loading 308

[jessie01]

Will anybody share their accurate loads for a 308.

 

[purple]

The .308 Win is an inherently accurate cartridge. Accurate loads must developed for the individual rifle as rifles exhibit a preference for different bullets,propellants and charges thereof,as well as other variables like bullet seating depth.What works best in one rifle will not necessarily work best in another. Having said that,some well known accuracy propellants in the .308 are IMR 3031,4895,4064,Varget,RL12,BLC2,H4895 and W748,and there are others. For hunting bullets,I have had excellent results with all of the Sierra 150gr boat-tail,Nosler 150gr BT,and Hornady 150gr boat-tail.For target loads the 155gr Sierra,155gr Nosler and 168gr Nosler,Sierra and Hornady are all very accurate. Reloading technique is important for accuracy and all of the following should be considered;neck-sizing vs FL re-sizing,trimming to uniform length,flash hole de-burring,primer pocket uniforming,and segregating cases by weight.The ultra-fastidious can also consider neck turning.Apart from ammunition, the other 2 legs of the accuracy stool are the rifle itself and the shooter. Before anything else, get at least 2 current reloading manuals and start with the minimum loads shown with an eye on pressure signs as well as accuracy. Some of the manuals do recommend specific accuracy loads.If you want to explore the true accuracy potential of the .308 get a quality heavy barrel bolt rifle.Having said that I have a M70 Winchester Featherweight with a 4x Leupold scope which averages .81 inch groups featuring the Hornady 150gr boat-tail over 47 gr WC755,an Olin commercial ball powder which is unfortunately no longer available. Every yr I congratulate myself for laying in a big stash of this for $14 a pound 11 yrs ago.

 

[GSoD]

Varget and Sierra HPBT Matchkings should be your friends.

For me its 44.5grains Varget, 175grain SMK, seated at 2.945. This will average .5" 10 shot groups out of my 1:12 twist rem700P.

But as purple said: Every rifle is a little different. Good thing half the fun of reloading is the experimenting.

 

[humptyjumped]

41grains varget, 168gr sierra HPBT Match Kings, CCI primers, Winchester Brass

12 twist 30 inch barrel

Shoots like a laser

 

[Ganderite]

Newbie: It would help us if you mentioned the rifle you had and what you intended to do with it, and at what range.

 

[smak_daddy]

In a bolt gun (not semi)

Start at a lower powder charge and work up.

My best 308 load is 46 grains Varget and 155 gr. HPBT Palma MatchKing.

 

[lineofsight]

Couple .308 here for 11.25 twist 24" Barrel.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270459

 

[jessie01]

The gun im using is a Savage 99E

 

[jessie01]

I hunt moose, elk and deer.

 

[Mumptia]

I use 165 Interbonds over 39 gr of IMR 3031

Getting 1" groups with my BLR

 

[rishu_pepper]

In my Savage 99E 308, I loaded 165gr SST, with RL-15. Worked quite well.

 

[Boomer686]

My Win Stealth II will pick the n*ts off a fly all day using 42.5gr IMR4064 with a magnum primer in Winchester brass pushing a 168gr Sierra Matchking bullet. Average groups at 100m is 3/8" or better.

Regards,

 

[t-star]

my pet ( it's a savage 99c) is a 180 grain remmy or whatever backed by 43.9-44 grains of ww748- magnum primer, of course- that thing will take down just about anything except big bears at long range- if you got time to get a second one off, that too- at 200 yards i get 3 holes touching-the bullet doesn't seem to matter, as long as it's 180- pity i can;t use the same loads in the m14

 

[Ganderite]

For that rifle, for that kind of big game, I suggest a 180 gr bullet so you can use the same bullet on everything. The Hornady soft point, flat base should be accurate in your rifle.

I suggest you start with 42 gr of RL15 and work up in half gr increments to about 44 gr max. RL 15 gives good velocity with reasonable pressures. 5 shot groups with a long cool off in between each group.

You may hear of hotter loads here, but the Savage 99 does not handle hot loads as well as most bolt guns. I consider the BLR and Remington pump to be front locking bolt rifles, for the purpose of this discussion.


Opinions about range differ between eastern and western Canada. This caliber and bullet would work (well placed shot) out to about 250 yards. I have only seen game in eastern canada once beyond that distance.

 

[JasonYuke]

I use BLC-2 with 165 gr Hdy interlocks in my old 99..

And it shoots not to bad considering

 

[604shooter]

44.5 grs of Varget under a 165gr Hornady IL works for me.

 

[lineofsight]

44.5 grs of Varget under a 165gr Hornady IL works for me.

Have same components, what rifle? Where do you seat bullet? heers.

 

[604shooter]

Have same components, what rifle? Where do you seat bullet? heers.

It's a Remington SS SPS seated to 2.810 OAL. I'd like to seat it out a little further, but the mag box maxes out at 2.835.

 

[svt-40]

Hodgdon lists 43-47.7 gr of 4064 for 150 gr bullet, but I can only fit 43 gr in a case and it's compressed. Why do they list the loads that don't even fit?

Does anyone use H335 in 308? How does it perform?

I am going to load for Stevens 200 which is a 1:10" twist, using Hornady 150 gr FMJ/BT bullet with cannelure. Should I crimp as well?

 

[punkrockboy]

hmmmmm< I just made some handloads that had 44 grains of IMR4064 with 168gr sierra matchking, 44 grains fit no problem. Not sure about your re-loading manual, but with my lyman manual, it clearly shows that a lot of the max loads with certain powders are compressed loads!