Is it worth venturing beyond 175gr in 308?

[patrickstarfish]

...for greater accuracy...

I have a Savage 308 PC, 1:10, 20"

It seems that the majority are using 168 and for me 175, no luck with 168s.

Heavier bullets seem to be preferred for long range in general. If they can be more accurate, why not? Are heavies more difficult to find a good load, less data, greater barrel wear?

I have been kept inside the box.

[patrickstarfish]

I tried Amax 178gr with no luck. I was seating at 2.825". I was probably not seating at the best COAL. All I shoot now are SMKs.

[KillerRabbit]

Yes,
With the short bbl. on your rifle you may have to. I used to have a 1X10 bbl. on my model 70 the Amax 178 worked extremely well at 600. I would shoot Sierra 190s at 1,000 loaded to 2530 FPS at the muzzle and they worked very well.
Dirk

[Bill Steele]

My 1-10 Rem 700 likes 175 SMK's, 178 AMAX or HPBT Match as well. I have not gone any heavier as I really haven't the need.

[patrickstarfish]

What is your COAL for your Amax?

[AeroEngi]

Try the 178gr HPBT match from Hornady. They've performed better than the A-max in my Remington 700p. I'm using CCI LR primers, Federal cases, 43.5gr Varget, 2.8" OAL.

[patrickstarfish]

What grouping do you get with Amax vs HPBT?

[huckberry668]

For fun or experimentation, yes.

I used to load 180gr SPBT for hunting. Turned out SMK 168 was better cause it allowed me to make head shots. Try Nosler 168, 175 BTHPs. They shot on par with SMKs but cheaper.

[Bill Steele]

What is your COAL for your Amax?

I would have to go down and measure as I use a comparator for measuring my setup, but I am guessing something in the 2.930" OAL range. A little jump, but not .150"

The HPBT's have a little better BC, but both the AMAX's and the HPBT matches will shoot .2 MOA when everything is right (i.e. match primers, best brass, fresh anneal, IMR 4064 powder to the half tenth, etc. etc.). My 700 has a 26" Varmit profile barrel. With these bullets the jump in my 700 is over .150" from the maximum mag length of 2.8" so these are obviously single load paper punching rounds. My hunting loads are not this accurate, but then I don't use these bullets either.

[CobraRed]

I would have to go down and measure as I use a comparator for measuring my setup, but I am guessing something in the 2.930" OAL range. A little jump, but not .150"

The HPBT's have a little better BC, but both the AMAX's and the HPBT matches will shoot .2 MOA when everything is right (i.e. match primers, best brass, fresh anneal, IMR 4064 powder to the half tenth, etc. etc.). My 700 has a 26" Varmit profile barrel. With these bullets the jump in my 700 is over .150" from the maximum mag length of 2.8" so these are obviously single load paper punching rounds. My hunting loads are not this accurate, but then I don't use these bullets either.

I've noticed that HPBT do well on 100 yard paper and AMAX does just as well or better past 500 yards. Fed 210 prime, PPU/WIN Brass, 44.6gr Varget, 2.825 OAL
OP:
my 1:11 twist loves 168 and 175, so im sure your 1:10 would appreciate a 178 AMAX

[rusty815]

I really think 175gr. is the best weight for a 308, but I have seen on other forums of guys using 208gr. AMAX's with Alliant 2000MR with great results, but that is a bit too extreme imo.