How heavy can we go in the .308 Win?

[mindcrime]

What is the heaviest bullet weight that one can "accurately" fire in a .308 Win. with a 1/12 twist, 26 inch barrel, and the projectile still remain stable at the magical 1000 yard range?

The reason I'm asking is that I have 450, 210gr. Bergers left sitting on my shelf after I sold my .300 Win Mag Sendero, and wondered how well they'd do in a Rem 700VS. I am assuming a muzzle velocity of 2400 fps. Thanks for any comments!

 

[Brent]

I'm pretty sure they won't work with out a 10 maybe an 11 twist. The 12 twist will work up to 168, maybe 178 or 180 maybe, beyond that you will be lucky. My 308 won't even stabilize a 180 with the 12.

 

[mindcrime]

Brent, I have noticed that Hornady listed loads for their 190 gr. BTHP Match bullet in the Fourth Edition of their manual for the .308. The loads here chronographed at 2400-2500fps max. from a 1/12 twist, 22 inch tube. Unfortunately, they don't give any indication to what the average 100 yard group size was!

Just as a curiousity, there is a member of the Varmint Hunters Association(of which I am a member too) by the name of Bruce Artus who has been launching 220gr. Matchkings and making repeatable confirmed hits out to around 3100 yards......with a .308 Ackley Improved and a 1/8 twist Obermeyer barrel. Who really needs laser trajectory and barrel burning?

 

[Brent]

MC,
my Load From a Disk program says that a 190gr SMK still needs a 10 twist up to 2790 fps then a 11 twist will work beyond this up to 3190 and then a 12 twist will work.

I'll bet that's one hell of a tapored base on that 308 he's got there.

I can just picture the bullet path now, they probably have to tip the target stand backwards so it doesn't tear the target vertically on impact.

 

[MontanaMarine]

I shoot the 190SMK moly coated, in my Remm700VS, 26" 1-12. I'm using 43gr RL-15, and getting repeatable .5moa accuracy out to 200 yards. That's as far as I've shot them.

Before starting, I spoke with one of the guys at Sierra. After my inquiry, he put together a load at a relatively slow 2200fps, and it printed 3/8" groups at 200 yards, in .308 case, 1-12 twist, in their testing facility.

MM

[ 11-23-2002: Message edited by: MontanaMarine ]

 

[RiverRat]

I have two 308's with 1 in 12 twist barrels and they will both stabalize the 190 MK. to 600 yards at least. I just prefer a 155 MK at 2900, or a 175 MK at 2700 fps for 1000 yard work. While I am not recoil sensitive shooting 50 of the 190's from the prone position will work on me by time I am done.

Shoot Safe Shoot Straight.....RiverRat

 

[MontanaMarine]

5 Degrees!! Wow....thats 300 moa...thats more than a sight base, during the off season, it can be gainfully employed as a splitting wedge!!

MM

 

[Brent]

MC,
I have the book, I was thinking of that setup when posting

Those 3-4" tall mounts need an awfull tall cheek piece.

If they shortened the barrel to 10-15" they could probably get a little more comfortable, but of course 2000 yards might be the limit then.

 

[mindcrime]

Mr. Artus definitely gives new meaning to the phrases "lobbing them in" and "fire for affect!"

Brent, good to find out you're a "reader" too. I can't read enough of this stuff!

MM, you need to get a copy of that book! No rangefinding reticles here, as the target would be out of the sight picture even with meager 20 moa bases.

Too bad I don't have any decent long range shooting areas around here(guess I have to go to Nashville to see FatBoy).

 

[mindcrime]

Thanks for all your responses Brent, MM, and Gary. Sounds like I need to buy a box of 500, 175gr. Matchkings. Guess the Bergers will sit there until I get a 30 Super Thumper(no need to waste them).

Brent, the tapered bases are obviously tapered!!!

My Baer/Lightforce 20moa tapered bases have nothing on his 5 degree tapered bases!!! If you ask Mrs. Claus for the book titled "Precision Shooting at 1000 yards" for Christmas there is a three part article on Mr. Artus and his setup. It's very cool!!!