OK you reloaders, here's my dilemma. I have a box of 165 gr. fail safe bullets with the hollow point, not the silver tip. So I go to the Nosler web site and guess what? No reloading data on that particular bullet!!! WTF!!!! It doesn't even mention it or if it's the same load for the silver tip moly coat. I've done some web searching and I'm getting data that conflicts with my reloader manuals. Needless to say, I don't want to end up with something that's unsafe in my rifle. Have any of you loaded that bullet, and if so, what load did you use? For powders, I have IMR4350, IMR3031, IMR4320 and H380. From what I've read, the IMR4350 would be the route to go. The thread I read up on, the guy was loading 53.5gr of 4350. My Lyman reloading book gives a max load of 50.5 gr for 165 gr. bullets, though not the moly coat. I know the theory of moly coating was to reduce friction, allowing a hotter load without excessive chamber pressure, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Any good information would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Fail Safe .308 Combined Technology data
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
The reason there is no "online data" from Nosler is that the FailSafe is discontinued.
I am not sure what you are loading. Is it 308 Win, or 30-06? I am assuming the 308.
You need to be careful with the FS because it has a steel cup in the rear half of the bullet (steel does not compress like copper or lead). Nosler suggests that when loading this bullet you start near the minimum load and work up watching carefully for signs of pressure. In light of that, the recommended starting load is somewhere around 46.0 grains with max around 50.0 (I would be real wary of loading close to 50). I would suggest using a chronograph to watch your velocities closely for signs of increasing pressure.
Max velocity will be somewhere around 2750 with that combination.
I am not sure what you are loading. Is it 308 Win, or 30-06? I am assuming the 308.
You need to be careful with the FS because it has a steel cup in the rear half of the bullet (steel does not compress like copper or lead). Nosler suggests that when loading this bullet you start near the minimum load and work up watching carefully for signs of pressure. In light of that, the recommended starting load is somewhere around 46.0 grains with max around 50.0 (I would be real wary of loading close to 50). I would suggest using a chronograph to watch your velocities closely for signs of increasing pressure.
Max velocity will be somewhere around 2750 with that combination.
Thanks for the info. I HAD mentioned in my post that they're .308. I'll be loading up a bunch tomorrow, and I'll post data on how they perform when I get to the range.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Where?? And even if you did, .308 is the calibre not the cartridge. Does not matter as I deduced from the load you mentioned that it was likely 308 Win.
As for why they were discontinued, IMO they are way more bullet then what is required for NA game animals. I also remember some mixed reports on required velocity for proper expansion. All in all, I think they were just too expensive to produce and had a very limited market - which Barnes took control of very quickly.
I have to tell you my own experience with the failsafe ammo. I had some factory stuff, and got a beautiful side-on shot at a big 10 pt. buck. I hit him in the heart. His foreleg went up, his head went back, and he dropped right there. He weighed about 350 lbs, so he was a good size buck. When I dressed him out, I saw a nice neat entry and a nice neat exit hole. On the ground about 3 feet away from the carcass was what looked like a foot long tube of red jelly. Turned out that was the heart, liquified and blown out the exit hole. Devastating!
