Bullet selection for BAR in 308

[Kramerica3]

For whitetails out to 400 yards. I’ve got a Semi auto BAR MK3 DBM 12 twist 18” barrel in 308 win. I’ve been using Hornady 150 BTSP with great results on game but I waste a lot of ammo every time I load/ unload. More than one time being racked into the chamber the soft points are pretty deformed. Was thinking of switching to 150 SST’s

 

[SloppyJ]

Are you looking for a harder bullet that won't get deformed? Is there a better way to load it than letting it pull one from the mag and slam it home with the bolt? Can you hand load it and lower the bolt? Never owned one, just thinking out loud.

I have a Win. Model 100 in 243 and I've never noticed it deforming bullets any more than my bolt guns.

Sounds like you're wanting a harder bullet which would be mono territory. That means you're giving up quite a bit of wound channel so your bullet looks good. I'd be willing to bet that the beat up cup and core bullets you eject would be just fine for 400 and in.

 

[Kramerica3]

Are you looking for a harder bullet that won't get deformed? Is there a better way to load it than letting it pull one from the mag and slam it home with the bolt? Can you hand load it and lower the bolt? Never owned one, just thinking out loud.

I have a Win. Model 100 in 243 and I've never noticed it deforming bullets any more than my bolt guns.

Sounds like you're wanting a harder bullet which would be mono territory. That means you're giving up quite a bit of wound channel so your bullet looks good. I'd be willing to bet that the beat up cup and core bullets you eject would be just fine for 400 and in.

I’d have to try putting one in and riding the bolt forward. I know I’ve not done that with other semis due to bolt not locking and cycling correctly. But it’d be worth a try.
I don’t want to pay big $ that’s why I threw out SST’s. They’re pretty cheap, I don’t think the tips on those would get chewed up like a soft point would but I’ve also never tried them.

 

[browning2480]

We shoot the 150 SSTs in our .308 and 165 in our .30-06 BARs. That is all we hunt deer with and they are great!!

 

[roosiebull]

For whitetails out to 400 yards. I’ve got a Semi auto BAR MK3 DBM 12 twist 18” barrel in 308 win. I’ve been using Hornady 150 BTSP with great results on game but I waste a lot of ammo every time I load/ unload. More than one time being racked into the chamber the soft points are pretty deformed. Was thinking of switching to 150 SST’s

I think you would like the sst, they are a pretty nasty bullet and seem to shoot well in any rifle I have seen them shot

 

[robtattoo]

175gr FMJs always used to work......

 

[onlybrowning]

For whitetails out to 400 yards. I’ve got a Semi auto BAR MK3 DBM 12 twist 18” barrel in 308 win. I’ve been using Hornady 150 BTSP with great results on game but I waste a lot of ammo every time I load/ unload. More than one time being racked into the chamber the soft points are pretty deformed. Was thinking of switching to 150 SST’s

Have you ever tested the results of what you perceive as a deformed tip? Just curious if there is a measurable decrease in accuracy.

I’ve used Nosler Accubonds, Ballistic Tips, SST’s, and I think Sierra TGK would be good if something with a more durable tip.

Obviously monos would be applicable, too.


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[Kramerica3]

I have not. My guess is inside 200 it wouldn’t show up. I bet at 300 you’d start to see it open up.

 

[BKM]

The 165gr SST got what I consider ideal performance at the ranges you mentioned.

Similar performance to the 150sst but I got pretty consistent exits with it, the 150sst didn’t exit often