Need something to start the process with my FN PBR.
might try over at snipershide.com also.
63 grains of H4831sc, Rem brass, 220 SMKs, Fed 210M. 210s usually give much lower ES with the WSMs and H4831sc, and low ES are critical to long range accuracy. Jam the bullet into the lands .005 to .015". Sort the bullets by ogive length and then trim the noses. Make sure the brass is sorted by weight and make sure the neckwall thickness varies by .001" or less.
Velocity was 2738 fps with an ES of 11 FPS. In nine matches with this load I shot 5 screamer groups (4" and under at 1000 yds), set two club agg records, tied the world score record twice, shot small group of the match almost every match, and won most of the matches.
This may be a warm load for your FN action.
Also, what rocks the world at 1000 yds in windy conditions may not do so well at 500 and 600 yds. The bullets used for 600 yd BR are usually different than those used for 1K BR. If I were trying to find a dedicated 600 yd and under load, I'd look VERY hard at the Bib 187 grainer as well as the 190 and 200 grain SMKs and Bergers. 600 yd bullets don't need as high of BC as do 1000 yd bulelts, and the shorter bullets do tend to shoot better--as long as it isn't too windy. The lighter bullets also have the advnatage of more velocity, which helps when shooting targets of imprecisely known distances.
Velocity was 2738 fps with an ES of 11 FPS. In nine matches with this load I shot 5 screamer groups (4" and under at 1000 yds), set two club agg records, tied the world score record twice, shot small group of the match almost every match, and won most of the matches.
This may be a warm load for your FN action.
Also, what rocks the world at 1000 yds in windy conditions may not do so well at 500 and 600 yds. The bullets used for 600 yd BR are usually different than those used for 1K BR. If I were trying to find a dedicated 600 yd and under load, I'd look VERY hard at the Bib 187 grainer as well as the 190 and 200 grain SMKs and Bergers. 600 yd bullets don't need as high of BC as do 1000 yd bulelts, and the shorter bullets do tend to shoot better--as long as it isn't too windy. The lighter bullets also have the advnatage of more velocity, which helps when shooting targets of imprecisely known distances.
IIRC 64.5 grains of RL-19 under a 180 grain TSX, mag winchester primers.
Spot
Spot
Sounds like a fantastic hunting load, but wouldn't that be a bit spendy for target shooting?
I practice with hunting loads - and yes it is spendy!!!
What kind of velocities and long range accuracy do you get with the 180 TSX?
I wasn't going out to 500, only 300 but it was grouping at 2.3" at 300 off my backpack.
Spot
What velocity?
2850 IIRC - I sold that rifle last year.
That's about what I would have guessed. I can't think of a better all-around NA big game rig than one that shoots 30 cal, 180 grain TSXs as fast as they can accurately be driven........
Blaine,
What are the advantages and disadvantages between the 300 WSM and 308 Win? Do you have a favorite 308 load for 600 and under?
I have a 700 PSS with 26" tube and 3.5x15 NXS scope in 308. I'm building the 300 WSM FN with 24" barrel in a McMillan A3 stock. Scope as yet undetermined, but the Nikon Monarch 5X20X50 SF or the Bushnell 65000 6.5X30X50 SF are candidates.
Finally, 6.5 vs 30 cal? I'm hearing great things about the 260 rem as a long range round. 260 or 6.5X284 or 6.5 WSM?
What are the advantages and disadvantages between the 300 WSM and 308 Win? Do you have a favorite 308 load for 600 and under?
I have a 700 PSS with 26" tube and 3.5x15 NXS scope in 308. I'm building the 300 WSM FN with 24" barrel in a McMillan A3 stock. Scope as yet undetermined, but the Nikon Monarch 5X20X50 SF or the Bushnell 65000 6.5X30X50 SF are candidates.
Finally, 6.5 vs 30 cal? I'm hearing great things about the 260 rem as a long range round. 260 or 6.5X284 or 6.5 WSM?
That's some darn impressive shooting Blaine!
Originally Posted by Blaine
63 grains of H4831sc, Rem brass, 220 SMKs, Fed 210M. 210s usually give much lower ES with the WSMs and H4831sc, and low ES are critical to long range accuracy. Jam the bullet into the lands .005 to .015". Sort the bullets by ogive length and then trim the noses. Make sure the brass is sorted by weight and make sure the neckwall thickness varies by .001" or less.
