Hi OP, I am in the same boat. I have just used a ruger american predator in 308 back from a PRS match. with my own handload, on zeroing, it was so easy to hit 100 and 600 meters on the places I want it to be. during the timed match, my longest hit was 690 meter on a 12x25" plate, holding 2 mil up and 1.8 mil in the wind. I only started rifle on some weekend days since march this year and practice for this event on bench for 3 weekend days. So, that tells you the handload makes huge difference.
Need Consistency at 1,000 Metres
- Thread starter Mad-Dog
- Start date
I'll take a closer look at reloading (again). All signs point in that direction. It's logical. In the meantime, I am taking it slow. I have been experimenting with various bullet designs and weights, using both standard and high-end factory loads for comparison.
The only thing holding me back at the moment from reloading is the fact that I intend this rifle to be a very low volume shooter. I still do most of my shooting in another calibre, .308, out to 500 metres.
Nothing wrong with a .308 for 1,000+ yard shooting. I've shot my 21" .308 out to 1,100-1,200 yards a lot and have gotten consistent hits. Sure it gets blown around more than a 6.5, but it will probably make you a better wind shooter than 99.5% of the shooters on this board. Even the 168 SMK's are a lot better at distance than people give them credit for.
Sure, 6.5's are great ballistically. My match gun is a 6.5 creedmoor, and there is a reason for that. But honestly, a .308 is so fun to shoot, I can't imagine not having one.
Don't let people persuade you or convince you that a .308 isn't very capable at 1,000. It's capable to much more than that, and it will teach you about the wind.
Sure, 6.5's are great ballistically. My match gun is a 6.5 creedmoor, and there is a reason for that. But honestly, a .308 is so fun to shoot, I can't imagine not having one.
Don't let people persuade you or convince you that a .308 isn't very capable at 1,000. It's capable to much more than that, and it will teach you about the wind.
Hornady has a product line with you, almost personally, in mind. For better or worse, Hornadys factory loaded 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor ammunition will be as economical and for the next few years for you, be as accurate as hand loaded ammo. Hand loading has a curve all it's own, and it's no overnight cure. If you don't have hours of time to devote to it, there are good options out there for precision at comparable cost.
Add up the cost of dies, a press, a scale, trimmers, etc etc and then add up what the true cost per round it for a year or three and compare it with a case of the above ammunition and see how that looks.
Add up the cost of dies, a press, a scale, trimmers, etc etc and then add up what the true cost per round it for a year or three and compare it with a case of the above ammunition and see how that looks.
Some people enjoy pushing calibers to their limits. Short action calibers to a mile and beyond is pretty fun
The last three posts in particular have me thinking about following BOTH paths:
- Grit my teeth and buy a few boxes of the $60-90 a box 7mm Rem Mag premium stuff with suitable bullets (Hornady, Nosler, and any other suggestions sent in my direction), and test for accuracy results at a grand.
- Continue to push the .308 beyond 500 metres.
If both work, wonderful! If both fail, move on to reloading. I have good reliable platforms in both instances. The worst case scenario: I will have a whole lot of fun!
- Grit my teeth and buy a few boxes of the $60-90 a box 7mm Rem Mag premium stuff with suitable bullets (Hornady, Nosler, and any other suggestions sent in my direction), and test for accuracy results at a grand.
- Continue to push the .308 beyond 500 metres.
If both work, wonderful! If both fail, move on to reloading. I have good reliable platforms in both instances. The worst case scenario: I will have a whole lot of fun!
Some people enjoy pushing calibers to their limits. Short action calibers to a mile and beyond is pretty fun
What is your first round hit rate with a short action cartridge past 1,000M? This is not meant to sound accusatory but there is a lot of nonsense online and in social media today. Some guys can lay done and get it down every time but I think shooting is becoming like the fishing world. Lots of steel on IG at 1,000 with only a couple splashes on them.
I know lots of people on social media talk about making consistent hits at X distance but what is "consistent"? How big is the sheet of steel these guys are shooting at?
I personally will take any advantage I can get, the 6mms, and 6.5mms are dominating in PRS for a reason. At the SAPRL matches (and the ones at Milo) I do not think there was a single 308/223 shooter who cracked the top 25%. The reduced drift and recoil reduction make a big difference when that timer goes off.
To the OP though, you should start reloading. Better ammo at costs that are OK...
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Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
FYI, if you are asking the question about a "308" as it is currently being used in FTR, a whole lot of competitors fully expect to sink that first sighter into the 10/5 ring at 1000yds/900m if they can figure out the wind. having a X/V on your first sighter is really not a big deal anymore.
No one gets worked up when you hammer a bunch of X/V's in a row these days either... that would be a 5" circle.
FTR's do not use mag fed 308 ammo limited by bullet weight and OAL. In PRS, there is a bullet weight limit and velocity limit so alot of new tech is off the table.
