308 load data

[brianc74]

I am wanting some advise on a bullet, powder, primer selection. here is my rifle setup. the rifle is a LightWeight 6.25lbs. 308 Win. calliber, the barrel is 24", 1-10 twist, 4 groove. The chamber has a long throat for up to 210 vld bullets. I am looking for shooting steel and hunting out to 600 yards. Hunting deer sized game out to 600 yards, and elk out to 300-400 yards.

Brian

 

[AckleymanII]

long throat = not being able to use the magazine= single shot

 

[brianc74]

Sorry. The throat is long and will fit anything in the magazine. the magazine is super extended. Set up for a 284 Norma in a few years as a switch barrel.

Brian

 

[Catfish]

All of the powder manfuctures have have their loading data on line. Try www.accuratepowder.com. and www.hodgdon.com. and www.ramshot.com.

 

[navyrad8r]

brian....165 game king from sierra for the close stuff 168hybrid or 175 otm for the longer stuff...good luck
cheers,
doc

 

[broncman]

For 308 non competition I use RL15. Easy to find here and close to Varget. Those two are all I load in 308 from 110vmax loads to 215 Bergers. Lapua brass and wolf or tula primers . I have a decent supply of Federal gold medalatch brass that once sorted, has proven awesome for hunting and practice. Like it better than Winchester.

 

[brianc74]

Was thinking of trying Berger 168 Classic Hunter or 185 Classic Hunter for clos and far. Any thought on performance and velocity out of my 308 Win with these two bullets?

Brian

 

[Citrusdude]

In my 1953 M70 Featherweight, I'm pushing the Berger 168 gr Hunting VLD's at 2500 fps with 42 gr of Varget in Hornady cases with Win LR primers. Went for accuracy, not velocity. Getting 1" groups at 200 yards.

Steve

 

[captben]

Brian,

I am using 168 berger classic hunters in lapua brass with 210 fgmm Primers behind RL15 at 44.-45 gr depending on rifle for hunting.
They are very accurate at 2775 fps out of a 24" barrel. .5 moa out to 400

Long range I am using 208 Amax same brass same primer behind 44 gr Alliant MR2000, At an Amazing 2600+fps. no pressure my rifle. .5 moa to 600.
.25 moa at 200. same rifles. 3 Different chronos to be sure. Never got over 2500fps before with any other powder.

This Alliant MR2000 is amazing with heavy bullets for caliber. has really been great in my 308's.

Use Caution!! these are worked up in my rifles.

 

[brianc74]

I have some Hornady 180 BTSP bullets and some Nosler 180 Partitions. I don't think this 308 likes the Berger 168 Classics. It's giving me 2" groups at 100 yards consistently. Used RL15 and Varget. Shot 5 shot groups.

Brian

 

[pslater]

My gun is a stock Browning X Bolt .308 with a 12" twist 22" barrel. Three round group at 100 yds. under .375" using 46 gr. of Varget under a Nosler 165 gr. E tip. Nosler brass, WLR primers, light crimp. Virtually the same results with 165 gr. Barnes TTSX's.

I hope this helps.

 

[airborne_trooper]

175 gr Berger hunting VLD
Winchester brass, federal match primers
COAL 2.830
44 gr varget


Shoots lights out on paper and I have killed 5 mule deers and one antelope ranging from 70 yards out to 400 yards!

 

[boiler_house7]

I just finished up a .308 build shooting the sierra 168 bullets and the H-4895 performed very well with the 24" barrel on this one. This one is throated fairly long 2.920 ish COL with .011 jump. Very consistent 3/10 node, actually this is the powder i run in all the shorter .308 barrels we have and I've tried several powders on ladder test, may work well in yours with the BR-2 primers. Bill

 

[Park ranger]

What is a 3/10 node?

 

[Zero333]

If you want 1 bullet that will take down elk, deer and shoot bugholes I recommend the Sierra 180gr GameKing SBT.
44.5gr of Varget will do the job.

Since you want to take down elk I say the 180 SBT because it is tougher than the 165sbt and is just as accurate as any Sierra Matchking.
You will not regret it.

 

[pogson]

I am looking for shooting steel and hunting out to 600 yards. Hunting deer sized game out to 600 yards, and elk out to 300-400 yards.

Sierra 180BTSP would probably do for elk to 400 or deer at 600 yards. That's extreme range for deer. Trouble with trajectory/range measurement, wind, mirage, shake, shrubs/grass, movement etc. make that a difficult shot. I would load for near maximum velocity with acceptable accuracy. I would definitely test expansion at the long range just to be sure. Many bullets have too tough a jacket/core or too little exposed lead to survive impact at closer ranges. They fail to expand at such ranges. This bullet might over-expand at closer range where most deer are encountered. That's why I usually hunt with two types of rounds, heavy RN for inside 200 yards and SBT for longer stuff.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2160/308-dia-180-gr-SBT

MV of 2650 ft/s should give impact at 1700 ft/s with 1150 ft-lb energy. IMR4064 would probably do the job with a maximum load. It will be a compressed load. Work up to it to avoid surprises. Seat the bullet out as far as you can safely/properly. Use Winchester brass to hold more powder too. Work up with different primers to find which gives you the best performance.