Thread: 308 - short barrel loads for medium-long range

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

Something to consider - if choosing to run 178gr weight class of projectiles in such a short .308 with 1/10 - 1/11 twist - is that going to be enough to stabilise them out at 400+m when theyre only going circa 2500fps?

My bad, bit of a thread hijack, I'm running a 22" barrel

Just speaking from the experience i had with 178eldx in my 16 inch .308 with a 1/11 twist, wouldnt shoot groups to save itself and would make elongated holes through the target at 100m. Longer barrel giving more MV & therefore higher initial projectile rpm might not be an issue till longer ranges?

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

Something to consider - if choosing to run 178gr weight class of projectiles in such a short .308 with 1/10 - 1/11 twist - is that going to be enough to stabilise them out at 400+m when theyre only going circa 2500fps?

This load is validated to 500 and seems to go well 18"tikka 178eldm 41.4 2206h win cases and fed 210 primers . My old 16" tikka I shot 180 sst out to 500 also i cant remember exact velocity but it was slow both rifles only punching paper out that far

Originally Posted by Kelton

This load is validated to 500 and seems to go well 18"tikka 178eldm 41.4 2206h win cases and fed 210 primers . My old 16" tikka I shot 180 sst out to 500 also i cant remember exact velocity but it was slow both rifles only punching paper out that far

Thats interesting. My 16" tikka was sending 178 eldx damn near sideways through the paper at 100m. Was fine with 150gr corelokt & shoots 130gr ttsx brilliantly now.

This is an 8” twist rifle if factory original? That might have an influence….?

Originally Posted by HandH

This is an 8” twist rifle if factory original? That might have an influence….?

If its 8" then it wont have any trouble at all stabilising the heavies.. they will just be slow

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

Thats interesting. My 16" tikka was sending 178 eldx damn near sideways through the paper at 100m. Was fine with 150gr corelokt & shoots 130gr ttsx brilliantly now.

This shooter loves them mate saami coal

I was just using factory precision hunter rounds, not handloads. So saami coal also. Not sure why it shot them so terribly but had no issues with lighter bullets.

I have a T3x in 16inch, have managed to find a good couple of groups sub 0.7MOA coming out at 2635 fps.
Maxed out COAL at mag length: 2.82. Loaded with 46.5gn 2208 and 150gn SST pill in Lapua brass. Happy to shoot out to 400, but it takes a bit of time and a fair few rounds to get used to it.
I rate the Burris Signature HD 3-15 x42 as a cheaper starting point for this setup - there's a bit of dialing!
Knocked over 3 fallow and 8 goats on the weekend 40m - 340m. These loads are great on reds too!

My bad as well 22 inch , Sako 85, 1/11 twist, best I have ever shot & still haunts me. Couple of guys can varify, one commented F*^k you might as well go home. Propably a fluke but I'll take it.
19 dec 2018.pdf

Originally Posted by flock

My bad as well 22 inch , Sako 85, 1/11 twist, best I have ever shot & still haunts me. Couple of guys can varify, one commented F*^k you might as well go home. Propably a fluke but I'll take it.
Attachment 222704

The Lupo is the same 22" 1in 11 twist and is meant to shoot the 178gn eldx extremely well, so I'm told anyway.....I will get some loaded eventually but I'm a little busy with other projects currently

I'd run 155 TMK, 150 SST or 155 eld's in your situation with 2206h as its more available. at the moment getting primers is a mission though.

but for factory ammo its pretty hard to go past hornady 150sst Superformance, it has a bucket load of speed even out of shorter barrel rigs as a rule and has shot well for most rifles I've seen it in.

500m is a long way for a slow low BC .308 but its quite doable. if you can get out there and practice in the wind a bit.