.308 Brass for Long Range Target

[DHC]

I am not sure what others might define as "long range," so for these purposes I'll define it as shooting beyond 200 yards. I believe this encompasses F-Class shooting as well as some of the PD shoots put on by Hoser and maybe others.

I've noticed that Lapua brass gets high marks over at SnipersHide, but there seems to be very little 'premium' brass on the shelves at the moment. I did manage to find some .308 brass at Silver State Armory and I wonder if anyone has any experience with SSA's .308 brass? I've used their brass for 6.8 SPC with good results, but it seems they are expanding to other calibers and .308 is among those.

Anyway, if you guys with experience would chime in with what you use, and why, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Tim K]

I use Lapua when I can. When I was shooting .308, I put 12 cycles on some Lapua .308 brass. It was still good and I sold it to someone who shot it some more. I'm currently using Lapua again for my .260 and still like it.

[67rschev]

Lapua is amazing brass , if you take are of it and anneal every 4th or 5th firing will almost last indefinitely . I have some for mild target loadings that are on their 18th loading and still the primers are tight and have only 1 split on the original 100 lot .

That said , I have switched to the Hornady 308 match brass . It is NOT as durable as the Lapua , and with my full match loadings I am only getting around 8 firings before the primer pockets get to loose . I use the Hornady because the case capacity is quite a bit more than the Laupa , and in turn I get a significantly higher speed than I could out of Lapua too the tune of ~ 2870 average with 168 SMKs without pressure signs . Worth the trade off in durability to me . Check Snipers Hide and Accurate Shooters forum , usually can find brass their in the classifieds . One thing I don't like with the Honady once fire over their NIB brass is they have gone to crimping the primers , so you have to swedge .

[Rucker61]

Lapua is amazing brass , if you take are of it and anneal every 4th or 5th firing will almost last indefinitely . I have some for mild target loadings that are on their 18th loading and still the primers are tight and have only 1 split on the original 100 lot .

That said , I have switched to the Hornady 308 match brass . It is NOT as durable as the Lapua , and with my full match loadings I am only getting around 8 firings before the primer pockets get to loose . I use the Hornady because the case capacity is quite a bit more than the Laupa , and in turn I get a significantly higher speed than I could out of Lapua too the tune of ~ 2870 average with 168 SMKs without pressure signs . Worth the trade off in durability to me . Check Snipers Hide and Accurate Shooters forum , usually can find brass their in the classifieds . One thing I don't like with the Honady once fire over their NIB brass is they have gone to crimping the primers , so you have to swedge .

What rifle are you getting those MVs out of? What is your load?

[67rschev]

What rifle are you getting those MVs out of? What is your load?

This is on a custom Remington 700 action , trued and blueprinted . Has a stainless Obermeyer MTU no flutes finished at 22 1/2 inches with a tight PTG Bisley Match cut short short . Load is the 168 smk in the Hornady Match brass , neck sized .0015 tension , FGMM primer or CCI , 45.5 grains Varget , loaded to 2.225 to the ogive which is .020 off the lands . I believe a lot of the speed is derived from the .298 tight bore 5R barrel . I am sold on Obermeyer and hope to get another one before the old cooter passes on . I was told that my loadings would be lighter with the extra squeeze , but am way over were I was with the old Remy varmint barrel . Speed registered with a Magnospeed at the end of the barrel at 8400 corrected air altitude density , and I was reading 2850 average with Beta Chrony at 20 feet from barrel at ~ 6000 feet density .

With the chamber being so short , I needed the bullet seated very deep in the case , which left me short on space for powder with the Lapua being a very compressed load thus pushing the bullet back out messing with OALs . I do see a slight ejector mark on occasion , depending on ambient temp . It is nice not having to give much up to 6 and 6.5 mm , and very surprised at how fast this gun is .

I have tried 175s , with not as good as results with the short chamber . I am going to try 155s this summer , to see how fast I can really zip one .