11 replies to this topic

[Jay61cal]

I'm looking for a bullet to shoot out to 1000 yards for a precision rifle course I will be participating in later this year...i have heard great things about the 155 gr scenar but not sure if it will shoot out of my 20" barrel with 1:10 twist..anyone use this bullet in their 20" barrel 308? I've heard you gotta get this bullet up to 2900 fps to reach the performance this bullet is capable of so I'm not sure which bullet to start developing?

[ratassassin]

My friend's Rem 700 LTR .308 shoots the SMK 168 gr at .40 MOA in 5 shot groups. His rifle has a 20" barrel but it's a 1:12 twist. It likes 43.0 grains of Varget the best, with Federal brass and CCI 200 primers. That load chrons at 2550 fps. Since your rifle has a faster 1:10 twist, it might like the 175 gr better than the 168's.

[Desert Fox]

I use the 155 Lapua Scenar exclusively for my 1K shoot at the Desert Marksman in Palmdale. Majority of the 308 shooter there use either the 175 SMK or the even the 190's. I assumed majority of the 308 shooter there has 10 twist barrel on their rifle. Mine has 12... it's the reason why I opted for the 155. Velocity from my 25" Pac-Nor, 3 grove MTU contour barrel is around 2950 fps. At that velocity, I can get to 1k with only 25.75 MOA from my 110 yards zero. At 1K, the 155 still clocking at around 1500 fps. You're not gonna have the problem using this bullet in your rifle. I think you'll be fine.

[Desert Fox]

My friend's Rem 700 LTR .308 shoots the SMK 168 gr at .40 MOA in 5 shot groups. His rifle has a 20" barrel but it's a 1:12 twist. It likes 43.0 grains of Varget the best, with Federal brass and CCI 200 primers. That load chrons at 2550 fps. Since your rifle has a faster 1:10 twist, it might like the 175 gr better than the 168's.

Rat,If you want to shoot at 1000 yards, the 168 is a poor choice. You will be competitive at 600 yards though. I get good groups with 168, tighter than 155 Scenar actually. However, I would never use this bullet for a 1K shoot.

[ratassassin]

Good advice, thanks. Will keep this in mind. For 1000 yard shooting, I'll use my 5R with 24" 1:11.25 barrel and the SMK 175 gr. My friend's LTR with the 20" barrel just likes the 168 gr better, at least at 100 yards. We'll have to give those 155 gr Scenars a try. Expensive, though. By the way Desert Fox, do you measure and turn your case necks? If so, what are the best tools for those chores?

[Jay61cal]

Yeah I use the 168 amax over 44.4 grs of Varget in win cases and cci primers..very pleased with this bullet out to 600 yrds but I know I will need either the 155 gr scenar or 175 gr smk out to 1k..I just wanted some info from someone that has shot the scenar out of a 20" 1:10 because I've heard you need high velocity and not sure if my barrel will produce!

[Desert Fox]

Even at 2700 fps of muzzle velocity, you still have 1400 fps left at 1000 yards... That's more than enough. The only way to find out is to give it a try.

[Desert Fox]

By the way Desert Fox, do you measure and turn your case necks? If so, what are the best tools for those chores?

I use Sinclair/Starret neck micrometer and Foster Neck Turner. Also I anneal the brass after every 3 firings. I switched to Reloader 15 after my Varget supply dried up, and was able to duplicate Varget performance with .8 grain less powder. Here's the result from last range session. IMI Mil-Spec brass sorted to within 1 grain44.0 grain Reloader 15155 grain Lapua Scenar Federal 210 match PrimerCOAL: 2.833"Environmental ConditionASL: 2100 ftTemperature: 62 degreesRH: 72 %Barometric Pressure: 29.9 in/hgChronograph Reading (10 ft. from the muzzle)5 shot group at 250 yards

[ratassassin]

Very impressive.

[Jay61cal]

Yeah I guess I will have to just give them a try...how is the recoil compared to the 175 smk..that's another reason I want to use the scenar with such a short barrel?

[rdsii64]

One of the best kept secrets in long range shooting is the Nosler Custom competition. A 175 grain Nosler CC over 44.6 grains of N150 has carried me to the 1000 lard line quite well. I launch them out of a 24" 12 twist barrel. I have shot the 155 scenars before and they were laser beams. the problem is the Nosler 175's (while not as flat) are much cheaper and shoot just as strait.

[loaders_loft]

try the sierra 155 palma 2156, better price than the scenars, great performance as I've witnessed by most of the palma shooters using these in Sac.