Velocity was 2738 fps with an ES of 11 FPS. In nine matches with this load I shot 5 screamer groups (4" and under at 1000 yds), set two club agg records, tied the world score record twice, shot small group of the match almost every match, and won most of the matches.
This may be a warm load for your FN action.
Also, what rocks the world at 1000 yds in windy conditions may not do so well at 500 and 600 yds. The bullets used for 600 yd BR are usually different than those used for 1K BR. If I were trying to find a dedicated 600 yd and under load, I'd look VERY hard at the Bib 187 grainer as well as the 190 and 200 grain SMKs and Bergers. 600 yd bullets don't need as high of BC as do 1000 yd bulelts, and the shorter bullets do tend to shoot better--as long as it isn't too windy. The lighter bullets also have the advnatage of more velocity, which helps when shooting targets of imprecisely known distances.
Velocity was 2738 fps with an ES of 11 FPS. In nine matches with this load I shot 5 screamer groups (4" and under at 1000 yds), set two club agg records, tied the world score record twice, shot small group of the match almost every match, and won most of the matches.
This may be a warm load for your FN action.
Also, what rocks the world at 1000 yds in windy conditions may not do so well at 500 and 600 yds. The bullets used for 600 yd BR are usually different than those used for 1K BR. If I were trying to find a dedicated 600 yd and under load, I'd look VERY hard at the Bib 187 grainer as well as the 190 and 200 grain SMKs and Bergers. 600 yd bullets don't need as high of BC as do 1000 yd bulelts, and the shorter bullets do tend to shoot better--as long as it isn't too windy. The lighter bullets also have the advnatage of more velocity, which helps when shooting targets of imprecisely known distances.
Yeah I had a very good run for a while. I moved (relocated) and thus stopped competing before my "run" ended, but it would have ended sooner or later.
The .308 will recoil less and give better barrel life, but it will drift a lot more in the wind. I haven't shot the .308 at long range, but you'd likely use a 168 or 175 SMK and drive as fast as you could.
If I were building a dedicated 600 yd rifle I'd make it a 6 BR Norma and shoot 107 or 115 grain match bullets. The 260 Rem would also be a good choice and I would prefer it over the 308. I shot a 6.5x284 for a while and it is a great 1000 yd round with the 142 grain SMK. The only downside to it is throat erosion, but it would shoot a higher BC bullet faster than the 260 Rem. I don't think you need the case capacity of a 6.5 WSM.
The reason throat erosion is such a consideration is in some types of competiton shooting you abuse the barrel, shooting it even when it is hot. In 1K BR I'd get the barrel warmed up shooting 3-4 sighters in a 3 minute sighter period, then immediately pound out 5 or 10 shots for record as fast as I could single feed them through my right bolt, left port Stiller Python action. I could get 5 rounds off in under a minute. The barrel was too hot to touch after that and I'd do that three times in a match.
If I were building a dedicated 600 yd rifle I'd make it a 6 BR Norma and shoot 107 or 115 grain match bullets. The 260 Rem would also be a good choice and I would prefer it over the 308. I shot a 6.5x284 for a while and it is a great 1000 yd round with the 142 grain SMK. The only downside to it is throat erosion, but it would shoot a higher BC bullet faster than the 260 Rem. I don't think you need the case capacity of a 6.5 WSM.
The reason throat erosion is such a consideration is in some types of competiton shooting you abuse the barrel, shooting it even when it is hot. In 1K BR I'd get the barrel warmed up shooting 3-4 sighters in a 3 minute sighter period, then immediately pound out 5 or 10 shots for record as fast as I could single feed them through my right bolt, left port Stiller Python action. I could get 5 rounds off in under a minute. The barrel was too hot to touch after that and I'd do that three times in a match.
Blaine,
Do you have a favorite 308 load for targets? Hunting? I'd like to find something using, say, the 175 smk and the 180 TTSX where the shift from target to hunting would not be too extreeme in terms of drop, wind, etc.
Ditto for the 300 WSM. I don't know what the "Bib 187 grainer " is, but know Bergers can be used for target and hunting. Would you recommend I look in the 180 grain range or the 220 grain range?
