308 Reloading what componants?

haha49

haha49

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
35   0   0
Location
BC
I just got my dillion xl650 and plan on loading 308. I need to pick some components and powder to start with. I want to load for 3 rifles a Remington 700 5r mil spec (never shot it ordered and on its way) a M1 Grand (like 150gr not so much on the 180) The AIA Lee Enfield 308 (likes 180gr) I just want to set a plinking round for all the guns so I was thinking of using serria 168gr btp bullets. Now I just need to figure out what powder and primers to use. I want something that’s clean burning and consistent what would people recommend? I was thinking about going gold match primers or just regular federal large rifle primers I have 280 once fired brass to start with but I will need to add to that so what’s a good long lasting brand of brass? I already looked at some loads and figure I will just load in the middle to start and see what happens doing batchs of 20-40 per ammo to try in all the guns to see what they like.

So basicly I need

Primers
Brass
Bullets
Powder
 
This summer I revamped my load for my .308 Browning BLR. Using IMR4895 42.5grs and CCI200 primers. I have loaded up 165gr Nosler Part and have found this to be extremely accurate in this rifle. I use it for hunting and that said, Nosler bullets would be fairly pricy for plinking. That is where 165gr Speer bullets are what I use. Speer bullets are much cheaper and not too far out from impact point of my Nosler loads.
 
For powder BL-C2 is hard to beat in a dillion as it measures so well and is origionally a milsurp powder.

Budget shooter supply sells really affordable 30 cal PRVI projectiles and brass

CCI, Win, or federal primers will all be suitable for your needs
 
For an M1 Garand in 7.62 NATO or .30-06 Springfield I would look towards these components. Same goes for 7.62 NATO M14 clones.

147-173 gr Spitzer (pointy) .308" Bullet, say 168gr HPBT or 150gr FMJ, 165gr BT etc

Large Rifle primer like Win or CCI

Starting load for IMR 4895, H4895, AA2495, IMR 4064, Win 748, BLC2, or H335from you manual, or Hodgdons site.

The operating systems of these types of gas rifles cannot tolerate all the same powders and bullets that a bolt action can. Some people have been using non recommended combos or ammo without trouble but it's not that easy to replace an operating rod on these guns in Canada if you do bend one.

I usually buy Winchester Primers and Winchester or Remington brass. Other people prefer other types. I also load a lot of range brass in various brands and don't really have anything bad to say about any of them. I bought some Lapua and it looks so nice I don't even want to load/shoot it.
 
hk33ka1 said:
For an M1 Garand in 7.62 NATO or .30-06 Springfield I would look towards these components. Same goes for 7.62 NATO M14 clones.

147-173 gr Spitzer (pointy) .308" Bullet, say 168gr HPBT or 150gr FMJ, 165gr BT etc

Large Rifle primer like Win or CCI

Starting load for IMR 4895, H4895, AA2495, IMR 4064, Win 748, BLC2, or H335from you manual, or Hodgdons site.

The operating systems of these types of gas rifles cannot tolerate all the same powders and bullets that a bolt action can. Some people have been using non recommended combos or ammo without trouble but it's not that easy to replace an operating rod on these guns in Canada if you do bend one.

I usually buy Winchester Primers and Winchester or Remington brass. Other people prefer other types. I also load a lot of range brass in various brands and don't really have anything bad to say about any of them. I bought some Lapua and it looks so nice I don't even want to load/shoot it.
Click to expand...

IMR-4064 and 4895 are the two best choices for powder in a Garand. Mine loves 168gr Amax's over 48.0gr of IMR-4064. I also like Winchester brass, but use CCI primers for everything.

I have compiled load data from a number of sources, including Purple on this site and the NRA if anyone wants some useful data points to work with.


Mark
 
For "plinking" i've been using 110 Frontier CMJ bullets with 48gr of BL-C(2). Decent shooting 3000fps+/- and only about 38k PSI make for easy shooting all day. 51 grains will push that little bullet to 3200, and still remain under 45k PSI. 48 grains per round is expensive on powder though...

I'm thinking of picking up a can of 5744, going to try in the 30-33 grain range which should produce slightly lower speeds with slightly more pressure.
 
I guess if you are looking for a single load to satisfy all of your rifles, then choosing a mid-weight bullet loaded with a medium burning rate powder is best. I used to like 165 gr cup and core bullets from Hornady and Sierra in my .30/06, but out to 300 yards boat-tails don't have any advantage over plain base bullets, and add to the length of the bullet which must be pushed into the powder capacity of a short case like the .308. For that reason a plain base 150 might be a better idea. Another option is to choose 150 gr TSXs, which have the length and BC of the 165 combined with the velocity of a 150, combined with a "no exceptions" terminal performance if you are willing to spend that much on bullets, and have the need for premium bullet performance at .308 velocities.

Ball powder wins for ease of loading small case cartridges, and Winchester 748, or Hodgdon's H-332, H-335, or BLC-2 will give you 2700 fps at moderate pressure that won't hurt the op-rod in your military gas gun. Any of these powders matched with a magnum primer will produce reliable ignition under all conditions, although I never had plain Jane Winchester 120s fail to ignight ball powder.

Of the North American brass, I prefer Winchester. Of the Euro brass I prefer Lapua, but the recent prices of Lapua brass have driven me back to Winchester and Remington. Hornady brass looks good, although I've only got experience with their .375 Ruger brass. Nosler brass has been said to have soft heads and short life due to primer pocket expansion, too bad, otherwise its nice stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom