1000yd calibre

[Anti-Tank]

168gn SMK home loads for 1000yds in 308. If you take you time with the reloads and research the loading then nothing else 'off the shelf' compares. However always had better (more consistent) results with the 6.5x55 at those distances.

[ovenpaa]

I have never managed to get any 168 to shoot well at 1000 however go up or down a bit with the 155 Scenar or 170 LB and all was good, the Berger bullets also work incredibly well in the 155/155.5 range however they are pricey.

I would agree a well sorted 6,5x55 with bullets in the 139-142 grain range are a better choice.

[Steve E]

A well sorted 308 (i.e. a modern Target Rifle) with a 30" barrel using 155 SMKs will hold a 10" V bull out to 1100yds using aperture sights, no scope no bipod just shooter, jacket glove and ABILITY of the shooter. And in some hands will hold the same V bull at 1200yds.
The 308 is so easy to load for, to be very accurate out to 1000yds. Shooting 1000 yds does require skill/ability and you cannot buy that.
I have shot with/against many F type shooters using 6.5s, 7 mms etc, using my Target Rifle and they have been quite surprised at how well the 308 does against them. Its not the calibre of the rifle that makes shooting 1000 yds possible and fun its the calibre of the shooter.
What seems to be the trend these days, is that shooters want instant success by asking what is the best calibre for X distance all the time. Shooters don't appear to have the patience to actually learn to shoot properly, they want success straight away without having done the apprenticeship of learning technique, learning to read the wind and getting the basics right of position, hold, sight alignment. The 308 may not be the best caliber in the world but it will teach you how to shoot. There is no instant success you have to earn it, especially at 1K.
Steve in defence of the 308.

[Anti-Tank]

No bullet can completely escape the effects of even the slightest breeze when travelling 1000 yards, not even the mighty 800gn 50cal. That's where skill becomes the deciding factor over bullet weight, barrel length etc

[Laurie]

168gn SMK home loads for 1000yds in 308. If you take you time with the reloads and research the loading then nothing else 'off the shelf' compares. However always had better (more consistent) results with the 6.5x55 at those distances.

The 168gn Sierra MK is an unsuitable bullet for 1,000 yard shooting in the 308 as it cannot cope with transonic flight and the transition to subsonic speeds often, but not always, becoming unstable. I've seen many people in despair at a totally inability to find the frame in their first 1,000 yard match and they're often using this combination. If they do 'get on', the group will be poor and bullet holes are usually elongated showing an unstable, or barely stable bullet.

The problem with the 168 SMK is the 13-degree boat-tail angle, far too steep for this application. It creates turbulent air around the rear half of the bullet in transonic speeds which increases drag slowing the bullet much faster than its BC suggests and as well as risking even nastier effects. This isn't a criticism of the bullet as it was originally designed way back in the early 1960s as model for 300 metre ISSF competition back in the days when .308 was the cartridge for that discipline. It was and remains one of the best short range .30 calibre bullets available and is often a very good option for F/TR and similar to 600 yards where groups count for more than BC and wind drift.

The 168 SMK is not alone with this problem as other manufacturers copied this feature, or in the case of the 168gn Sierra 'International' as the 168 SMK was originally named, that exact bullet. The modern 180gn SMK, 168 HPBT match bullets from Nosler, Speer, and Hornady all have double-digit tail angles and should be avoided for 900/1,000 yard shooting. So should ALL Hornady .30 A-Max models other than the excellent 208gn design. Hornaday's more recent HPBT Match range, the old 168gn model aside have been designed as long-range high-BC bullets from the off to compete with Berger LR BTs and should make excellent choices, the new 178gn model ticking all the ballistic design boxes. (Unfortunately, Hornady has 'temporarily suspended' production of the range until the current US supply / demand crisis is resolved and it concentrating on maximising production of its biggest sellers.)

[ovenpaa]

A well sorted 308 (i.e. a modern Target Rifle) with a 30" barrel using 155 SMKs will hold a 10" V bull out to 1100yds using aperture sights, no scope no bipod just shooter, jacket glove and ABILITY of the shooter. And in some hands will hold the same V bull at 1200yds.
The 308 is so easy to load for, to be very accurate out to 1000yds. Shooting 1000 yds does require skill/ability and you cannot buy that.
I have shot with/against many F type shooters using 6.5s, 7 mms etc, using my Target Rifle and they have been quite surprised at how well the 308 does against them. Its not the calibre of the rifle that makes shooting 1000 yds possible and fun its the calibre of the shooter.
What seems to be the trend these days, is that shooters want instant success by asking what is the best calibre for X distance all the time. Shooters don't appear to have the patience to actually learn to shoot properly, they want success straight away without having done the apprenticeship of learning technique, learning to read the wind and getting the basics right of position, hold, sight alignment. The 308 may not be the best caliber in the world but it will teach you how to shoot. There is no instant success you have to earn it, especially at 1K.
Steve in defence of the 308.

Not a lot more I can say other than I wholeheartedly agree. It took me most of a .308 barrel life before I could truly say I was shooting and I am still learning.

[Anti-Tank]

168gn SMK home loads for 1000yds in 308. If you take you time with the reloads and research the loading then nothing else 'off the shelf' compares. However always had better (more consistent) results with the 6.5x55 at those distances.

The 168gn Sierra MK is an unsuitable bullet for 1,000 yard shooting in the 308 as it cannot cope with transonic flight and the transition to subsonic speeds often, but not always, becoming unstable. )

Long barrel, with a powder matched to the barrel length, high enough MV and your supersonic beyond 1000 - guess that's why I've been lucky with the 168's.

Cheers.

[Mr_Logic]

I'm with Laurie here. The 168 shoots accurately up close, but struggles further out. The 168 Hybrid on the other hand should work nicely.

With the plethora of 155s, 175 and 185 Bergers and all the Hybrids, why shoot a dodgy bullet for the distance?

[Laurie]

I can confirm the 168gn Hybrid at ~ 2,900 fps MV works fine at 1,000 (and at 1,100 / 1,200 yards too). For 1,000 F/TR though, my favourite remains the Berger 155.5gn BT Fullbore which holds elevation superbly.

[paulbradley]

I'm load developing this week for 1000yds. Rifle is a .308 Remington 700, 26" varmint barrel. I'll be using the lapua 170g LBs and HBC 155s. The 170s have been excellent up to 600 so we shall see. I'll be spending a lot of time inspecting brass for signs of pressure I think.. I'm really enjoying the learning process and the load development and tinkering are a big part of the fun that is shooting for me. I'm glad I selected .308 as it has forced me to read and learn.