loading light,125 grn loads for 308

[newby]

Hi all.My shooting discipline requires a flat , fast moving bullet.Most competitors use a 243 ackley .I would like to speed things up and load a lighter bullet.I hear the Sierra 125 grn may do a nice job.Max shooting distnce is 350 meters
Any advice will be appreciated .Thanks
Newby

 

[jo191145]

The Speer 125gn TNT is a nice economical and accurate little pill.
The Sierra ain't bad either but I tend to shy away from lead tipped bullets.
I coat most of my stuff and lead is a contaminent that requires seperate containers.

 

[newby]

Sorry guys,perhaps I must be more specific.I shoot a 308 Musgrave ,the bisley rifle, its a single shot with a bull barrel.It loves the 155 grn Sierra but I need some speed .Thus I need info on lighter rounds, eg 100grn or as I said 125 grn Sierra .Is any one out there using this load to any good effect?I need as flat a trajectory as possible.max shooting distance will be 350 meters

 

[newby]

Thanks ,The only reason i mentioned Sierra is that we tend to struggle to get all makes.I shall enquire.Meantime , could you please advise your load? We have differnt powders in SA but it should gibve me an idea. especially if you refer to a 155 grn load with same powder.Also what speed do you get and what trajectory please.
thanks Peter

 

[AckleymanII]

I have shot the 125g Sierra, 125g Nosler, and 135g Sierra Single Shot pistol bullet with loads ranging from 51-52g of 748 with speed right at 3200 fps.


I got accuracy with all bullets touching in my Rem's and custom Ruger with a Douglas barrel on it.


No doubt that the Speer TNT would be the most explosive on varmints.

Good Luck

 

[newby]

Thanks Keith, I shall definitely try those 125 grns.Do you have any info on bullets flight path, ie, if zero at 200m what is the = at 100 m and the - at 300?Also relative to a 155 grn bullet how much more powder do you use for the 125 grn?
We shoot at targets and gongs out to 350 m so i shall not need the varmint rounds.
Thanks again.Peter

 

[AckleymanII]

Peter, I would start off at 45g of 748 and work your way up in powder charge when using the 155's. In one rifle I was shooting the 150g BT at 3000 fps shooting tiny groups.

Good luck!

 

[2506]

I shoot a tight neck 308 Win out of a 21 1/2" #7 SS Heart barrel on a Rem. 700 action as a deer hunting rifle. I shoot the 125 Nosler BT with WW cases CCI-BR2 primer, 125 Nosler BT and 46 grs IMR 4895 for right at 3100 fps and 1/4 MOA accruacy. With a 3 inch high at 100 yards zero I am 3.5 inch high at 200 yards and 4 inches low at 300 yards. The Sierra 125 shoots about the same in my rifle. I just like the terminal results of the Nosler over the Sierra for shooting deer.

 

[moorepower]

Don't overlook the 110 grain Vmax.

 

[RJinTexas]

newby, I agree with Keith as the 125gr NBT pushed by WW-748 has long been my go to load in the 308 for hunting white-tail deer and feral hogs.

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Here's Quick Load stats the 155 SMK and 125 NBT loaded with WW-748 shot from a 26" barrel OAL @ 2.860
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155gr SMK #2155 - 48.2gr / WW-748 = 59216 psi @ 2967 fps - 94.3% case fill & 99.99% propellant burnt.

With rifle zeroed @ 200yds
distance velocity path to los
yards fps in inches
100 2754 +1.3
200 2550 0.0
300 2352 -6.6
400 2164 -19.6
500 1984 -39.8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

125gr NBT - 51.5gr / WW-748 = 59449 psi @ 3289 fps - 99.3% case fill & 99.4% propellant burnt.

With rifle zeroed @ 200yds
distance velocity path to los
yards fps in inches
100 3014 +0.9
200 2755 0.0
300 2510 -5.5
400 1441 -16.5
500 1178 -34.4

Regards
RJ

 

[hottshott526]

Hey Newby,

Go to Hornady's web site they have a ballistic calculator that I have found to be VERY accurate , at least for my calibers/loads.
You need to know some details about your load/combo but just plug them in and it does it all for you.

You can tailor the program for short range or long range out to 1K.

Good shooting,
Brian

 

[ForneyRider]

I wonder if a 118gr BIB would hold up. it is supposed to be the BeesKnees in 30BR.

Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip or Hornady 110gr V-Max are lightweight.

 

[Quackaddict]

I have 100 NBT's (125grn) I plan on working up with 748, do you get any rapid expansion out of them for the folks shooting them?

 

[ForneyRider]

The BT's explode on steel very well.