Powder and bullet of choice for .308

[moosehunter]

Looking for a good load for 1K BR with the .308 Win. Id like to stay with a Hodgden Extreme powder and a bullet that could double as a hunting round.

 

[maynard]

Good match bullets are just that, match bullets, and not intended for hunting.
From what I hear, down in the southern states, guys are using fast twist barrels 1:8, 1:9 twist. shooting 220 gr .30 cal SMK bullets for long range F Class. Even with the lower velocity they are in there with the 6.5 because of the high BC.
Now if you want to play in the wind try 155 gr bullets.
I use Nosler J4 155 or Sierra 155 Palma bullets. I think the Nolser's are a tad better then the SMK, but I will shoot what I have on hand.
Put these in a Laupa case with 46 gr of Varget and a Fed 210M primer and you will be good to go at 1K.
Because I am a Target Rifle shooter, I am limited to 155 bullets. If there was no limit, I might be tempted to try 175 SMK, just to see.

 

[james]

My 308 loves 46gr of varget under a 150gr barns tripple shock....shoots great and will kill anything...

 

[BigUglyMan]

Haven't gotten out to a thousand yet, but my LE2B likes 42 gr of Varget behind a 168 A-Max.

 

[moosehunter]

154 Lapua

Varget

win.

What would be your next choice of bullet Steve. I doubt my bud wants to lay out the bucks for that. Were talking a decent shooting factory gun.

 

[catnthehatt]

I shoot Palma style TR rifles, so I use a 155 Seirra and 46 grains of Varget, 45 on another rifle.
Cat

 

[pmt]

I use 175gr SMK with 44.7gr Varget, F210GM, norma. I use 180 SGK with 43gr for hunting.

 

[ivo]

I have used both 168 A Maxs and 168 MKs over 42-43 gr of Varget with very good results.

 

[Boomer]

I like 38.0 grs of Varget and a 200 gr MK. Muzzle velocity is low, but the bullet stays supersonic to well past 1000 yards.

 

[JoeP's old business account]

I think you'll find lots of suggestions on this one. Last fall the bull elk I shot with a Nosler BT 165 @ 370yds dropped dead in about 10 of its foot steps. Bullet was shot from a 30-06 in a Valmet Combo and was placed behind the shoulder. Only one rib and the bullet just seemed to blow up on the impact side. A few fragments were found to have travelled through to the other side. The jacket was later recovered (in a rib roast) with no lead core...

Not stellar performance but the beast dropped dead. Good accuracy.

I would use the BT again .

 

[p-17]

Since you specifically added hunting as a criterion, you'll have to stick to a hunting bullet designed for extreme accuracy at long range. If not, go with a decent 155 or 175-grain Sierra or 155 or 178-grain Hornady AMAX pushed by Varget.

For hunting, try either the new Nosler Accubond 180 or the Hornady Interbond 180 pushed by Varget. Some people are reporting match-bullet-like accuracy with these two bonded, plastic-tipped bullets, especially the Nosler, and they both have extremely high ballistic co-efficients.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

There have been many suggestions - I would add that the 168gr Sierra HPBTM bullet was designed for 300m competition. The 155 Sierra Palma bullet was specifically designed to stay supersonic beyond 1000yds. The US military long range sniper bullet is 175gr.

Your choice should be for very close matches between two bullets. One for holes in paper targets, and another for holes in hairy hides.