Ultimate accuracy in .308 Winchester

freedomintheskies said:
Looking for a super accurate load for the long range target use. Bullets are still sort of hard to come by and I have a few boxes of Hornady 168 gr HPBT and 168 gr A-Max's. I'd like to try some heavier bullets pending availability, but I don't want to waste money chasing something that will never work either.
My current load is a 168 gr. BTSP over 42.5gr. Varget and a WLR primer in commercial brass, FL sized. It was able to group 1/2 @ 100 through my Savage , but so far with my Ruger Precision RIfle, I'm only getting about 2.75"@ 300 yds.
Anyways, please chime in with your pet load or suggestions.
Click to expand...

Better bullets, better barrels, better set ups.

Google FTR rifles and see what the current state of tech for the 308 is.

Sub 1/2 min at 1000yds is our goal.

IMG_0690_zpsluit0tj4.jpg


We aren't using factory rifles.

Jerry

PS.. all sorts of bullets to offer. Just pm or email.
 
My ex-sniper buddy told me to get a Musgrave (which I did thanks to an EE seller) and to use 168 grain slugs (brand not known at time of writing).

A he put it "load 'em fast enough that if someone tries to outrun 'em they'll just die tired". SEAL speak that I haven't been able to translate into muzzle velocity numbers ;-)

Incidentally the seller's Father shot (and won) in the long range big leagues and they suggested roughly the same bullet weight so that is definitely where I'm going to start.
 
7.62MM Special Ball, Long Range
MK 316 MOD 0

Cartridge Case:
•
Developed a new, 7.62mm Match
Cartridge case from our experience with
308 Win. Gold Medal match cartridge

Primer:
•
Federal Cartridge Company’s Gold
Medal Match Primer was selected

Projectile:
•
Sierra MatchKing, 30 caliber
175 grain projectile was selected

Propellant

IMR-4064

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2009infantrysmallarms/tuesdaysessioniii8524.pdf

Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm Special Ball, Long Range, MK 316 MOD 0 (United States): A 175-grain round specifically designed for long-range sniping consisting of Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles, Federal Cartridge Company match cartridge cases and Gold Medal Match primers. The Propellant has been verified as IMR 4064 (per NSN 1305-01-567-6944 and Federal Cartridge Company Contract/Order Number N0016408DJN28 and has a charge weight per the specs of 41.7-grains

Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm, NATO, Ball, Special, M118LR (United States): 175-grain 7.62×51mm NATO Match-grade round specifically designed for long-range sniping. It uses a 175-grain Sierra Match King Hollow Point Boat Tail bullet. Produced at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The propellant's noticeable muzzle flash and temperature sensitivity led to the development of the MK 316 MOD 0 for Special Operations use.
NOTE, the M118LR as loaded with RL15 powder that turned out to be too temp sensitive in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
I doubt your Ruger will shoot as well as your Savage no matter what you load for it. This may be the most accurate rifle Ruger has ever made but Savage have been making accurate barrels for years.
I bought a bunch of Hornady 175gr HPBT to try in my Rem 700 308 but still haven't had time to do any loading with them yet.

Just curious (but not curious enough to look it up myself) what's the twist rate in the Ruger?

Be sure to update the post after you do more testing, be interesting to see what kind of groups it's capable of.

Good luck
 
scout_289 said:
My ex-sniper buddy told me to get a Musgrave (which I did thanks to an EE seller) and to use 168 grain slugs (brand not known at time of writing).

A he put it "load 'em fast enough that if someone tries to outrun 'em they'll just die tired". SEAL speak that I haven't been able to translate into muzzle velocity numbers ;-)

Incidentally the seller's Father shot (and won) in the long range big leagues and they suggested roughly the same bullet weight so that is definitely where I'm going to start.
Click to expand...

The 168 Sierra is accurate at close range. Guys do their load development at 100 and 200 and get excited about the groups. As others have said, the 168 SMK does not do very well at long rnage.

Sierra solved the problem. They changed the 168 boattail to a longer design, for long range shooting. That bullet is the 175 SMK. So if you want to shoot the 168 at long range, buy the 175.

Personally, I just use Sierra 155s at about 3,000 fps. This group is 1.75" high. 520 yards.

