130 gr .308

[AlHow]

G’day Guys,

Im new to this game so bare with me.

I read that the biggest issue with the .308 is the trajectory. 150gr and above? I have also read that some smaller calibers can have a flatter trajectory, so my thinking is, why not a 125-130 gr in the .308. Wouldnt this then have a flatter trajectory, great velocity and be comparable to an extent to some smaller calibers of a larger gr size which have a flatter trajectory? Is there a loss in accuracy and how does this inaccuracy (if there is) compare to the smaller calibers?

Cheers Guys.

Al.

[No1Mk3]

G’day Guys,

Im new to this game so bare with me.

I read that the biggest issue with the .308 is the trajectory. 150gr and above? I have also read that some smaller calibers can have a flatter trajectory, so my thinking is, why not a 125-130 gr in the .308. Wouldnt this then have a flatter trajectory, great velocity and be comparable to an extent to some smaller calibers of a larger gr size which have a flatter trajectory? Is there a loss in accuracy and how does this inaccuracy (if there is) compare to the smaller calibers?

Cheers Guys.

Al.

I've loaded 110g SP in 308 at a little over 3000 fps, no accuracy issues out to 3-350m.

[bladeracer]

G’day Guys,

Im new to this game so bare with me.

I read that the biggest issue with the .308 is the trajectory. 150gr and above? I have also read that some smaller calibers can have a flatter trajectory, so my thinking is, why not a 125-130 gr in the .308. Wouldnt this then have a flatter trajectory, great velocity and be comparable to an extent to some smaller calibers of a larger gr size which have a flatter trajectory? Is there a loss in accuracy and how does this inaccuracy (if there is) compare to the smaller calibers?

Cheers Guys.

Al.

For close range, say 300m, the lighter, faster bullet will shoot a little flatter, past that it starts losing velocity so fast that the trajectory gets worse, very quickly. I see no issue with .308 trajectory so I don't understand that part. Lighter bullets are more significantly effected by wind so a heavier bullet is likely to be more accurate if you have windy or gusty conditions.

[Billo]

the lighter 125gr & 130gr pills can do well over 3000fps out of the 308 and generally they will get the job done with small to medium size game.

Its just when you have a poor angle or an arse shot on a large boar or Sambar do you start to realize that a 150gr or even a 165gr bullet would have been a way better choice

[Oldbloke]

I did a comparison a few years ago. Frankly, for hunting purposes not a lot of variation out to 300mtrs.

Screenshot_20230430-175349_Sheets.jpg (325.07 KiB) Viewed 4236 times

[bladeracer]

I did a comparison a few years ago. Frankly, for hunting purposes not a lot of variation out to 300mtrs.

Screenshot_20230430-175349_Sheets.jpg

Agreed, I don't understand why anybody would say the .308 has a poor trajectory.

[JohnV]

Neither do I . I used a standard cup and core 144 grain HPFB bullet in my 308 quite often and it took game well and I even shot small game like hares and foxes at times with it . If it's accurate and you know the trajectory then that's all you need at average hunting ranges . The 308W is one the the finest cartridges ever designed , it's easy to reload and does not kick too hard and it still shoots well in reduced loads .

[AlHow]

All you blokes, thanks for your reply.

Personally, as a newbie, I couldn’t understand the thinking. From my reading, many in the US look down on the .308 in favour of the 30-06. I bought a Howa stainless sporter and some 150gr. Short action, totally handleable recoil with plenty of penetration. I mean realistically I see my targets being 100-150m max.

Cheers.

[bigpete]

I did a comparison a few years ago. Frankly, for hunting purposes not a lot of variation out to 300mtrs.

Screenshot_20230430-175349_Sheets.jpg

Agreed, I don't understand why anybody would say the .308 has a poor trajectory.

Neither do I.

[Oldbloke]

308 is a great round.

30.06 is betterer tho.

[animalpest]

The 30/06 shines above the 308 when using heavier bullets. I have used 130gr in both and there is little difference. Animals can't tell the difference

[AlHow]

Thanks guys.