I'm starting from zero on this one, although I own a few 308 light rifles that I hunt with(kimber montana, Rem mountain guide, rem 722).
This is my first dedicated excursion into long range shooting, and my first significant investment os funds and time into the same.
Do you have a favorite 308 load for targets? Hunting? I'd like to find something using, say, the 175 smk and the 180 TTSX where the shift from target to hunting would not be too extreeme in terms of drop, wind, etc.
Ditto for the 300 WSM. I don't know what the "Bib 187 grainer " is, but know Bergers can be used for target and hunting. Would you recommend I look in the 180 grain range or the 220 grain range?
I'm starting from zero on this one, although I own a few 308 light rifles that I hunt with(kimber montana, Rem mountain guide, rem 722).
This is my first dedicated excursion into long range shooting, and my first significant investment os funds and time into the same.
I haven't shot the .308 much at all, so I don't have any loads myself. However, to try and do what you want to do I'd look to the 168 SMK and the 168 Barnes TTSX.
My 300 WSM load was a purely match load. 63 grains of H4831sc, Rem brass, 220 SMKs, Fed 210M. Bullets jammed into the lands .005 to .015".
I like the idea of Accubonds for long range game, but they don't always shoot well in a given rifle. However, a 180 AB at 2900-3000 fps from a 300 WSM should work well. I'd use Fed 210s though, as they seem to work better in the WSM case.
Given you're looking ot 500-600 yds, I think a 180 grainer would eb a very good choice for the 300 WSM and the 180 Berger would be a decent choice.
Now, there is one load that wolud work well in both application at longer ranges, and that is the 180 grain Sierra Gameking. These bullets work well at impact velocities under 2800 fps or so, have a high BC, and are VERY accurate, almost match accurate, and it's usually easy to get them to shoot. They are probably better hunting bullets than the berger macth bullets.
My 300 WSM load was a purely match load. 63 grains of H4831sc, Rem brass, 220 SMKs, Fed 210M. Bullets jammed into the lands .005 to .015".
I like the idea of Accubonds for long range game, but they don't always shoot well in a given rifle. However, a 180 AB at 2900-3000 fps from a 300 WSM should work well. I'd use Fed 210s though, as they seem to work better in the WSM case.
Given you're looking ot 500-600 yds, I think a 180 grainer would eb a very good choice for the 300 WSM and the 180 Berger would be a decent choice.
Now, there is one load that wolud work well in both application at longer ranges, and that is the 180 grain Sierra Gameking. These bullets work well at impact velocities under 2800 fps or so, have a high BC, and are VERY accurate, almost match accurate, and it's usually easy to get them to shoot. They are probably better hunting bullets than the berger macth bullets.
btt
David,
What have you decided so far?
What have you decided so far?
he's probably selling it and building a 300 win mag..<g>sorry, David but I couldn't resist
Dober
Going to keep the 300 WSM Fn and see what she can do.
Also keeping the remmy 700 in 308, but may rebarrel to 260 after a bit.
I'm going to shoot a bit tomorrow, and see what happens.
Also keeping the remmy 700 in 308, but may rebarrel to 260 after a bit.
I'm going to shoot a bit tomorrow, and see what happens.
For targets, have you looked into the 155 Lapua Scenars, high BC and lightweight so you can push them fast.
J
J
Jason,
I've heard the Scenars are poor hunting bullets, although great competition bullets.
I'm trying to develop a load that can be used for hunting as well as plinking/competition.
I just bought 900+ Sierra BTHP 168 grain bullets, so I may try to make a matching 168 TTSX round.
In reality, I think Blaine's suggestion of Sierra match and gameking bullets may be the easiest solution. I'll order up a few hundred 165 gamekings and see what that offers.
I've heard the Scenars are poor hunting bullets, although great competition bullets.
I'm trying to develop a load that can be used for hunting as well as plinking/competition.
I just bought 900+ Sierra BTHP 168 grain bullets, so I may try to make a matching 168 TTSX round.
In reality, I think Blaine's suggestion of Sierra match and gameking bullets may be the easiest solution. I'll order up a few hundred 165 gamekings and see what that offers.
Whatchya wanting to hunt with this setup?
Deer and elk in eastern WA.