308 Winchester

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Ranger Dave

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Anyone got some pet loads for the mighty 308 Win? I just ordered a Weatherby S2. I'm going to have to buy a bunch of brass.

I reloaded a bit for it 10 years ago for a friend. I think I used IMR4064 and Hornady 165's.vI don't think I have much 4064 left but I do have lots of Varget.
 
I think there are many rifles that like 165 grain loads with Varget or 4064 but each rifle seems to like something different so our pet loads are unlikely to be best for your rifle (which I'm sure you know). That said, I've had fairly good results with loads using 165s with between 41.5 to 42.5 grains of Varget. I've also had good experience with 39.5 grains of 3031 under a 168.

While it's tempting to short-cut load development, I've often been surprised by finding nodes well off the beaten path. It's really surprising how different very similar rifles can be re. ammo.
 
For target shooting accuracy mine likes Sierra Match Kings or Hornady AMAX in the 150-155 range with 42-43 grains of 4064.
 
My hunting load is 44gr of h4895 pushing a 150gr Barnes ttsx at 2825fps and my target load is 41gr of h4895 pushing a 155gr berger hunting vld at 2575fps. Both loads are sub moa in my rifle on a bench setting. I tried using varget, speeds were the same but accuracy was given the edge to h4895.

Kevin
 
Not sure if it's for hunting or targets, but I've had great luck with Varget and 4064, both behind the 178 A-Max. 43.0 grains for both powders seem to be the sweet spot in my rifle.
 
41.7 gr of 4064, 175 smk, fc brass oal 2.815" 0.380" 5round group at 100 m
44.0 gr varget, lapua brass, 175 smk oal 2.800" 5 round group 0.420" 5 round group 100 m.

Federal gold medal match primers gm210m. Used on both.

Fired from factory r700 5r 24" barrel.
 
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4064, Varget and IMR 4895 with a old style 155 SMK or most any 150 hunting bullet but usually a Sierra. There is no earthly reason why H4895 shouldn't work just as well as its IMR cousin, but for some unknown reason always seem to get better accuracy with the IMR in the .308 for me.
 
It always pays to experiment. All of IMR4895,IMR4064, IMR3031,Varget,H4895, W748, and BLC2, can be very accurate, but some rifles have a preference for one or the other. I like Varget, but it isn't necessarily the universal solution. Many of us were reloading for the .308 before Varget showed up on the shelves 20 yrs ago. Both IMR3031and IMR4895 were used in military 7.62 match ammo. There's an old saying that if your .308 doesn't shoot well with IMR4895, you have a rifle problem.
 
I have had good luck with varget around 45 grains shooting 165 gamekings and partitions, 1" groups out of my model 7. Not 0.5 moa but more than adequate for hunting.
 
My rem 700 LTR loves the Berger 155 gr pills with a little over the max load or Varget or IMR4895. Varget getting a little higher velocity , but both loads sub moa to 600 yards.
 
My fav load for W748: 43.0 grains with a Sierra MK 168 (shooting team, NRA High Power)

My current fav load for WC735 Surplus Ball Powder: 44.0 grains with Hornady Amax 155 gr or Hornady 150 grain SST or Lapua Scenar 155 grain Palma bullet(s).

Enjoy the .308 journey! :wave:

Barney
 
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