Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 165gr. VS. 168gr. .308 bullets....what's the difference?

Other than 3 grains of weight?

I'm going to start reloading again soon, and I'm wondering why I see so many companies offering a 165gr. AND 168gr. version.

Nosler's BT and Barnes TSX bullets in particular. Surely there is more difference between them than just the 3 grains of weight.

ogive of each is slightly different.

In my last 308, it preferred the 168 over the 165 by a wide margin.

The change in ogive improves the ballistic coefficient of the heavier projectile, thus making it the superior choice for shooting at longer range.

Being that i'm gonna start re-loading,i'll ask a stupid question.What is ogive?

Well, there is that...

There's also OAL deferences with the weights and BCs....

Nosler BT 165 .475BC
Nosler BT 168 .490BC

Barnes TSX 165 .398BC
Barnes TSX 168 .404BC

Hornady IB-SST 165 .447BC
Hornady BTHP 168 .450
Hornady AMax 168 .475

O.K. Take the Nosler Ballistic Tip .308 165gr. vs. 168gr.

Is there any difference in the jacket thickness? Is one of them disigned for more controlled expansion?

Or is it simply the difference in the ogive thus giving it a little better BC?

I ask because I'm starting to work up some loads for deer and hogs in my 06'

The 165gr. NBT seems like it would be plum wicked on whitetail.

Same

the 165 has been my go to weight for years. the blt is as you thought just wicketttttt on deer! most drt i ever had.

Buy a box of each. Load both and see what works best in your rifle.
What works best is best !

Ok-I gotta ask but what will you be using them for and to what ranges on a consistent basis?

Bottom line, I'd try em both and see if your righ perked with either of them in a better manner.

Dober

Thank-you Brad

Thanks for the input folks. Much appreciated

I have found that the 168gr Barnes tsx shot smaller groups at 200 yds so I went with it for hunting simply for the confidence factor. 1/2" at 200 is no real difference on game. As suggested try both weights and see what performs better in your rifle. Mine was a Tikka T3 lite, one of those ugly non reliable tight shooting ones. So far I have not been able to find its acual weak spot.

Ditto on the Barnes 168 grain TSX BT. Very accurate in a NULA .308 Win. with H4895. Fine elk load,too.

"The 165gr. NBT seems like it would be plum wicked on whitetail."

It is!

I use the Barnes TSX in 168 in both the 30-06 and 300 WinMag. Accuracy being the deciding factor. And they kill like a heart attack.