[SCJ429]

There are many questions in your post, could lighter 125 grain bullets be more accurate than heavier 30 cal bullets. Yes it is possible. Light flat based bullets shot out of barrels with minimal twist rates will be more accurate, all things being equal, than heavier VLD bullets shot out of faster twist barrels at moderate distances.
Will using lighter bullets in your 308 make it shoot as accurately as smaller calibres such as a 6mm PPC or a 6mm BR Norma? No, the case design of the PPC and BR will give it an advantage over the 308 even though the ballistics may be similar.
Best advice is to choose a bullet to suit your hunting application. If you are just trying to shoot the best group out of your 308, choose a quality match bullet that suits the range you are shooting at. Light flat based bullets out to 300 metres and heavier VLD bullets for longer ranges.

[AlHow]

There are many questions in your post, could lighter 125 grain bullets be more accurate than heavier 30 cal bullets. Yes it is possible. Light flat based bullets shot out of barrels with minimal twist rates will be more accurate, all things being equal, than heavier VLD bullets shot out of faster twist barrels at moderate distances.
Will using lighter bullets in your 308 make it shoot as accurately as smaller calibres such as a 6mm PPC or a 6mm BR Norma? No, the case design of the PPC and BR will give it an advantage over the 308 even though the ballistics may be similar.
Best advice is to choose a bullet to suit your hunting application. If you are just trying to shoot the best group out of your 308, choose a quality match bullet that suits the range you are shooting at. Light flat based bullets out to 300 metres and heavier VLD bullets for longer ranges.

Thanks mate.

I’m not particularly concerned. It was mostly for interest’s sake. The .308 isn’t thoroughly liked particularly in the US so I thought I’d ask. I’m not fussed about tight groups. I will be hunting and realistically probably up to 100-150 metres which from my research and comments from you guys, the trajectory for one is isn’t an issue out to distances that will not concern me.

Cheers.

[JohnV]

I think that the 308 W now out sells the 30-06 in USA .

[animalpest]

The .308 is very much liked in the US. But some love the newer 6.5CM so much and rave about its long range abilities that they think the .308 is outdated and has poor ballistics.

For hunting I will take the 308 every day of the week. And do

[Larry]

The .308 is very much liked in the US. But some love the newer 6.5CM so much and rave about its long range abilities that they think the .308 is outdated and has poor ballistics.

For hunting I will take the 308 every day of the week. And do

This is very much the new age of things where online researched specs and keyboard warriors drive a narrative.

The 308 really starts where the 6.5 stops ie 147grn is about the max 155 grn is the lower end with 168-185 being the sweet spot for 308.

[Die Judicii]

Well, No Armchair expertise or Ballistic charts knowledge here,,,,,, just plain and pure real life experience.

I have in the past stuck mainly to 150gr soft points, but recently swapped over to 130gr JHP's for Dogs and Pigs. (factory rounds)
My usual and average range hovers between 25 meters and 200 meters.
My Sako 75 Hunter is therefore zeroed at 110 meters which works fine for me in general.

However,,,,, last night I took a chance at a large fox well above the already stated zero set up. I had no precise distance,,, only knowing it was well out there.
(my new LRF Thermal binocs haven't arrived yet,, hopefully before this coming weekend)
So I took the shot (no hold over) and noted there was a distinct lapse of time between the shot being fired, and the sound of impact.
The hit was solid, and Brer fell over between some shrubbery.

Come daylight I walked out and picked him up, and was amazed to see the impact was virtually exactly on my point of aim.

I didn't have my daytime range finder either,,, but looking in daylight it was 400 meters at least if not more.
I'll be back there in the next day or so and I intend on lasering the distance then.
So for those that apparently think the good old 308 suffers badly from accuracy/trajectory issues,, I'd say bullsh!t.

[wanneroo]

308 is still very common, very accurate and works. I think a lot of people get caught up in the marketing hype of stuff thinking they need something they don't. I have seen people invest big dollars in things like 6.5 Creed and finding they don't need to shoot more accurately out to 1000 and are only shooting 200 yards away but paying twice the cost to do so, so they ditch the expensive rifles and go back to 308. There are some situations like out west in the USA where people are hunting in very open areas in wind and at longer distances and they do need those faster flatter shooting cartridges.