RAILGUN308AT525.jpg
 
I really like the suggestion of the 185gr Berger Juggernaut in .308.

Stretched the 168 smk consistently as far as it can do, as well as the 175 smk consistently as far as it can do. 800 and 1000 respectively.

I recall in another thread Jerry mentioning the 185gr Berger Juggernaut can get the .308 accurately out to 1200. I trust his experience and will be exploring this.

Any further 185gr Berger Juggernaut .308 load ideas appreciated.

Also recall him mentioning his brass of choice for .308 was Privi ?? Maybe my memory is fuzzy on that. Have some homework to do.
 
All the guys I know who shoot F-class competition use the 185gr Juggernauts, Vihtavuori powder of some type, Lapua Palma Match brass (small rifle primers), match/benchrest primers, and are running custom made rifles in the $3000-$8000 range. They all also use at least $1500-$2000 in glass.

When it comes to their loads they are usually pretty tight lipped about it though. I think one guy said he used Varget but I'm not sure; if he did it would be the odd one out.

All a tad rich for my blood but I appreciate what they do and take their advice when it applies to what I do. I do enjoy their technical discussions about barrels and optics when I get a chance to listen in.
 
There's not many 308's that won't group 155's (lapua scenars, sierra or such) with 45-46gr of N-150 or varget. Lots of TR loads are exactly that.
Next year for FTR I plan to shoot 155's scenar at 300M, maybe also 500M, and something heavier for longer ranges, haven't decided which yet but probably will stick to 175 scenar L's.
 
madashell said:
I really like the suggestion of the 185gr Berger Juggernaut in .308.

Stretched the 168 smk consistently as far as it can do, as well as the 175 smk consistently as far as it can do. 800 and 1000 respectively.

I recall in another thread Jerry mentioning the 185gr Berger Juggernaut can get the .308 accurately out to 1200. I trust his experience and will be exploring this.

Any further 185gr Berger Juggernaut .308 load ideas appreciated.

Also recall him mentioning his brass of choice for .308 was Privi ?? Maybe my memory is fuzzy on that. Have some homework to do.
Click to expand...

For the 185's, there is a very nice node around 2700'ish fps... in long barrels, with a good does of Varget or whatever you feel works.

I use and compete now with PRVI brass and it has served me well. I also use win brass for some situations. Others love Lapua.... A few with deep pockets go with Norma. A number of US shooters use Lake City. With proper brass prep, most quality, strong brands of brass will work.

There are other areas of far greater concern when trying to get the most out of your LR match rifle.

For a mag fed LR set up, I think the 185gr juggernaut/BT will be a very hard bullet to beat. Maybe one of these new Hrn plastic fantastics will be 'better' ?????

Jerry
 
scout_289 said:
My ex-sniper buddy told me to get a Musgrave (which I did thanks to an EE seller) and to use 168 grain slugs (brand not known at time of writing).

A he put it "load 'em fast enough that if someone tries to outrun 'em they'll just die tired". SEAL speak that I haven't been able to translate into muzzle velocity numbers ;-)

Incidentally the seller's Father shot (and won) in the long range big leagues and they suggested roughly the same bullet weight so that is definitely where I'm going to start.
Click to expand...

The Sierra 175 is the 168 with a sightly longer boattail, to make it suitable for long range.

Don't waste time on 168 when the 175 is available.
 
freedomintheskies said:
Looking for a super accurate load for the long range target use. Bullets are still sort of hard to come by and I have a few boxes of Hornady 168 gr HPBT and 168 gr A-Max's. I'd like to try some heavier bullets pending availability, but I don't want to waste money chasing something that will never work either.
My current load is a 168 gr. BTSP over 42.5gr. Varget and a WLR primer in commercial brass, FL sized. It was able to group 1/2 @ 100 through my Savage , but so far with my Ruger Precision RIfle, I'm only getting about 2.75"@ 300 yds.
Anyways, please chime in with your pet load or suggestions.
Click to expand...

Did you ever get a load dialed in for your Ruger? I just picked up the same rifle and will be loading 175g smk's over varget, lapua brass and cci br primers.
 
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