Hello all

What is the lowest velocity needed to take the rams with a 168 SMK in a 308?

I just put one together with a barrel I got off of another web site. I was told it was a 12 twist but it is more like a 13, so 175's are out. It shoots about 1/2 MOA with AA2520 at 2450FPS. Will this be enough to take the rams, even with a low hit ?

I'm going to the Missouri HP Regional this weekend so I don't really have enough time to test things out further. Like I said the load shoots good but it's just slow.

Thanks
Brian

I have rang a ton of rams with a .308 (and so has everyone else that shot a .308), In my experience a .308 is pretty forgiving as far as powder and twist, Rem and Win used a 10 and 12 (can't remember which used which) but both shot the same. When I got a barrel I would order it in a 11 twist to split the difference. I guess you will find out if those ram loads will work this weekend. I was told that the old timers used to load their rams loads down with a .308, don't know if thats true or not. I know a few shooters were using the 155 palma bullets with pretty good results before everyone left the 308 ship.

I have never shot a 30 cal rifle at rams but......... I have shot them with a 107 gr 243 and a 142 gr 6.5x47. It appears to me that if you hit them with at least 1,200 ft lb of energy with a reasonably well constructed bullet you will not loose any more than anyone else on the line. I also believe that heavier, slower bullets perform better than fast, light ones on the rams.

topgun526, the 308 is an awesome ram killer if you use a max load with a 200gr bullet and if you can stand the recoil.
I used the 308 for the first seven years I shot HP and I got my grand slam, shot at least two ten in a row on rams and shot my best score ever 36x40 with the 308. I was only 33 when I quit shooting the 308 and went to lighter calibers (I am 60 years old) because of a broken right cheek bone but if it had not been for that I would probable would have shot the 308 at silhouettes for many more years. What I am saying is that if you are younger and don't mind the recoil the 308 can be loaded with mild loads for the first three distances and you can work up a good ram killer load.

Years ago started shooting HP Silhouette with a M 1903 Sporter in 30/06 It took down rams Ok with 168 gr MK's, then went to a Rem 700 Varmint in 308. Loaded to the max the 168's rang a lot of rams. Ended up using 190 gr Speer match bullets on Rams, kicked hard too. Then went to a 7mm08 Remington Hunter class, 7mm 168's have always taken Rams down just fine

We tend to forget the 308 does give up right much velocity to the 30/06 and 7mm's arrive at 500 M with more velocity than 30's

Boats

I don't know the minimum velocity requiredfor the 168's and Rams.
However,
I saw a chart somewhere once giving downrange energy of various calibers and projectile weights, and a minimum required for Rams.
I think it was in the region of 1,000 ft/lbs plus.

Sierra has published charts which might help;

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexp ... /index.cfm


168gr MK

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexp ... 68hpbt.pdf


Looks like;

2,800fps at the muzzle gives you 1,074 ft/lbs at 600yds. (Which I reckon should be good !)
and,
2,900fps at the muzzle gives you 1,179 ft/lbs at 600yds.(maybe a bit of overkill ?)

I shoot a Sako 75 Stainless synthetic .308 with a 1:11" twist and it shoots the Sierra MK 175's great.

The 175's have never rung a Ram to my knowledge.
The load is 42.5gr of Hodgdons H4895 for 2,600fps .

Looks like my 175gr load gives me 1,079ft/lbs at 600yds.

(I shoot the 155gr Sierra MK at the closer animals. 43.5gr H4895 for 2,700fps )
By my reckoning, I would probably have to crank them up to 3,000fps at the muzzle to knock a Ram over.

The 9lb all up rifle recoils a bit on the bench, but I don't notice it off-hand, when concentrating on the target,
but at the end of a day and 80 targets, it feels a bit tender.
I guess the hard rubber buttpad doesn't help.

I did try the 168gr for bench grouping, but I seemed to do fine with the 175's, so stuck with them as a bit of 'Insurance' !

cheers,
SS