Projectile seclection, .308win long range hunting.

Fireman_DJ

Recently my rifle club voted to trial F/TR, which allows me unrestricted choice of .308 projectiles.
We shoot out to 1000 yards.

Currently I'm using hollow point boat tail high ballistic coefficient 155gn projectiles designed for long range shooting.

As this gun is also used for hunting (at much closer ranges until I can ensure a clean kill every time), I'd like a single load so my range data will work in the field too.

Which leaves me at this question, what projectile will have good expansion on medium to thick skinned game such as Sambar deer, pigs etc. Also will be used on smaller game such as goats, dogs, foxes and cats (the last three are moments of opportunities, kill the buggers with what ever you have before they get away!)

But, 90% of the time it works at the range so needs to be consistent and stable out to 1000 yard and remain super-sonic.
Not worried about bullet drop, that's just a couple of clicks more I need to add on the scope.

Clearly most rounds won't expand at that range, but the paper target won't mind that.

Something in the 165-180gn range.

It's a Rem700 varmint, 26" barrel with 1 in 12 twist.

Any help in narrowing down a suitable bullet would be much appreciated.

dhc4ever

I havent tried these but if you want to punch paper and kill maybe these would be in the ball park;

www.sierrabullets.com/...llettype=0

Getting a bullet to do both is a bit of a compromise but it will be fun trying.

I've got some 150 grn gamekings waiting for me to get off my arse and develop a load for my CZ 550 in 308, Ive yet to try them.
Our american cousins will no doubt chime in shortly.
I cant even see 1000 meters anymore let alone shoot that far.
Sounds like fun good luck with it

Fireman_DJ

I'll give you a good tip then. I run a 10-50x60 scope!
I don't tend to go over 30 power however.

Vince

As Pete said...at best it will only be a compromise. Matchkings are a very marginal bullet for hunting, but I agree with Pete when he says Gamekings are a good compromise.

I'd try the Gamekings at long range and see what sort of accuracy they deliver. If its acceptable, then develop a hunting load for them. Barring that mate, I would develop two different loads because the two aims are very different and will require a different approach to attain an acceptable result in each.

Cheers, Vince

Fireman_DJ

I'm currently using the Dyres HBC's (only available from state rifle associations and only available in lots of 1000 rounds).

From day one I knew there was no rifle or ammo that could do both perfectly. But, I intend to try my best.

One of the guys at the range is a pro (last week he scored 126 out of 126 over 300, 500 and 600 yards) and is going to help me out with a ladder test when I change cases to Lapua (from Winchester).

That's meant to be pretty good at finding the right muzzle velocity to use. I figure of box of 100 should be all I need to find the load to get my MV and get a good 15 shot group.

I don't really want to have to have two set's of data, or that might get confusing.

Ominivision1

Another bullet to look at is the Nosler ballistic tip 165gr, has a pretty high BC to carry out at longer ranges. Has both punch and expansion for close or far away shots.

Vince

I'm not familiar with those projectiles mate...but I think you will find it difficult and frustrating to try and overlap, and achieve an acceptable result, in each activity.

Cheers, Vince

Fireman_DJ

High BC is one issue, but stability is more important.

chambered221

I second the recommendation on B-Tips !!!

At those distances you'll probably need to sort your bullets by ogive and possibly weight.

Other options might be the Hornady SST's and the Berger VLD hunting bullet.
The B-Tips and SST's are the most consistent/accurate hunting bullets I've found.
The Bergers have a lot of talk going for them but I've never used them personally. Do some research if you consider them.

Pumpkinslinger

I was going to suggest the Hornady SSTs but I see Chambered beat me to it.

slimjim

chambered221 wrote:

Other options might be the Hornady SST's and the Berger VLD hunting bullet.

I think you will need a lead-core bullet for the task. They provide more powder capacity and open up at slower velocities and copper bullets. I like chambered's options. Note, I've never hunted with Berger VLDs but their hunting bullets are as great as their target bullets when it comes to accuracy and they have some good BC options that will work in a 1:12 twist. Their 150gr VLD shot extremely accurate for my .270. PM me your email address and I can send you every detail you want to know about Berger bullets.

chambered221

Running some numbers through Point Blank, the 165gr-180gr B-Tips are closer to one another than I would have thought !!! (trajectory/drift)

The 165 would give you a viable 600 yard hunting load, the 180 about 500 yards.

I figured it with a 200fps difference.

If it were me I'd start with the 168gr B-T with it's .490BC

Elvis

check out New Zealand Hunter magazine as Greg and the lads do a heck of alot of looooong rang stuff and shoot animals at ranges that bogle the mind. the ethics aside he has alot of good tips and a wealth of experience to draw on.

inthedark

Ominivision1 wrote:

Another bullet to look at is the Nosler ballistic tip 165gr, has a pretty high BC to carry out at longer ranges. Has both punch and expansion for close or far away shots.

I have been using the 165gr Nosler BTips for over ten years and they are a good performer out to 350yds by my actual experience. They would be a bullet that I would use for long range. The only issue that I could say with certainty is that when I have hit an animal in a quartering shot by accident, that when the bullet impacts that after going through ribs that it did destabilze and come apart inside. That being said, the animals did not make it any further than 25 yards at most.

Fireman_DJ

Well, I've been away for a good weekend.
Hunting rabbits on night one, camped at the gun range for the 600 yard shoot and finished with a night and morning in the bush hunting soft drink cans filled with water.

I've got plenty of food for thought and the list of four projectiles a lot closer then wading through every "best thing since sliced bread" projectile.

I shall do my research further into these bullets and maybe try a pack of each of them at 300 yards and at 1000 yards.