Are 190's to heavy for a 308 ??

[Baddog0302]

A "good deal" is only good if you can use what you get. I can get a "good deal" on some Hornady 190's, but not having tried them, I think they are a bit to heavy for a 308. ? Although the Hornady manual lists only 100-200 fps. difference between their 168 Match and their 190 Match.
These would be fired out of a 26" Bbl. for 600 & 1000 yd. shooting

 

[flyinlizard]

The 26 inch tube will help you out, and the 190's will handle the wind better if your gun likes them.

 

[Laurie]

No, 190gn is fine on the assumption that the barrel is not 'short-throated' requiring the bullets to be seated very deeply in the case with their bases below the shoulder / case-body junction. 210 and 220gn bullets are widely used in .308W in suitably throated rifles for long-range competition. You'll need to seat the bullets as far out as the barrel allows - ie before you start to contact the rifling on chambering a loaded round. This will likely be well above the standard .308W 2.800" COAL and will require single-loading if you're using a magazine rifle.

Hornady 190s? These must be the old HPBT Match (or 'National Match') model that have been out of production for some time. They are similar to the Sierra 190gn MK and the same powders - a bit slower burning than those used for 155-175gn bullets suit - H414 / W760, Viht N550 give high MVs. The old favourites for this cartridge do very well too - Alliant Re15 and Hodgdon VarGet.

You'll likely find published data in reloading manuals is on the mild side for this bullet weight and you can usually work up safely to still higher charges above published maximum loads as long as you do it in small steps, 0.2gn or 0.3gn at a time. Watch out for temperature induced pressure increases though with powders other than VarGet. The new and temperature insensitive IMR-8208 XBR is gaining a good reputation in the US in .308 Win too up to and including this bullet weight , although I've not managed to get any myself to try yet here in the UK.

To obtain maximum performance within safe pressures use a strong and roomy case - Norma and Winchester come to mind. Lapua is very strong and well made, but has rather less capacity. If you really want maximum performance from heavy bullets in .308 Win try the new small primer Lapua 'Palma' .308W brass with CCI-450 or BR4 primers.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[Baddog0302]

THANK YOU,
and just my luck, powders I don't have, so I'll start with what I do, and I'll watch the tempture, it does tend to get "warm" here in NW Fla. I'll check the capasity of some LC 63 & 68 NM brass as well as some old Federal nickle NM brass I had "rat-holed" away.