Best bullet weight?

[Jessie]

What has everyone found to be the most accurate out of this rifle. 168 or 175? I would think that the lighter ones won't do as well because of twist rate. Anybody have any feedback on them?

 

[rojodiablo]

The 1-10 twist rate on a .30 cal is a LOT different than the 1-7 thru 1-9 twist on a .223.

I have found that with the 16" barrel, the overall best round has been the 150gr. I had better downrange with a 165gr, but it was so close to the 150gr it did not matter. These 2 stayed very close out to 350yds.
The 16" barrels in general do not really like the 175gr ammo nearly as much as they do the 165/150gr. There is a small velocity drop vs a 20" barrel, and it shows itself pretty clearly when you reach beyond 250yds.... the 175gr starts to fall more rapidly between 250-350.

 

[Jessie]

Thanks for that. It surprised me a little to hear that the 150gr weight range is a better performer than 168 and up.
With the price of ammo, I don't want to waste any money on something that won't wring the best performance out of the gun.
I just got mine and haven't had a chance to experiment. This info helps to establish a starting point with it.

 

[cb4017]

I've been shooting mostly 168 gr FGGM and handloads with Hornady or Nosler 168 gr match grade bullets. I've been very pleased with the performance out to 500 yards. 155 gr AMAX shoot well but I haven't done as much with them. Haven't tried 175 gr yet but I anticipate they would shoot fine.

Keep in mind that unless you're shooting match grade ammo or handloads you'll likely not get match style grouping.

Just a reminder these rifles have 18" barrels.

Good Luck!

 

[HYRYSC]

I roll my own ammo and go back and forth between 150 and 168 grain. Mine tends to like the lighter bullets, but is no slouch with the 168 grain.

I also loaded up some 110 grain Vmax, but haven't had an opportunity to work up any kind of a load for them. The ones that I have put downrange seemed to group acceptably with just the starting loads of IMR4895 that I used.

 

[Jessie]

Reloading for it will come next after I wring it out a little and figure out what it likes.
It sounds like it shoots all weights pretty well. That's good to hear.
Btw, don't know if it matters much but I'm shooting a non comped heavy barrel version.

 

[mkk41]

Sierra makes a 155gr Palma Matchking I've been wanting to try. Don't have anywhere to shoot over 500yds.

 

[Jessie]

Sierra makes a 155gr Palma Matchking I've been wanting to try. Don't have anywhere to shoot over 500yds.

You're lucky, finding 500yds is tough enough!

 

[rojodiablo]

You're lucky, finding 500yds is tough enough!

It's almost unfair. Here in Ca. we have a lot of BS regulations....... but we DO have the Mojave desert to shoot in.
We got spots out to 100,000 yards. The trick is finding something that can shoot that far without re-enlisting!!!

Jessie, for Va hunting and similar, its' not going to be an issue. Most of your hunting is woodlands, and just about anything is going to fly plenty straight enough for you.

As to ammo: The best accuracy from standard ammo I have gotten has been Winchester XPII. For premium ammo, it has consistently been Federal Nosler Ballistic tips. And, for plinking, everything works just fine. In fact, you will be surprised at just how close most ammo is, though the cheaper stuff lacks consistency. I get 1.5moa at 100yds from Winchester XP with a 6x scope. With my 06, and the same ammo, I see .9moa. Federal ballistic tips give me from.65 to .9, which depends much more on me than the rifle- (the 06). The 308 is not up to par with delivering consistent 1moa, because I am not running enough optic. And, with WPA/ Wolf 147 gr. the rifle gives up 2-2.5moa consistently.
Not bad for 40 cents a shot!

 

[Jessie]

I agree with the Nosler BT, that's been the most accurate and consistent bullet I've reloaded for my .270.
We do get the occasional 300-500 yd shots here, especially around the cornfields and power lines. Sometimes even longer if you're able. Unless conditions were perfect and it was a monster buck that I knew it was a now or never shot, and I got up on the right side of the bed that morning, 500yd is about the max I would attempt.

 

[ohbejuan]

So far mine is **** with 150 gr. Can near keyhole two and then the third flies off in the middle of nowhere several inches in any given direction. Going to try some 168gr Sierra Matchking HPBT next time and see if they stabilize not to mention it's a great bolt action right now...bolt not coming all the way back and picking up the next round

 

[rojodiablo]

So far mine is **** with 150 gr. Can near keyhole two and then the third flies off in the middle of nowhere several inches in any given direction. Going to try some 168gr Sierra Matchking HPBT next time and see if they stabilize not to mention it's a great bolt action right now...bolt not coming all the way back and picking up the next round

More likely than not it is the amount of play between the upper and lower. If you ever get a chance to check out a precision AR meant for the Presidents' Match- you will understand what I mean.
With any AR based 308, unless it has been massaged I will not expect it to come in much better than 1.5MOA for the average shooter, regardless of optic.
As to what I mean by massaged, a shim here and an O-ring there make a big difference. For bench shooting, buffer and spring combinations make a difference, as does free floating the barrel. But for an out of the box rifle, if it hits a pie plate at 200yds, I am happy.

 

[Cc426]

i've shot 168 and 175 gr FGMM and Privi and it doesn't seem to make much difference in accuracy out to 200 yards - i don't have a range close by that is any further. Both are sub moa or right at moa

I've shot a lot of the lighter stuff to 145/147/150gr and these seem to all shoot around 4-8 MOA for me. i shoot 5-10 shot groups, and usually the bulk of the group is decent (2-3moa) but will almost always get fliers