[talking_target]

To put in simply, I own a Savage 10fp and so anyways I have been doing alot of long range shooting lately (this basically means me and my friends go see who is the better marksman) and I was just wondering which .308 Match factory ammo is better Federal or Black Hills. So far I've noticed Black Hills seems to be the most economic choice. I've also been talking to a couple of long range guys at my range and basically i've been hearing that Federal is better or Black Hills is better, or load it yourself (However I lack neccessary skills and equipment to load my own ammo).
So which one is better Federal or Black Hills?

 

[morpheus]

Well, both are good ammo. I don't think you could say one is better than the other hands down. The best one is the one that shoots the best out of your rifle. Heck, I have a friend that uses Remington ammo, that shoots better out of his rifle than BH or Federal.

 

[Jeff_850]

it depends on the rifle
neither is better
some rifles will like black hills and some will like federal better
i said federal cause more of my guns like federal than they do black hills
you have to try both out and see which your rifle likes

 

[Jeffvn]

Test a box of both. Each rifle is different.

Jeffvn

 

[mele]

^ditto

Though the fed match generally does better in more of my rifles also. Plus easier to get ahold of But BH has been excellent also. (Wait until you read my review of PMC's match... it has been performing right up there with BH and federal)

MEL

 

[Jeff_850]

whens this coming out?

oh another GOOD bullet type is the Federal Premium Vital Shock Barnes 180 gr Tripple Shock X Bullet
so do 180 gr Nosler AccuBond
i tried them in .30-06 cause i was disappointed that Federal Gold Medal match is only availabe in 168 gr but these rounds are great alternatives
a lil pricey though
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/prod ... B3GF5S8T4A

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/prod ... B3GF5S8T4A

of course like i said before
the rifles ive used them in like them doesnt mean yours will

 

[mele]

Because of the back log of things I'm working on for the site, the PMC review will probably be january.

MEL

 

[talking_target]

I might just have to try out a box of both. However it'll be a week or more because of varibles such as ordering and waiting for the ammo and then getting out on the range. Its finals week here in WSU so who knows when I will get to the range. I really do wish that local gun stores did carry match ammo, but usually im stuck going through MidwayUSA because its the easiest.

 

[spade]

I dont know about yall, but unless im working up a handload. I buy a box of everything that i can in that particular caliber. Shoot 3 5 shot groups with each of them. And then average them out.

Its always great to find out that your rifle groups better with the cheap stuff.

 

[bocephus]

When i was at the range saturday, the range master came over and talked for a while. im guessing he saw my "sniper" style gun, and fed medal match ammo. he was saying his .308 pss loves black hills. his evidence was a 15" inch group at 1000 yards with fed, and 12" with black hills.
im gonna give black hills a try in my gun. he was also saying my pss has a 1 in 12 twist and 175 wouldnt be the best choice that 168 would. can anyone elaborate on this??

 

[Jeff_850]

i have a Remington 700P with a 26" barrel and a 1:12 twist
supposedly its boarderline but it does just fine with the 175 gr rounds
i'd test a small ammount at 100y and then move further to make sure it stabilizes

 

[Jeffvn]

My 700PSS has a 12 twist 24" Broughton, and stabalizes the 175 Gold Medal Match just fine. My earlier barrel on this same rifle did too. I found out that it also likes to eat the M118LR (also a 175grain Sierra MK) this weekend.

The Greenhill Stabalization formula was designed for big, slowflying, round projectiles. That formula says that a 12 twist will not work for the 175 - the formula is not designed for use with fast flying, decent BC VLD projectiles.

JeffVN

 

[mele]

he was saying his .308 pss loves black hills. his evidence was a 15" inch group at 1000 yards with fed, and 12" with black hills.

Heh, well, I'm not so sure this is a very good comparison. If a butterfly were to sneeze in the bullets flight path at 1000 yards, it could well open that group by 3" with the .308.

BUT, I will certainly say give BH a try, your rifle may love it, or the PMC match or the remington match, or the winchester match, or the Lapua match, etc etc.

MEL

 

[Jeff_850]

mel is right
if you want to measure MOA do it at 100y maybe 200
at 1000y the chances are your shooting, failure to ajust the clicks will be off, not just the inconsistancy of the ammo

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

You can get consecutive serial sniper rifles and get one box of each ammo types and put both ammo's through each rifle... i garentee one rifle will be more accurate with a given ammo. In other words... it depends on your rifle. Get a box or two of both and go out to the range and shoot both... make sure to shoot both types of ammo's with a 100% clean weapon... and try to do both ammo types on the same day so that the weather is the same. Indoor ranges are great for this.

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

Oh yes... and remember... "friends dont let friends shoot 168's" :lol: