Light bullets, 308 Win

[snert]

Just a quick post: Anyone here using light bullets (under 130 grain) in 308 Winchester for varmints, coyote, chucks etc? if so, what have you been happy with? Considering buying light bullet for walking "varminter" in 308.

 

[stool]

the speer 125 tnt......that should do well in a 1/10 or 1/12....
i shoot 125 and 135 in a 1/15...itty bitty groups.

 

[Michael Courtney]

125 NBT. Used it for deer too. Great load.

 

[jonbearman]

This year I am going to try the hornady 110 bullets to ease up the shoulder punishment as my right shoulder is wasted.It should shoot like a kitten.

 

[Bindi2]

I use Vmax 110 in a Ruger Mk11. piglets ok not heavy enough for mum. Dogs very good, roos, generally any light skinned animal. Rabbits blow up

 

[Keith Glasscock]

110 vmax vs ground squirrels. Works like nothing else. Try benchmark. Accuracy is easily sub 1/2 MOA at all the ranges I shoot (300 and less).

 

[scope eye]

110gr Sierra HP backed up by 45gr of H4198 in my 30" 12 twist, gives me an end result of 3600+ fps fun for the whole family, I run 46 to 47gr when I have brass that has a low cycle count, I won't tell you they fps you would not believe me.

Dean

 

[MrMajestic]

I have shot the 130 gr. Speer HP(I know not under 130 grs.!), the 125 gr. TNT, 125 gr. BT and the 110 gr. V-Max. All were very accurate to 300 yards which was the longest I've shot them. FYI, none were "Fur Friendly"!

 

[2506]

46 grs IMR 4895 with 125 Nosler ballistic tip is my deer load that runs right at 3000 fps from my 21" barrel. Sub the 125 Speer TNT for varmints. The 125 ballistic tip is NOT a varmint bullet. It is a small to medium game bullet. Works great on white tail deer if you keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps. The TNT will vaporize a groundhog.

 

[stool]

kinda curious about how you get 3000 fps from a 21" bbl with imr 4895.....
you have a chrongraph you bought from a politician ??( we know they all lie).
that is nearly 200 fps faster than QL says...yes its only a tool but never seen it off by 200 fps faster.
i shoot my 135's at 2900 fps from a 26" bbl..not max but close.

46 grs IMR 4895 with 125 Nosler ballistic tip is my deer load that runs right at 3000 fps from my 21" barrel. Sub the 125 Speer TNT for varmints. The 125 ballistic tip is NOT a varmint bullet. It is a small to medium game bullet. Works great on white tail deer if you keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps. The TNT will vaporize a groundhog.

 

[2506]

Yes I have a chrno and yes I have shot it over other chrnos and I said RIGHT AT 3000 FPS actually mid to high 2900s. Tight chamber tight neck Heart barrel 10" twist for you information.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I have also shot that load in my 22" Mod 70 & got about 2980 fps IIRC. I had a jug of N-135, so now use it with even better results.

 

[snert]

Guys, Thank you for the input! I will be running this from a 20 inch Rem factory H-barrel, M700. I wanted a light recoil load that will flatten a coyote, chop a chuck and not bounce all over the county when I miss (yes, I admit it...I do miss, unlike some internet gurus!)

I have 1700 prepped brass ready for experimenting, and have the usual suspects...168 HPBT, 130GR barnes for deer, 175 HPBT, 155's...but wanted a load that is gentle on my end, wicked on the other, for not that far off shooting...out to 300 or so.

Your ideas and experiences are appreciated

The Vmax sounds fun

Snert

 

[Fordnutter]

IMR8208 XBR powder will be your best friend with light bullets in the 308 8)

 

[spclark]

I agree on the 8208XBR, at least for the 130 - 155 grain bullets. I've used it for 2 seasons now for my Palma loads (& others, not always 308 either) & find it superb.

For those 168's & up though, maybe not so much....

Tried some 185's early this year & found H4895 worked better.

 

[navyrad8r]

I was looking for a lighter recoil too. I was running ~46 gr of imr4064 with 110 vmaxs and 125 NBTs in my garand (.308). tight groups and fun shooting all day long.
cheers
doc

 

[snert]

Anybody try Varget, H380 or 2495? I have that...

Snert

 

[cdparker]

If you are looking to make the recoil less punishing; back in the days when we shot "man" guns XC, we would just substitute the 125gr. TNT in our standard 168-173-175 gr. load. It worked very well at 200yds. for stand and sit. You do not have to push this bullet to it's maximum velocity to get it to do what you need.
just a thought.

 

['Freak]

It’s been 30 years but I think the present day Speer 130 gr. HP of varmint construction is the same. I used 3031 ~ mid-range of the Speer data, seated one diameter in the neck, and had most excellent accuracy from a 22” sporter Model 70. Fired into the base of a water filled 2 liter bottle at 100 yds they never exited leaving most of the fragments collected in the separated bottle neck. It would seemingly vaporize a crow into nothing but a puff of feathers. They would flat clean the innards out of a groundhog but I don’t recall ever having one exit so they’re not something I’d consider for use on Bambi.

 

[MrMajestic]

It’s been 30 years but I think the present day Speer 130 gr. HP of varmint construction is the same. I used 3031 ~ mid-range of the Speer data, seated one diameter in the neck, and had most excellent accuracy from a 22” sporter Model 70. Fired into the base of a water filled 2 liter bottle at 100 yds they never exited leaving most of the fragments collected in the separated bottle neck. It would seemingly vaporize a crow into nothing but a puff of feathers. They would flat clean the innards out of a groundhog but I don’t recall ever having one exit so they’re not something I’d consider for use on Bambi.

OF has it right, IMHO. Being about a "go for the gusto" kinda youngin'! I used the old Speer manual 3031 top load. I got a chrono'ed 3100 fps from my 22" M88. 3/4 MOA accuracy. Hit a big Hog in the middle at 75 yards and there was very little connecting the two halves! I used it exclusively for a bunch of years as it was my only CF rifle. 300 yards and in very few got away! Sure looked odd with a 20X Lyman on that lever action! ;D