Quote:
Originally Posted by frostfire
I thought the .308 development essay that you posted mentions while the 155 rules at palma match, it does not fare too well out of a semi auto platform from lost MV
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The 155gr bullets are used in International Palma because that is what the rules allow for; US Palma rules do not have a bullet weight limit. As a result, a few people shoot the heavier bullets for their decreased wind deflection. The 185 Berger that the AMU uses in their AR10's is one of the best bullets out there. I shoot the 155's in my bolt-gun because that is what the international standard is right now, and shooting at the international level is my long-term goal. (If I am able to find time for it.)
There have been 155gr bullets that have came out in the last 5 years that are better than the old Palma bullet (2155). The newer 155gr Sierra (2156) will have identical wind-drift numbers at 2750fps as the 175gr Sierra has at 2600fps. That should be do-able with an M14, although I might take the step of having an under-sized gas-port, or a vented gas plug, or both.
Both bullets are still better (wind drift) than the standby 168gr bullet; However it is just about impossible to make the 168 not shoot...I am pretty sure I could put it in the case backwards, and still be able to clean the 200 yard target.
The thing that would merit chambering an M14 (or .308 across the course rifle) around the 155gr bullets, is that I would only have to buy one kind of bullet for all of my .308 rifles, and I could have reduced power loads for rapid fire strings, without giving anything up at 600 yards.
And the only thing that would merit shooting an M14 in an Across the Course competition is just to be different than everyone else; and with that in mind, I might paint my stock a nice vibrant bubblegum pink. And yell "GET SOME" every time the target goes down. At that point, I would be there just to remind everyone that I am having A LOT more fun than they are.
Back to being realistic; if I had access to a steady diet of M118LR, that's what I would shoot.