Most versatile bullet out there... 150gr .308 SP?

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Hi, a question for the reloaders out there. I am still fairly new to reloading, got into it 2 years ago.

I currently have a 30-30, 2 308's and 2 30-06 rifles. I may add a 300 Win Mag at some point to the collection. It got me thinking that in theory I could stock one bullet, the 150 gr .308 SP for all of these rifles? Not to mention if I wanted, that would also work fine in the 300 Savage, 300 WSM as well?

What about powders too? I've been using IMR 3031 a lot but I understand it doesn't work too well for heavier loads. Would there be a powder that could compliment these various cartidges and the .308 150gr SP and do an "okay" job in all of them?
 
You could certainly load a 150 gr SP in all those calibers.

Except in the 300 mag you might be able to get away with using 4895 (either Hodgdon or IMR) as your only powder, but you probably wouldn't get the best performance out of any of them - they just aren't related that closely even though they can all use the same bullet (unlike say a 243 and 7.08 or 280 and 30.06 in terms of sharing the same powder).

Likewise, if you are going to hunt these rifles a "one bullet fits all" is probably not a great idea. A heavier round in the slower/closer used 30.30 may not be best for stretching out with a 300 mag...
 
Well, first off, your .30/30 will require a flat nose bullet which aren't the best choice for the other rounds.

For the .308 and .30-06, I would prefer 165 for the former and 180's for the latter, though either would work. I just prefer a bullet with a little more sectional density than a 150/.308.

Because of the different case capacities you'll find it challenging to get a powder that works well in all three. 3031 is fine for the .30/30. IMR 4350 is my go-to for the .30-06, and I used either RL15 or IMR 4064 for the .308 when I had it.

Bullet choice also depends somewhat on what you're shooting at... just paper, deer, moose?
 
Most versatile bullet out there... 150gr .308 SP?


Versatile for what? 150gr is a little light for moose and grizzly country, and why bother shoot a 30.06 in 150s when the 308 does the same job? The advantage of the 30.06 is that you can go much heavier than the 308. If all you want to do is punch paper and the odd deer the 150s are good, but in tough country you have no heavy hitters.
 
The .30-30 is an "odd man out" and needs specific bullets. For my money, and IF (notice it is a big "IF") I thought one versatile bullet was what I wanted for the others, I would pick a 180 grain bullet for the .308, .30-06 and a future WM. But, I would never do that. The "most versatile" is seldom the best for anything. The whole point of loading your own is to load the ideal for different applications. Why would you want to average out all the excellent properties of different cartridges?
 
You are looking at this backwards.... You have rifle redundancy in your .308 and .30-06..... I would sell the 2 .30-06 and one of the .308, get yourself a 7mm-08 and a .243....... The .308 and the .300 are great candidates for a bullet share.... I like accubonds.... The rest deserve their own dedicated......

For powders, look to use 4895 for all but the .300..... And 4831 for the .300 .....

Disclaimer: this is exactly what I did in your situation, and it is now first hand knowledge to me..... But this came from other CGN'rs who deserve the credit for helping me along the way..... But I can tell you it has worked out marvellously....
 
150 grain bullets in .30 caliber is the lightest bullet that is generally & widely useful for big game hunting. If you actually want the most versatile weight i'd suggest the 180, and agree with the previous posts about the .30-30 being so different it doesn't matter. 170's are a better all 'round bullet in the 30-30 compare to 150 also in my opinion.
The bigger case capacity cartridges like the .300 mag can use heavier bullets with more efficiency than smaller cases like the .308. I personally use 165's in my .308's, 180's in my 30-06's and if I had a .300 I'd choose 200's. But 180's would be acceptable in all three.
 
What are you going to be doing with these loads? Anything other than plinking loads are going to require different bullets and different powders to get the best out of them.
 
Longwalker said:
150 grain bullets in .30 caliber is the lightest bullet that is generally & widely useful for big game hunting. If you actually want the most versatile weight i'd suggest the 180, and agree with the previous posts about the .30-30 being so different it doesn't matter. 170's are a better all 'round bullet in the 30-30 compare to 150 also in my opinion.
The bigger case capacity cartridges like the .300 mag can use heavier bullets with more efficiency than smaller cases like the .308. I personally use 165's in my .308's, 180's in my 30-06's and if I had a .300 I'd choose 200's. But 180's would be acceptable in all three.
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Exactly my approach..... I share 180's between the .308 and the .300 but the .308 is a thick bush gun and the .300 is a reach out gun...... My 7mm-08 is a dedicated all weather deer rifle
 
What about the Barnes 150 grain TSX FN that is designed for the 30-30? I would think it would be usable in all those cartridges at normal ranges and is likely the best compromise. Unless your 30-30 is a single shot or bolt action.
 
You could likewise load a Hornady 160 grain FTX (which they use in their Lever Revolution rounds) in all of the 30 cals, but my question still would be WHY?

You have different calibers to give you different options.
 
Thanks for the replies. The 30-30 is a Winchester 94, I don't use it much anyway it's more for the nostalgia that I got it.

So it sounds like for the 308s and 30-06s 180 gr. is the way to go and maybe with IMR 4895? I'm mainly plinking, shooting target but would like them to be hunting rounds too if I needed them to be. Now is the 180 gr considered a little on the light side for a 300 Win Mag?
 
If all you are doing is plinking, 150 grain bullets are fine. Military style fmj are the cheapest and work OK for that purpose. When it comes time to go hunting, choose the best bullet for the job at hand.
A 180gr. is not really on the light side for a .300 mag, it's just that the .300 can do good work at any distance with a 200 unlike smaller cased cartridges. Hunting bullet weight is actually not as important as construction and accuracy, but one of several things you should consider.
 
Bs, 150's will serve you fine. My aunt took a grizzly with 270, couldn't tell you how many moose have fallen to much, much less. How many moose and grizz you got around Edmonton?
fiddler said:
Most versatile bullet out there... 150gr .308 SP?


Versatile for what? 150gr is a little light for moose and grizzly country, and why bother shoot a 30.06 in 150s when the 308 does the same job? The advantage of the 30.06 is that you can go much heavier than the 308. If all you want to do is punch paper and the odd deer the 150s are good, but in tough country you have no heavy hitters.
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j_06 said:
Bs, 150's will serve you fine. My aunt took a grizzly with 270, couldn't tell you how many moose have fallen to much, much less. How many moose and grizz you got around Edmonton?
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The 150gr/270 bullet has a sectional density of .279, equivalent to a 180/.308" at .271. In terms of sectional density the 150/.308" would be equivalent to a 120gr. .270 bullet. Sectional density is what gives you your penetration, assuming bullets of similar construction.
 
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