I got a hold of some 130g SOST bullets the US military developed as a barrier blind bullet. Open tip, thick copper jacket, lead core and a solid dense copper base. The idea being the round would expand on impact and if the barrier defeated the lead core, the copper base would punch through and finish the job. I didn't have much information to go on and used IMR 3031 as a powder and as I recall I got around 3000 FPS with great accuracy at 100.

I think for a lot of folks developing some loads in the lighter 110g to 130g range for 308 is not a bad idea for pest elimination and easily I think a lot of these rounds would be plenty effective out to 300-400.

[SCJ429]

The .308 is very much liked in the US. But some love the newer 6.5CM so much and rave about its long range abilities that they think the .308 is outdated and has poor ballistics.

For hunting I will take the 308 every day of the week. And do

This is very much the new age of things where online researched specs and keyboard warriors drive a narrative.

The 308 really starts where the 6.5 stops ie 147grn is about the max 155 grn is the lower end with 168-185 being the sweet spot for 308.

Not sure I understand Larry, when talking ballistics, where exactly does the 308 shine compared to the 6.5mm?

[Larry]

I haven't seen a 6.5 shoot a 185 grn bullet for the 308 the 185 is no issue and a sweet spot where you can get very high velocity with it.

[JohnV]

I haven't seen a 6.5 shoot a 185 grn bullet for the 308 the 185 is no issue and a sweet spot where you can get very high velocity with it.

For hunting I consider a 185 grain bullet in a .308 W too heavy and you are lucky to get 2500 fps driving it fairly hard . 130 to 150 grain is the range I use in 308W . Anything over that is 30-06 , 300 WM territory in my book .

[Oldbloke]

I haven't seen a 6.5 shoot a 185 grn bullet for the 308 the 185 is no issue and a sweet spot where you can get very high velocity with it.

For hunting I consider a 185 grain bullet in a .308 W too heavy and you are lucky to get 2500 fps driving it fairly hard . 130 to 150 grain is the range I use in 308W . Anything over that is 30-06 , 300 WM territory in my book .

Agree. But I would have said 130gr to 170gr.
All the data is exagerated as well. If ADI says you will get 2600, it will be closer to 2400fps in real life.

[SCJ429]

I haven't seen a 6.5 shoot a 185 grn bullet for the 308 the 185 is no issue and a sweet spot where you can get very high velocity with it.

Are you saying that a 308 shooting a 185 grain bullets will have better ballistics than a 6.5CM shooting a 147 grain bullet? Come on Larry, you are better than that. If you want to shoot 185 grain projectiles at reasonable speeds you need a bigger case but even a 300 WSM is hard pressed to beat the ballistics of the 147 grain 6.5mm.

For the OP, can he shoot a 130 grain out of his 308 at hunting ranges nice and flat and knock over a pig or goat or similar. He sure can.

[Larry]

Just saying that in FTR 200grn is the common bullet at as close to 3000fps as possible which is attained. Think outside factory ammo.

[bladeracer]

Just saying that in FTR 200grn is the common bullet at as close to 3000fps as possible which is attained. Think outside factory ammo.

I wonder what percentage of rifle owners in Australia shoot FTR though?

[JohnV]

3000 fps or even close in a 308W with a 200 grain bullet would be unsafe if it's even possible .
200 grain AR2208 ADI Max charge 42.0C 2,440 fps .
200 grain Bench Mark 2 ADI Max charge - 40.0 2,355 fps .

[Oldbloke]

Just saying that in FTR 200grn is the common bullet at as close to 3000fps as possible which is attained. Think outside factory ammo.

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[SCJ429]

Just saying that in FTR 200grn is the common bullet at as close to 3000fps as possible which is attained. Think outside factory ammo.

I would really like to see your brass after firing, that sounds incredible. I would have thought 2,500 fps was about what you would expect but 3,000... Wow.
I have to admit though, I am sceptical.

[SCJ429]

I have a friend who shoots 180 grain pills out of his 300 WSM and even after pushing them a bit still can't get to 3,000 fps.