.308 Win. loads for 150 ELD, 173 ELD-X, 168 TMK

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Getting my son a Tikka T3x ctr type rifle with a 1:11 twist, 20" barrel, etc. I reload a ton but not for this caliber. Picked him up some Laupa brass and ELD bullets in 150 grain, ELD-X 173, and Sierra Tipped Match King bullets in 168. I'd appreciate powders and load suggestions for accuracy, etc. I'm partial to Varget but not sure how that would do in a .308 Win. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bart B.]

http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

Varget is a good choice.

 

[Rsadams]

You can load the TMK with the SMK data from Sierra but the TMK doesn't like to jump as much as the SMK and you should back the charge down on the TMK a little because of more bearing surface according to Sierra...

 

[sbhooper]

CFE 223 is great with the 150-grain bullets in the .308.

 

[Bart B.]

41 to 44 grains of IMR4064 under Sierra 168's in 308 Win cases probably won more matches and set more records than all other loads through 300 yards in bolt guns than all others combined in its heyday in competition.

As I remember, Sierra's factory test load for 168's in their California plant was 43 or 44 grains of IMR4064 in unprepped FL sized cases with metered charge weights having a 3/10ths grain spread. 1/4th MOA average with 10 shot groups was the spec, sometimes a 1 to 2 tenths average happened.

Sierra's 180 HPMK's did as well over 42 to 43 grains of IMR4064 in 308 Win cases through 600 yards.

44 to 45 grains of IMR4895 did as well with 150 grain bullets.

Lots of ammo tolerance is OK if the rifle barrel and what aims it is up to snuff.

 

[nonnieselman]

I found XBR8208 worked great in my AR10 in 308 with 125 grain TMK and 178 gr ELD-X. After finding those loads i havent tried anything else except tinkering with some 175 SMK and IMR4064 in LC LR brass to see if the "M118LR" load would shoot out of it.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Great information, thank you everyone!

 

[Ray B]

I'm not familiar with the newer powders, but for the 308 my favorites are W748, H335 & Bl-C2.

 

[DirtySteve]

I have had great results using Varget with 155's, 168's and 175's.. It's kind of the go to powder for the 308.

 

[Bart B.]

While ball powders often produce smaller spreads of metered charge weights, peak pressure and muzzle velocity, bullets they shoot typically land in larger groups. They've not been popular with match winners and record setters.