Sierra Match 308 175gr Replacement

R

RC20

New member
I am looking to replace my Sierra .308 175 Match bullets with something less expensive.

I do not shoot more than 100 yds (maybe 300 at some point).

Hornady A 168 or 178 A max seems to be fairly well regarded at a lower cost.

How does that compare to the Sierra 168 that Bart B says is good at that range?

I had thought about moving to the somewhat more suitable range 168 Sierra Match but cost is so close as not make any different.

Shooting 30-06 and still trying to get small groups,
 
This won't be much help on the 168 or 175 Amax, but I am shooting Hornady match bullets in the 223 and they are fine. Shot any number of HM scores in sitting RF, prone RF, and occasionally, 500/600 yards. I have shot 50 caliber boxes of 308 caliber Hornady 168 HPBT match bullets, out to 300 yards, and they shoot fine. It is my opinion that Hornady match bullets are good bullets, and there are a lot of people using the Amax bullets, in all sorts of calibers, out to 600 yards with no complaints.

The real advantage of the 175 grains bullets is wind bucking ability past 300 yards. I primarily use my 175's at 500/600 yards and use the cheaper 168's out to 300 yards. I cannot say one is more inherently accurate than the other, as both are superb bullets. Before the 175 SMK's came out, the AMU and the Marines were shooting outstanding scores and winning National Matches with the 168's. Since you are shooting at 100 yards, with a potential 300 yards, it would have to be a big wind to notice any ballistic difference between the two types.

Just shoot whatever does best in your rifle, trust what you see on target.
 
I run the Hornady 178gr BTHP Match bullets. Better BC than the Amax bullets. I use them in both my 600yd and 1000yd loads. Love them. Work great, and most consistent than the SMK bullets.
 
125 Speer TNT. Stick it on the same load you'd use for a 168/175. Brutally accurate bullet for 200yds and less. I use it for the short line in my M14. It may be hit-or-miss in a 1:10 barrel, but I've found it does well under Re15 in my M70 30-06 (under a minute).

If that doesn't fly, I'd try 155gr seconds from Nosler.
 
165 grain Ballistic Tips from Nosler. My 700 Remington shoots those bullets into small jagged group at 100 yds, with IMR4350.
 
Always had good luck with 168s in '06 and 308.
155 Palmas are good on the light side dependent upon barrel twist.
 
I have had good luck with both Hornady Match and Nosler Custom Comp bullets. My 308 Win seems to like the Hornady Match 178 better than the 175 SMK.
 
Try a varmint bullet. My old (fake) Springfield Sporter was very accurate with 130 gr Speer HPs. The 125 gr Sierra would be worth a look.

The score benchrest shooters commonly use 131-135 gr bullets at 100-200 yards.
 
Hornady 168 BTHP. The A Max is good to but the bthp seems t be easier to work up a load for. Not so touchy about COL length.
 
I run the 178 AMAX in my .30-06 out to about 800 yards. Bullets are very consistent, I even use them as check weights for my scale. Combined with IMR 4831 powder at near max velocity I can frequently get sub MOA. From time to time I see sub 0.5MOA.

COAL varies due to the ogive seating point but even with a COAL variance of .008 I still get the above results.

I use them for coyote out to 600 yards also.
 
If you are only shooting a couple of hundred yards maximum, try some 165 grain hornady boat tail soft points. Cheap, groups pretty darned well at the closer ranges
 
At 100 yards, you won't notice any difference between 168 grain SMKs and 165 grain SGKs, which are less expensive.
 
So, if I was using 168 Grain SMKs in a K-31, would I get about the same results with a 168 Hornady BTHP? At 100 and 200 yards?

(Sorry for interrupting your thread, RC20)
 
125TNT at 100yds, 10rds

DSC_7686_zpsjyflow3n.jpg
 
Mosin-Maurauder,

It's not quite the same. The Hornady design claims to use a secant ogive, where the Sierra uses a tangent ogive. Secant ogives are more aerodynamic, for a better BC, but can be rather touchier to tune to a rifle. They tend to be more sensitive to exact bullet jump to the throat. Berger's description on getting their VLD bullets to shoot well can apply to pretty much any secant ogive bullet.


Marco Califo,

Those Mil Spec 175's, with their long boattails, appear to be copies of the 174.5 grain (-3.0 grain tol.) M1 Type bullet used in M72 and M118SB. A good shape, but the U.S. arsenals never made as accurately as the 175 grain SMK. Without trying them or the 168 grain offering from that outfit, I have no idea what to expect quality-wise. If you or anyone else reading these has tried them, a report would be of interest to all, I'm sure.
 
I like the Wideners Mil-Spec 175 gr FMJ. It is my understanding that these are the exact M118 Unclenick refers to above. That is what Wideners says they are. They look great, and the only exposed lead is in the dimple at the base. I bought these for shooting long range (400+ yards) at steel plate targets. They also worked just fine in my FAL. When I bought them a few years ago they were $95 for 500. They have been out of stock since then, but recently started selling the 168 OTM for $130. I am pleased with the quality because I do not buy SMK's as they cost a lot more, and for my shooting these shoot fine. I will buy more of these when they are available again.

Wideners:
MB118 MIL-SPEC 30 CAL 175GR FMJBT SNIPER BULLET $95.00/500
30cal 175gr FMJBT (no cannalure) Long Range 30cal Projectile. Excellent bullet for making your own milspec M118 Long Range Match Ammunition.
Click to expand...

I switched to 223 and 75 gr Hornady (not the Amax, the OTM) for those long range targets and enjoy shooting 223 in my Savage bolt guns, cheaper to feed.
 

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