands. Likely more, since I measured that almost 300 rounds ago

oN7s6JU.jpg



Rifle shoots equally well with a different bullet .025" off lands


So, does seating depth matter? Or can you achieve good accuracy with any jump to lands, if the velocity is correct to allow the bullet to exit the muzzle during a happy place
Click to expand...

3 shots does not constitute a group :evil:

How does it fare in a 10 shot test?
 
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