There’s also a 180 grain SST that would do well in a 1:10 barrel.AndyC wrote:My Savage 10 (1:10 twist) hated it - shotgun-patterns at 100 yards, I guess due to the short bearing-length. Went to 168 and 175 SMKs and it shot very well, so I'd suggest finding the 165 SST and trying that.Crash wrote:How do you think the Hornady 150 grain SST will shoot in my rifle with its 1 in 10 twist? Savage tests it with 168 grain bullets.
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Return to “Recommendations for .308 Winchester Ammo in 165-168 grain range”
- Sun Apr 01, 2018 4:19 pm
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: Recommendations for .308 Winchester Ammo in 165-168 grain range
- Replies: 19
- Views: 9851
Re: Recommendations for .308 Winchester Ammo in 165-168 grain range
- Fri Mar 30, 2018 11:37 pm
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: Recommendations for .308 Winchester Ammo in 165-168 grain range
- Replies: 19
- Views: 9851
Re: Recommendations for .308 Winchester Ammo in 165-168 grain range
With a 1:10 twist, Savage .308s really like anything topped with a 175 grain Sierra Matchking, and it will shoot those better than the 165-168s. My son has a 10FP HS Precision, and it will eat those all day long. The best commercial loads were Federal Gold Match 175 grain SMKs, and Black Hills Match 175 grain SMKs. Doesn’t seem to matter if the bullets are moly-coated or not.
If you handload, try a 175 grain SMK over 44 grains of Varget, with whatever primer you prefer (it’s a very forgiving combination), using either new or once-fired (in that rifle) brass.
BUT..... if you insist on 165-168 grains, I’d recommend either the Federal Fusion 165 grain load, or the Federal Gold Match 168 grain SMK. The Fusion load is a hunting load for thin skinned game, that is supposed to deliver match or close to match accuracy. I have shot groups as small as .5 MOA of that load out of my Remington 700, but average group size for that load is more like 1-1.5 MOA out of that rifle. That same rifle will shoot 4 rounds of the above mentioned handload into 3/8” groups at 100 yards with fair regularity. So the Fusion ammo isn’t exactly match grade, but in that particular rifle, it comes close enough.
Hornady 168 grain match is supposed to be pretty good, although I myself have not had great results with it. It does tend to run a bit cheaper than other premium factory match loads. But for commercial loads fired in a 1:10 barrel, I’ve had the best luck with Black Hills 175 grain match.
If you handload, try a 175 grain SMK over 44 grains of Varget, with whatever primer you prefer (it’s a very forgiving combination), using either new or once-fired (in that rifle) brass.
BUT..... if you insist on 165-168 grains, I’d recommend either the Federal Fusion 165 grain load, or the Federal Gold Match 168 grain SMK. The Fusion load is a hunting load for thin skinned game, that is supposed to deliver match or close to match accuracy. I have shot groups as small as .5 MOA of that load out of my Remington 700, but average group size for that load is more like 1-1.5 MOA out of that rifle. That same rifle will shoot 4 rounds of the above mentioned handload into 3/8” groups at 100 yards with fair regularity. So the Fusion ammo isn’t exactly match grade, but in that particular rifle, it comes close enough.
Hornady 168 grain match is supposed to be pretty good, although I myself have not had great results with it. It does tend to run a bit cheaper than other premium factory match loads. But for commercial loads fired in a 1:10 barrel, I’ve had the best luck with Black Hills 175 grain match.