308 Load info

[retiredcpo]

Let me try this again
I was in sportsman warehouse today and this poor Remington sps in 308win looked so unhappy I just had to bring it home
I would like to hear what some of you are shooting out of your 308s
I was planning on the 150 gr nosler BTs in winchester brass
hoping for shots to around 1000 yards on rock chucks ect
and maybee a whitetail to about 500 max
Mostly lots of med-long range rock chuck shooting.
BTW the remington looks much happier in my safe only thing is it brought a new taurus judge with it
Retiredcpo

 

[HJW]

1000 yards is not an easy task with a .308 assuming this is a 1:12.
It is do able though.

For 1000 Yards, try 175g Sierra Matchkings with Win Brass and Primers.
Start with 42g of Varget and work your way up.

For Deer within 500, 150, 165, or 168 Nosler Accubonds or Ballistic Tips will
do their part.


-Hunter

 

[Jackal11]

Abouve is really close to what I use as well. I dont think you can go wrong using Varget for the .308 What length of barrel does it have? Currently this is the load I use but it will need to be tweaked for your rifle

43.3 Granins Varget
Fed 215 primer or CCI BR2
175 SMK

I agree with above start your powder at 42 grains and work up at 1/2 grain intervals. With the 308 I worry more about accurancy than FPS. just my 2 cents hope this helps.

 

[retiredcpo]

Hunter
It has a 1 in 12 twist 26 in barrel
1000 yards would be the max for rock chucks and not very often most of the time our shots range from close up to 700ish
Varget would not be a bad powder for me I have two guys that use my relaoding stuff to load 223 with varget I loaded varget in my 223 before I found BLC2
Not my groups are tighter loades are faster and my SD in only9 fps it was 55 with varget
retiredpo

 

[Bart B]

1000 yards is not an easy task with a .308 assuming this is a 1:12. It is do able though.

For what it's worth, Mike Walker (Remington engineer who developed the 7.62 NATO round, benchrest Hall of Fame) knew a 1:12 twist was best for the 147 - 150-gr. FMJBT bullet when fired from 22 inch service rifle barrels to get best accuracy all the way down range.

The USN and USAF M1 Garands rebarreled to 7.62 NATO for competition shot bullet weights from 150 up through 190 grains with excellent accuracy even at 1000 yards. Same for USA and USMC M14NM's but with bullets up to 180 grains. Tests proved commercial match ammo shot in the best of them would stay under 4 inches at 600 yards. Those Springfield Armory arsenal tight-bore match-spec'd barrels from Massachutches had 1:12 twists.

And Palma rifles have to use the .308 Win. round and bullets in the145 - 155 grain range typically use 1:13 twists. The best of them will stay under 7 inches at 1000 yards.

There's nothing wrong with a 1:12 twist in a .308 Win. barrel. Except it probably won't shoot boattails 200 grains or heavier really accurate. But round nose 200 grain hunting bullets do very well indeed.

 

[trebark]

The heaviest bullet you can shoot with your 1:12 twist barrel is 175grain. I know this from experience of having the very same rifle you have. I shot the 175VLD. With Varget you will be able to get them going ~2800fps. The 175vld has sufficient BC that it can make it through the transonic phase of flight, as a result, you can shoot at groundhogs as far as you can see them. This combination will also kill deer to ~800 yards.

 

[retiredcpo]

the vlds do shoot great but I think im going to with the BTS
the vlds do have much poop effect when shooting chucks
have shot several with my 7mm with the 168 gr bergers way out there
they just get nailed to the ground the BTS and vmaxs tend to poop and flip them preaty good.
I was thinking about trying the BLC2 as well as the varget
retiredcpo

 

[trebark]

the vlds do shoot great but I think im going to with the BTS
the vlds do have much poop effect when shooting chucks
have shot several with my 7mm with the 168 gr bergers way out there
they just get nailed to the ground the BTS and vmaxs tend to poop and flip them preaty good.
I was thinking about trying the BLC2 as well as the varget
retiredcpo

I would recommend Varget or H4350.

BLC2 and any of the Reloader series (RL15 or RL17) are not very temp stable.

 

[Michael Eichele]

Nothing wrong with a 12x 26" 308. It is actually a great combo all around. The 12x will stabilize many 200 grain pills but is NOT optimum. The 190 SMK is still stretching it as well. The 190/12x combo is not horrible but on the edge of optimum to sub optimum. At least at 308 velocities. 180 class bullets and less will perform great. The 180 SMK however has too small of a BC to velocity ratio for 1K shooting. For 1K shooting you will need to look to the 190 SMK or 175 SMK. The 168 SMK has the same problem as the 180 SMK. Stay away from these 2 bullets for seriouos 1K shooting. The 155's will make it to 1K with ease as well. If driven fast enough, the 168 and 178 AMAX can make it as well.

I have had very poor results at other than short ranges with the SMK's on game at 308 velocities. I would keep the SMK's for the vermin and use a real bullet for long range deer.

There are very few 308/load combos that will do well on big game past 600 yards but up to 600 yards, the 308 is VERY capable. Much more than many will give it credit for. The 12x 308 combo can't handle the bullets that can stretch the 308's abilities to be an real effective big game killer out to 800-1000 yards. All that said, just about any good hunting bullet or AMAX (168 or heavier) will do well on deer up to 600 yards.

I don't recomend the 155 AMAX. I have personally lost a deer (at short range) to one and watched a buddy loose a 40" Dall ram at mid range with them. I watched the impact on the ram and it was a great shot. We could have just been two very unfortunate hunters with unfortunate circumstances. Was it the bullet? Who knows. Maybe not but after 2 occurences, I wont test fate for a 3rd. The 168 and 178's have been flawless on many occasions on deer size game.

