Most Accurate Round In .308?

Moshk2 · January 22, 2008, 10:00 PM

Out of curiosity, I am wondering what everyone who shoots .308 rounds thinks the most accurate non-hand loaded round is. And also are reloader rounds more accurate?

spctim11 · January 22, 2008, 10:12 PM

To what distance?
Reloaded rounds tweaked for a specific rifle can be more accurate than factory.

Yankee Doodle · January 22, 2008, 10:15 PM

Generally speaking, Federal Match is what all others are compared to. Very accurate, expensive.
I can shoot much better groups using the handloads I have worked uo for my .308. Less expensive, a lot more work.
In most cases, you can work up a load that will beat factory ammo in your rifle. That's why most competitors reload.

azredhawk44 · January 22, 2008, 10:39 PM

Black Hills Match 168gr is also well though of. Along the same lines as Federal GM Match, but last I heard it was using Winchester brass and Sierra Matchkings for components.

I haven't ever bought any commercial match ammo. I do handloads for my short-barreled M1A and get about 1.25-1.5 MOA out of it. I might be able to do better, but I suspect that at this point the rifle is more the culprit than the ammo; unitizing the gas system and getting a match grade spring guide (along with more practice) will do more for me than load development.

IIRC, the 168gr HPBT match bullet has fallen out of favor with most .308 shooters. There's a 155gr bullet design out that is all the rage (is it called the Palma?) and also a match HPBT around 180 grains from Sierra that both outshoot the 168's.

I'm still behind the curve and shooting 168's though when I really care about paper accuracy.

Jimro · January 22, 2008, 10:55 PM

I doubt you'll find a commercial Palma load. I've never seen a palma shooter use factory ammo. Launching a 155 gr BTHP at around 3k from a 30 inch barrel isn't something most shooters do.

Federal Gold Medal Match is good, Black hills in 168 gr and 175 gr SMK are probably the best bet, but shoot a couple different boxes to find what your rifle shoots best.

Current mil sniper load is m118lr. It uses the the 175 smk. It's a good load for accurate long range, but for everything 600 and less just shoot what is most accurate in your load.

Jimro

UniversalFrost · January 22, 2008, 10:57 PM

most accurate .308's I shoot are the ones I reload.

you NEED to learn how to reload.

JOE

Zak Smith · January 23, 2008, 01:01 AM

Lapua has a factory 155. It shoots the 0.508 BC 155gr Scenar at about 2825 fps.

spctim11 · January 23, 2008, 06:46 PM

Cor-Bon

http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/perfmatch.htm

Chris Phelps · January 23, 2008, 06:54 PM

M118LR (175gr hpbt)

HSM or Federal gold metal match

unchargedken · January 23, 2008, 08:37 PM

Lapua Brass Federal GM210M Primers RL15 or Varget powder the bullet is up to your rifle 155 168 178 Sierra or Nosler would be A good guess. But all you can do is try A few weights and then fine tune for YOUR rifle very seldom find two the same. All it takes is time in A .308 pretty much any resonable load will out shoot most shooters you almost have to work to make them bad. The best group I ever shot with factory ammo was sellier & bellot 168 but havent talked with many people that agree with that

good luck
ken

IdahoG36 · January 23, 2008, 09:57 PM

I shoot Black Hills 168gr BTHP Match grade exclusively out of my Remington 700 VSF, and have shot 3 shot groups at 100 yards you could cover with a nickel, five shot groups at around 1-1.5 inches. Very accurate stuff, and reasonably priced. I pay $20 for a 20 round box.

Wyatt Earp · January 24, 2008, 10:11 AM

IdahoG36, where do you get that Black Hills ammo? I was getting it for $20 a box at Cabela's but they went up to $26 a box.

Wildalaska · January 24, 2008, 01:43 PM

Lapua Brass, 210M, 185Gr Scenar, neck sized cases, 40gr RL15, 2400 FPS

WildhaveyouheldyourBlaserTactical2todayAlaska ™

Moshk2 · January 24, 2008, 07:43 PM

Thanks everyone for the responses. They are greatly appreciated.

IdahoG36 · January 24, 2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

IdahoG36, where do you get that Black Hills ammo? I was getting it for $20 a box at Cabela's but they went up to $26 a box

I also buy from Cabela's. I was just up there yesterday to buy two more boxes, and it rang up at $26 a box, not $19.95.

When I told them the tag on the shelf said $19.95, they checked and it was, so that's what I paid for it. They said that their ammunition prices were increasing.

Wyatt Earp · February 7, 2008, 11:48 PM

IdahoG36, thought I'd let you know I found the BHA for $21.95.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/newammo.htm

Can save a couple of bucks anyway.

velocette · February 8, 2008, 06:41 AM

Believe it or not, in my LR 308, the Federal, Power Shok 150 grain PSP in the blue box shoots very well, better in fact than any of the other factory hunting ammo I tried. (I did not try any factory "match" ammo) I got 100 yd groups averaging .85" from it. The really great part was the price! When I bought it a few months ago it was $10.99 / box, now it it $12.99 per box. For a change, the cheap stuff works best!
After you learn to reload, (and you really must) you can try the Sierra 168 Matchking and 41 gr of IMR 4895 or the 155 Palma Matchking and 43 gr, of 4895. for even better results.

Roger

January 22, 2008, 10:00 PM	#1
Moshk2 Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Posts: 2	Most Accurate Round In .308? Out of curiosity, I am wondering what everyone who shoots .308 rounds thinks the most accurate non-hand loaded round is. And also are reloader rounds more accurate?

