Anyone loaded .308W 168gr in SMK and Hornady match and compared them?

[frankski]

Have you chronied the two loads? My 168g SMK and Hornady 165g BTSP (more of a hunting bullet, but very accurate) have the same POI at 100yds loaded to run at 2700 fps. Either I4064 or I4895. They are, however, loaded to different OAL.

[Bang]

No Chronograph. Good info, thanks.

[CMP703006]

My ballistic computer tells me that velocity loss is directly related to bullet weight....The 155s (Hornady ELD@2900fps) is the slowest at 1000 yards. The 168 ELD(2750) and the 178 ELD (2700) are less than 20 fps apart at 1000 yds. The 178s end up at 1333fps.

My apologies, I did not clarify that my previous statement is only valid for the Sierra Matchking bullets. The ELD series is another animal entirely compared to the Sierra as shown by the G7 BC's below

Sierra 155 - 0.229 - i7= 1.02
Sierra 168 - 0.218 - i7= 1.16
Sierra 175 - 0.243 - i7= 1.10

ELD 155 - 0.232 - i7= 1.00
ELD 168 - 0.263 - i7= 0.96
ELD 178 - 0.275 - i7= 0.97

For those that don't know the i7 is a ratio determined by dividing the sectional density by the G7 BC. This allows you to see how efficient the bullets are across different weights, the lower the number the more efficient the bullet. Case in point above the 168 ELD is the most efficient while the Sierra 168 is the least.

Additionally while on the topic of BC take a look at the Warner Tool Company Flatline bullets, the BC's they list are far higher than any other bullets I've seen.

WTC 155 - 0.270 - i7= 0.86
WTC 160 - 0.291 - i7= 0.83
WTC 180 - 0.351 - i7= 0.77

[Bang]

Just ordered a Caldwell G2 chronograph. It's built upside-down, supposed to eliminate fluctuating ambient light problems most complain of.

[Yellowfin]

Something I can tell you about the Hornadys: they will shoot very competitively vs. SMK's, but they're more specific to the load which will produce that result. When you do a ladder with each, maybe 2 or 3 out of 8 or 10 loads will be comparable or possibly better than the SMK, but it's easier to get a good result with the SMK as 5 or 6 of those out of 10 will be great.

[Bang]

Thanks. I really appreciate this input.

[Bang]

Tried five loads of 5 today (25 rounds). All were COAL .010" off the lands. 81 degrees, partly sunny, 100 yards. Bipod/heel bag from bench. Savage 10 FCP-K .308. Hornaday 168gr Match bullets. Starline brass, third reload. No wind.

42.0 IMR 4895 yielded 2628 min-2661 max, spread 33 SD 12.75, five in 3/4 inch by 3/8 inch.

42.5 Varget and 43 RL15 both yielded spreads of 29 and 28, inch and a quarter and inch and 5/8ths "groups" :-(

42 gr of 8208XBR went at 2679-2703, spread 24, SD 10, group showing potential at 1/2inch by 1/2 inch

The best was from 43gr of BLC2, 2605-2623 fps giving a spread of 18 and SD of 7.82. The group being 7/16" by 9/16" with one bullet sneaking through without a discernible trace. (That's the downside to printing targets on copy paper). Interesting also, the barrel/action had become quite warm and was so during the shooting of the BLC2 loads. The next time I shoot BLC2, the first load fired will be will be the 43gr load fired from a cold barrel to see if the group shrinks any.

I now have a base to build upon if I wind up with more Hornady 168gr Match bullets.

ETA: This Caldwell G2 chronograph and phone app is fantastic!