My recommended loads for 600 and sub 600 yard deer would be the 150 ACCUBOND, 175 Barnes LRX, 178 AMAX. Not in any order.

RL15, VV N540, BENCHMARK, H4895 are all great powders for the 308 with up to 180 grain bullets. RL15 is not nearly as unstable as many shooter would have you believe. Any powder used for development at 60 degrees running max loads will give you trouble when you shoot in 100 degree temps.

 

[GNERGY]

The Rem 700 sps tactical I have only has a 20 inch tube with a 12 twist and I shoot 168 gr. Berger VLD's with 44gr. IMR 8208 XBR, CCI br2 primers loaded to 3.00in OAL. They average 2675 fps. and can keep them under 3 inches at 500 meters (560yds.) I have been using Hornady match brass that I got from some of the local police snipers and it is pretty inconsistant ( neck thickness wise ) so I have been trying to straighten them out. Hoping my gun will shoot better. I don't plan on shooting mine any farther than 600 yds.

My friend has the same gun as yours and loads 41.5 gr. IMR 8208 and 168 gr Berger VLD's in Lapua brass and I watched him shoot 3 5 shot groups at 500 yds under 2 inches. That is why I switched from the SMK's to the Bergers.
Keep us posted on what shoots good for you.
Good luck
Tarey

 

[retiredcpo]

Anyone ever try this CFE 223 powder sounds interesting
retiredcpo

 

[joe0121]

I need a load for 308. But I want a shortish tube say 20 inches in a varmint contour. I'm thinking a light VLD type bullet to make up for the lost MV with a fast twist rate to stabilize it.


I want a light easy to handle rifle that shoot flat enough for ground hogs but still hit at 800 yards.

Think 48 gr's BC2 in front of CCI Benchrest primers and 168gr Amax? Lapua brass, using a lee neck sizer with tight head space.

 

[Bart B]

I need a load for 308. But I want a shortish tube say 20 inches in a varmint contour. I'm thinking a light VLD type bullet to make up for the lost MV with a fast twist rate to stabilize it.

I want a light easy to handle rifle that shoot flat enough for ground hogs but still hit at 800 yards.

Think 48 gr's BC2 in front of CCI Benchrest primers and 168gr Amax? Lapua brass, using a lee neck sizer with tight head space.

A 20 inch barrel won't shoot light bullets very fast. I'd suggest at least 26 inches if you want to keep a light bullet from going subsonic at about 900 yards. People tried that length with Sierra's first 155-grain Palma bullet and it often went subsonic at 900 yards. So a 28 inch barrel shooting 155's is probably your best setup for good accuracy through 900 yards. Sierra has a 135-gr. HPMK bullet, but I don't think it would be as good a choice as the 155.

If the powder you mention, BC2 is actually ball C2 powder I'd forget it if accuracy is important. I can't think of anybody winning matches and setting records ever using ball powder of any type. Doesn't matter if it meters very accurate and gives low spreads in muzzle velocity and chamber pressure; ball powders don't have a good track record. Varget and IMR4895 have prooved excellent with light bullets in a .308; they were/are used large lots of Palma ammo for long range competition.

The favorite primer for long range loads these days are Wolf large rifle or large riflt magnum. Made in Russia, they've been used to win a lot of matches setting recoreds along the way. And they seem to keep forever.

Full length sizing the .308 case with a bushing die without an expander ball has been the best choice for accuracy. Neck only sizing never consistantly produced best accuracy. But use a case gage to measure the head to shoulder dimension so you can set the die to push the fired case shoulder back a couple thousandths.

A standard SAAMI dimension chamber may be your best choice. That's the one that, again, typically wins the matches and sets the records. And no tight headspace, either, as there has to be a bit of clearance on the case so the bolt will easily close back into the exact same position for each shot. Tight fits and cases that cause binding never shoot too accurate.

 

[joe0121]

A 20 inch barrel won't shoot light bullets very fast. I'd suggest at least 26 inches if you want to keep a light bullet from going subsonic at about 900 yards. People tried that length with Sierra's first 155-grain Palma bullet and it often went subsonic at 900 yards. So a 28 inch barrel shooting 155's is probably your best setup for good accuracy through 900 yards. Sierra has a 135-gr. HPMK bullet, but I don't think it would be as good a choice as the 155.

If the powder you mention, BC2 is actually ball C2 powder I'd forget it if accuracy is important. I can't think of anybody winning matches and setting records ever using ball powder of any type. Doesn't matter if it meters very accurate and gives low spreads in muzzle velocity and chamber pressure; ball powders don't have a good track record. Varget and IMR4895 have prooved excellent with light bullets in a .308; they were/are used large lots of Palma ammo for long range competition.

The favorite primer for long range loads these days are Wolf large rifle or large riflt magnum. Made in Russia, they've been used to win a lot of matches setting recoreds along the way. And they seem to keep forever.

Full length sizing the .308 case with a bushing die without an expander ball has been the best choice for accuracy. Neck only sizing never consistantly produced best accuracy. But use a case gage to measure the head to shoulder dimension so you can set the die to push the fired case shoulder back a couple thousandths.

A standard SAAMI dimension chamber may be your best choice. That's the one that, again, typically wins the matches and sets the records. And no tight headspace, either, as there has to be a bit of clearance on the case so the bolt will easily close back into the exact same position for each shot. Tight fits and cases that cause binding never shoot too accurate.

BL2 is what I meant to say as far as powder. I have only ever load developed a load for the .300 WM with a 28 inch #10 Kreiger tube. And really that has been about idiot proof. Lots of h1000 behind a heavy VLD seems to always come in under 1 MOA.


308 seems to be a different word.