Having a 6.5CM and shoot out beyond 1000yds with it, I can say my FTR does a very good job of keeping up ballistically. In fact, I do not believe a 6.5 has beaten my scores in the last 4 matches I have attended in Washington.... and we shoot 800, 900, 1000 or all 1000yds. The shooters I try to keep up with all shoot 7mm's
So it helps when people are talking about cartridges and performance to qualify the boundaries they are putting up in making their observations.
If you are comparing mag fed ammo based on a set of rules that can neuter the 308's performance, the 6mm and 6.5s are SOOOO much better.
If you are comparing mag fed 6.5 ammo vs an FTR where we can hot rod pretty much everything, you might be buying more coffees then you expect.
Jerry
No one gets worked up when you hammer a bunch of X/V's in a row these days either... that would be a 5" circle.
FTR's do not use mag fed 308 ammo limited by bullet weight and OAL. In PRS, there is a bullet weight limit and velocity limit so alot of new tech is off the table.
Having a 6.5CM and shoot out beyond 1000yds with it, I can say my FTR does a very good job of keeping up ballistically. In fact, I do not believe a 6.5 has beaten my scores in the last 4 matches I have attended in Washington.... and we shoot 800, 900, 1000 or all 1000yds. The shooters I try to keep up with all shoot 7mm's
So it helps when people are talking about cartridges and performance to qualify the boundaries they are putting up in making their observations.
If you are comparing mag fed ammo based on a set of rules that can neuter the 308's performance, the 6mm and 6.5s are SOOOO much better.
If you are comparing mag fed 6.5 ammo vs an FTR where we can hot rod pretty much everything, you might be buying more coffees then you expect.
Jerry
Op was mentioning a 7mm Rem Mag. I 'think' if its primarily for putting holes in paper there are other cartridges that will provide more efficient results. Probably even a 243w will give the same (or better) results at 1000m with about the same shortened barrel life. I think the 6.5 cartridges (other than the 6.5/.284) will do 'better' overall.
Jerry is your best advice out here. Dude knows what is up!
What are you looking to do ? Competition? Plink and hit steel?
Your current rifle will do it, especially with some hand loads. Are there better options? Yes. Almost always. Will what you have work? Yes. Almost always.
What are you looking to do ? Competition? Plink and hit steel?
Your current rifle will do it, especially with some hand loads. Are there better options? Yes. Almost always. Will what you have work? Yes. Almost always.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
had a wonderful day in the hills yesterday... just gorgeous with light winds. new LR shooters... 1 had a RPR in 6.5 CM shooting hrn 143gr ELD's.. the other a Rem 700 with a 20" barrel in 308 shooting 168gr HRN BTHP
1000yds was childs play with either... the 308 started to get tired at 1200yds.
I had my new CarbonSix 6.5 CM and Krieger FTR barrel to test. From the same SR zero, the 6.5 with the 140gr Berger VLD's took a monstrous 1MOA LESS elevation to get 1000yds. Both rifles shot very well putting lots of hits on target even when rd counts reached 15 and 20 rds respectively.
For mag fed LR fun, I would go 6.5 CM... but if you are single feeding, there is so much more you can do with the 308.
Jerry
Canadiankeeper, appreciate the shout out.... thanks
1000yds was childs play with either... the 308 started to get tired at 1200yds.
I had my new CarbonSix 6.5 CM and Krieger FTR barrel to test. From the same SR zero, the 6.5 with the 140gr Berger VLD's took a monstrous 1MOA LESS elevation to get 1000yds. Both rifles shot very well putting lots of hits on target even when rd counts reached 15 and 20 rds respectively.
For mag fed LR fun, I would go 6.5 CM... but if you are single feeding, there is so much more you can do with the 308.
Jerry
Canadiankeeper, appreciate the shout out.... thanks
People are just down on .308 today because it's been around a long time. It's still an awesome round and if I could only have one it would be .308 without a second thought.
.308 has longggggg been proven for 1000 yd consistency so I don't know why people question that now. Is there better ? Is there worse ? Whatever... .308 works. Learn the fundamentals, learn your dope, learn the wind and have fun.
.308 has longggggg been proven for 1000 yd consistency so I don't know why people question that now. Is there better ? Is there worse ? Whatever... .308 works. Learn the fundamentals, learn your dope, learn the wind and have fun.
If you want to make hits up to 1000 yards or small groups, then look at a Tikka Varmint http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3/t3-varmint in 260 Rem, install a Talley 20moa rail, Burris Signiture Zee Rings, YoDave trigger spring and a SWFA 16X.
This set up will come in at ~$2000 and you will have repeatable 1000 yard performance......no gunsmithing required.
This set up will come in at ~$2000 and you will have repeatable 1000 yard performance......no gunsmithing required.