January 22, 2008, 10:12 PM	#2
spctim11 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 210	To what distance? Reloaded rounds tweaked for a specific rifle can be more accurate than factory. __________________ www.bayoushooter.com

January 22, 2008, 10:55 PM	#5
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	I doubt you'll find a commercial Palma load. I've never seen a palma shooter use factory ammo. Launching a 155 gr BTHP at around 3k from a 30 inch barrel isn't something most shooters do. Federal Gold Medal Match is good, Black hills in 168 gr and 175 gr SMK are probably the best bet, but shoot a couple different boxes to find what your rifle shoots best. Current mil sniper load is m118lr. It uses the the 175 smk. It's a good load for accurate long range, but for everything 600 and less just shoot what is most accurate in your load. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

January 22, 2008, 10:57 PM	#6
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	most accurate .308's I shoot are the ones I reload. you NEED to learn how to reload. JOE __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 23, 2008, 01:01 AM	#7
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Lapua has a factory 155. It shoots the 0.508 BC 155gr Scenar at about 2825 fps. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

January 22, 2008, 10:15 PM	#3
Yankee Doodle Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 619	Generally speaking, Federal Match is what all others are compared to. Very accurate, expensive. I can shoot much better groups using the handloads I have worked uo for my .308. Less expensive, a lot more work. In most cases, you can work up a load that will beat factory ammo in your rifle. That's why most competitors reload.

January 22, 2008, 10:39 PM	#4
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	Black Hills Match 168gr is also well though of. Along the same lines as Federal GM Match, but last I heard it was using Winchester brass and Sierra Matchkings for components. I haven't ever bought any commercial match ammo. I do handloads for my short-barreled M1A and get about 1.25-1.5 MOA out of it. I might be able to do better, but I suspect that at this point the rifle is more the culprit than the ammo; unitizing the gas system and getting a match grade spring guide (along with more practice) will do more for me than load development. IIRC, the 168gr HPBT match bullet has fallen out of favor with most .308 shooters. There's a 155gr bullet design out that is all the rage (is it called the Palma?) and also a match HPBT around 180 grains from Sierra that both outshoot the 168's. I'm still behind the curve and shooting 168's though when I really care about paper accuracy.

January 23, 2008, 06:46 PM	#8
spctim11 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 210	Cor-Bon http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/perfmatch.htm __________________ www.bayoushooter.com

January 23, 2008, 06:54 PM	#9
Chris Phelps Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: South China, Maine Posts: 814	M118LR (175gr hpbt) HSM or Federal gold metal match __________________ Bushmaster Superlight AR-15 5.56mm / Custom 24" Heavy BBL Varmint AR-15 5.56mm / Ruger M77 .257 Roberts / Ruger MKI 22LR Pistol / EAA Witness 9mm Pistol / Daisy 2202 22LR / Remington Viper 522 22LR / Stevens 200 .223 / Savage 10FP 24" .308 / Mauser 98 Sporter 30-06

January 23, 2008, 08:37 PM	#10
unchargedken Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2008 Location: steeleville il Posts: 5	Lapua Brass Federal GM210M Primers RL15 or Varget powder the bullet is up to your rifle 155 168 178 Sierra or Nosler would be A good guess. But all you can do is try A few weights and then fine tune for YOUR rifle very seldom find two the same. All it takes is time in A .308 pretty much any resonable load will out shoot most shooters you almost have to work to make them bad. The best group I ever shot with factory ammo was sellier & bellot 168 but havent talked with many people that agree with that good luck ken

January 23, 2008, 09:57 PM	#11
IdahoG36 Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 2,993	I shoot Black Hills 168gr BTHP Match grade exclusively out of my Remington 700 VSF, and have shot 3 shot groups at 100 yards you could cover with a nickel, five shot groups at around 1-1.5 inches. Very accurate stuff, and reasonably priced. I pay $20 for a 20 round box.

January 24, 2008, 10:11 AM	#12
Wyatt Earp Member Join Date: March 31, 2005 Posts: 80	IdahoG36, where do you get that Black Hills ammo? I was getting it for $20 a box at Cabela's but they went up to $26 a box.

January 24, 2008, 01:43 PM	#13
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Lapua Brass, 210M, 185Gr Scenar, neck sized cases, 40gr RL15, 2400 FPS WildhaveyouheldyourBlaserTactical2todayAlaska ™

January 24, 2008, 07:43 PM	#14
Moshk2 Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Posts: 2	Thanks everyone for the responses. They are greatly appreciated.

February 7, 2008, 11:48 PM	#16
Wyatt Earp Member Join Date: March 31, 2005 Posts: 80	IdahoG36, thought I'd let you know I found the BHA for $21.95. http://www.fulton-armory.com/newammo.htm Can save a couple of bucks anyway.

February 8, 2008, 06:41 AM	#17
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Believe it or not, in my LR 308, the Federal, Power Shok 150 grain PSP in the blue box shoots very well, better in fact than any of the other factory hunting ammo I tried. (I did not try any factory "match" ammo) I got 100 yd groups averaging .85" from it. The really great part was the price! When I bought it a few months ago it was $10.99 / box, now it it $12.99 per box. For a change, the cheap stuff works best! After you learn to reload, (and you really must) you can try the Sierra 168 Matchking and 41 gr of IMR 4895 or the 155 Palma Matchking and 43 gr, of 4895. for even better results. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master