SIG Cross 308 Load Development

[Samuel Fowler]

Starting load development for a Sig Cross 308. It has a 16" barrel and I'm not sure if the old stand by of a 168gr bullet is going to work in that short of a barrel. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[dantiff2]

Hodgdon website offers "pistol" 308 load data. take note of the barrel length in this chart:

 

[dantiff2]

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

can you get triple ear protection?

 

[Lucky6547]

The length of the barrel is not an issue, just the twist, and most any twist faster than 14 will work for most 168’s.

 

[Ned Ludd]

As @Lucky6547 noted, the barrel length isn't really the issue. Rather, the twist rate and velocity are the factors that will determine bullet stability. If I'm seeing this correctly at Sig, the Cross has a 10-twist barrel, which would normally mean bullets up to the 200 gr range or so. However, you will be giving up a fair amount of velocity with the shorter barrel, so let's say bullets maybe up to the 185 gr range should be fine. A slightly faster powder than you might choose for the same bullet weight in a longer barrel will help get them moving out of the 16" barrel. If it were me, I'd use H4895with a 169 gr Sierra or 168 Berger Hybrid. Alternatively, both Sierra and Berger have some very good choices in the 155 gr or 175 gr weight classes, as well. I have a DTA SRS Covert .308 bolt rifle with a 16" 8-twist barrel and it shoots a very wide range of bullet weights in commercial ammunition just fine.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

The length of the barrel is not an issue, just the twist, and most any twist faster than 14 will work for most 168’s.

Yeah, I am getting shy of loud report in my old age.

 

[Minshooter]

Yeah, I am getting shy of loud report in my old age.

Suppressors changed my shooting world.
I shoot a .308 Cross with an Omega 300 or TB U7. Shoot all day with light foam ear plugs.
A friend (who liked to tell me I'm a wuss for always shooting suppressed) insisted on firing
a single shot from the Cross unsuppressed under the covered range, to demonstrate his point.
A single shot was all he decided to shoot. He ordered a Harvester Evo last Month
I have found the same loads that shoot well in a 20" & 24" shoot fine in a 16"Cross and 16" R700.
Mostly H4895, 4064, and Varget, 125 through 175gr.
Just for fun, I made up some .308 220gr Subs with Trail Boss. Sounds like a car door closing.
Fun, if you just have to turn a .308 into a 300 BO.