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Hi all. I’m relatively new to reloading and was after some advice on bullet weights. I know there’s going to be books after books on the subject but wondered if someone could give me a surmised or ‘dummies guide’ to it.

I have a Ruger Precision Gen 1, 21” barrel .308. I have a wildcat moderator which extends the length by a couple of inches.

Can anyone advice me on the best weight of bullet for this barrel length and at what distances it would be best. From what I have been told a heavier bullet will shoot straighter in a shorter barrel, but why would YOU recommend.

I don’t intend this to be a ‘tell me because I can’t be bothered to read the hundreds of books on the matter’, I want your opinion, what you think and what you would use.

Thanks. Steve.


Sent from my boing using "An application"

Assuming it is around 1:12 twist I would suggest a 155 Lapua Scenar in front of some N140 or similar and accept it as a handy 600m rifle.

Ovenpaa wrote:Assuming it is around 1:12 twist I would suggest a 155 Lapua Scenar in front of some N140 or similar and accept it as a handy 600m rifle.

This, or a 155 Optimus HBC HPBT. RS52 is also a stunning powder that is very temp sensitive and gives good velocity while being less spikey.

I think that rifle/calibre is a 1:10 twist, so something around 175gn might be better (so i've been advised!)
As suggested above, that should be a good 600-800yd rifle. My Mossberg (1:10 twist 18'' barrel) really is only good to 600 with 175's.

Maggot, did you mean "very temp insensitive"..?

When I had my Tikka T3, which was a 20" barrel, Reload Swiss RS50 with either a 155gr or 167gr Lapua Scenar shot really well at 100m. The velocity of my 155gr load was 2,660fps and the 167gr load was 2,495fps. Both loads were around 2gr below published maximum loads, but they were the most accurate nodes during load development so I stuck with them.


Both loads were capable of hitting a "half height" Fig11 out to 600m and could reliably hit a full size Fig11 at ~900m but you had to get your windage spot on. Hope this helps!

Daryll wrote:I think that rifle/calibre is a 1:10 twist, so something around 175gn might be better (so i've been advised!)
As suggested above, that should be a good 600-800yd rifle. My Mossberg (1:10 twist 18'' barrel) really is only good to 600 with 175's.

Maggot, did you mean "very temp insensitive"..?

Yea, brain fart, sorry

175 SMK HPBT is the standard M118 Sniper/match load, get it right and it should go well and take the wind better for a slightly heavier recoil.

The only real issues you will have with barrel length is 800+ .308/7.62x51 is a very forgiving load as regards barrel length, however ball park you are looking at losing circa 30fps per inch of barrel up to 30" or so (this is ball park so dont all start diving for the various apps, it wont help without real data input) but you should still be ok out to 800 yards. Its the death zone between 900-1000 where bullets might go haywire as they go transonic and barrel length/well executed hand loads become paramount.

The L129A1 is a fair demonstration of the less fussy angle of 7.62x51 as a load, having a 16" 1:11.25 inch barrel that was dseigned to take the RG green spot (147gr) or de linked MG ammo, but also shoots well with the 155gr HPBT or 168 HPBT. The 16" barrel giving it a good CQB capability while being able to engage in the DM role and effectively "eliminate" targets between 500-800m. Thsi requirement came into light during Ops Telic and Herick where the various enemy elements were engaging our lads at 900m with the 7.62x54R chambered rifles so they needed to be able to reach back without having to depend on a support company sniper being available with the .338 (if they even had a support company) but still be able to fight as a tom. Quite a lot from such a short barrel. I have seen some of our lot do very well with the straight pull version (Breacher has one and shoots well with it) and it is what I have based my requested spec on for my BAR10 from Bradley Arms. It will only get shot on the odd match and be a back up should the BAR15 barrel let go as happened to me in the last Imperial and a mate in this years...they pick their time.

whatever you do, load development takes a while and unless the barrel is already shot in, will be an ongoing process for a while, but get it right and it will pay you back in spades. Dont be afraid to try the odd heavy bullet, some will still perfom well in slow twist barrels.

WelshShooter wrote: "half height" Fig11

Otherwise known as a fig12.....

Maggot wrote:

WelshShooter wrote: "half height" Fig11

Otherwise known as a fig12.....

I was waiting for it In my defence, the target in question I believe was a full size Fig11 with the bottom half obscured by cover. So technically, half a Fig11 is still true