Question About .308 Ammo

PUREVIL

PUREVIL

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I just got my first "long" range rifle and I was looking at ammo and there are different weight bullets 150gr, 160, 180 etc etc I've never really asked what the different weights mean and how they effect accuracy ballistics and etc etc. Im going to be doing mostly target shooting and praire dog/gophers, nothing to big or major... I just want it to be accurate so whatever I point it at gets hit LOL Im new to all this precision stuff so bare with my noobieness.
 
Well I don't know much but all tell you what I do know. Heavier bullet will have a lower velocity, but due to inertia, will be harder for resistance to slow it down so it would maintain velocity for a longer period of time, the result being a better round for long range. While a lighter bullet will have a higher velocity, but since it it so light will be affected by resistance more then a heavy bullet so short range is recommended. For shooting gophers a lighter bullet would probably suit your needs. can't help you with accuracy tips though, what i explained has to do with what i learned in grade 11 physics. I might be a little off so don't take my word for it, and if anyone sees an error in my post please note it.:p
 
I understand your newbieness, so here's some good info... forget gophers.
Even rich folks don't shoot gophers with .308.

The best advice I ever got when I started .308 was to try some of the cheapest UMC or whatever, then compare it to something good like Federal Fusion. At 200+ yards you'll see the difference very clearly. Bullet weight will show its importance after you narrow down your target goals.
My LTR with 1-12 twist loves 165 grain bullets. What are you shooting?
 
stay away from 150's. 168s are probably going to be your most economical. you gonna reload?
 
Any bullet fired from a .308 will kill a praire dog/gophers if you hit it. Reloading is your best bet so you can try several different bullets weights to find out what your rifle likes best. Match bullets are best suited for paper but I see no reason (other than cost) that you couldn't shoot varmints with them. There are also plenty of varmint bullets available that may work just fine at whatever distance you plan to shoot paper target at.
 
with a remmy700 i don't think you will have too much of a issue with what ever you pick up (i've been told they eat pretty much anything and still work above average). but dude .308 for gophers, i guess you won't need to pick up much lol.
 
aka-jdub said:
but dude .308 for gophers, i guess you won't need to pick up much lol.
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unless you have really, really big gophers... I predict a flash of red mist and some fur!
I've got a rem 700 SPS tactical in .308 I've only been out a few times with it, I shot 150gr, and 180gr as far as grouping, accuracy etc... no noticeable difference for me, I think the difference is going to be seen with penetration in game
 
'purevil' I have a 700P in 308 (7.62) as well, my rifle LOVES the surplus 147 grain portugese and will launch them .7-.8 all day long, It also has an affection for hornady 168 (moly) bthp to the tune of .5 @ 100 meters.

Surplus , seemingly, is now almost on par price wise with commercial the 'hornady match' can be had at any wholesale sports for 23.00 a box......
 
No reason to stay away from 150 grain bullets. In the 12 inch twist, they may turn out to be your most accurate bullet. If you are shooting at 1,000 yards, no, use a heavier bullet. But at normal ranges, 150 grain has good enough sectional density.
All marmots, including "gophers," have been protected in BC, on public land, for many years. When it was legal to shoot them, we used our 30-06 and 270 rifles for gopher (Richardsons ground squirrel) shooting. We didn't have to worry about what was behind them, but for prairie gopher shooting, it is of major concern. In other words, a strongly built 30 calibre bullet may zing off the ground and endanger a John Deere working in a far field! This is one good reason why high speed, 22 calibre centre fire bullets, which break up on contact with almost anything, are popular for gopher shooting on the prairie.
 
"...may buy off him..." He can't sell you reloads. Even Stateside. You should never shoot other people's reloads anyway. Not even if you know the guy well.
If you were born after 1961, you're required to do a hunter's safety course in ND. However, if you're a full-time student in ND, you get to buy a resident's licence, but not for any 'draws'.
Meanwhile, buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. It'll explain about bullet weights.
 
aka-jdub said:
with a remmy700 i don't think you will have too much of a issue with what ever you pick up (i've been told they eat pretty much anything and still work above average). but dude .308 for gophers, i guess you won't need to pick up much lol.
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i know a guy who went gopher hunting with a 12 gauge once. He said he never had to pick anything up :D. Hea slo said he blew up a a mouse with a small gunpowder bomb. (not sure is it was smokeless or black) All he said he saw was a cloud of dust with a red tint to it.
 
I bought some fusion 165 and federal 150s.... I think im going to just shoot commerical over the counter stuff in hopes the rifle will shoot the same all the time in stead of swapping all kinds of ammo. Is that a good idea?

I honestly wont shoot many gophers with my 700, I have a 17 hmr thats perfect for gophers but my friends shoot prairie dogs with 243s, 50bmgs, and 300s @ 500 to 800 yards which is what I'd be doing with my 700. The guys I go with have alot of families with farms so we go out there and spend the day blasting.
 
Sounds good in 'principle' but even with the 'same' commercial ammo in 'bulk' you may run across different 'lot numbers' and thus small or large variations in groups/accuracy
 
jennis said:
Sounds good in 'principle' but even with the 'same' commercial ammo in 'bulk' you may run across different 'lot numbers' and thus small or large variations in groups/accuracy
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True but this way its more readily available vs buying hand loads from my friends. Sometimes its just easier to go to walmart (24hr) and buy some... at least thats what I do with .223 and .45
 
I hear ya, I have a 700P in 223 and one in 308, I bought quite a bit of 223 rem/umc as it shot under 1" @ 100, all of the sudden Im shooting 1.5 + @ 100 same ammo but different lot numbers.......:mad:
 
PUREVIL said:
I bought some fusion 165 and federal 150s.... I think im going to just shoot commerical over the counter stuff in hopes the rifle will shoot the same all the time in stead of swapping all kinds of ammo. Is that a good idea?

I honestly wont shoot many gophers with my 700, I have a 17 hmr thats perfect for gophers but my friends shoot prairie dogs with 243s, 50bmgs, and 300s @ 500 to 800 yards which is what I'd be doing with my 700. The guys I go with have alot of families with farms so we go out there and spend the day blasting.
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The fusion in 165 has been as good as any hand load I've made so far. For the volume that I go through, I'm just going to keep buying it. If your friends are shooting 50cal at gophers then you probably don't have to worry about where your bullets are going. I don't shoot them with .308 because there are cattle and other livestock around, and I don't want to worry about ricochets.
I think you have the right idea about keeping your ammo selection simple, but experiment and find the best for your rifle before you commit to a stockpile of something.
 
PUREVIL said:
True but this way its more readily available vs buying hand loads from my friends. Sometimes its just easier to go to walmart (24hr) and buy some... at least thats what I do with .223 and .45
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Why are you on here asking questions if you don't listen to sound advice?
You were plainly told,

DON'T BUY HANDLOADS FROM FRIENDS, (OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL.)
 
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