Recommended loads for .308 Win practice barrel?

I put together a long range hunting rifle with an ARC Nucleus action, Trigger Tech Diamond Trigger and a Proof Carbon Sendero barrel chambered in 28 Nosler with a MBM 5 port beast brake.

To prolong the life of my 28 Nosler barrel, I just got a new 18" Proof Carbon Sendero barrel with a Plama Chamber and a 10 twist to use as a practice barrel on the same rifle so I can use the same trigger, stock, scope, etc. I'll probably shoot it without a muzzle brake to more closely match the recoil of the 28 Nosler.

I've been shooting for over 40 years but never loaded for 308 Win.
What would load recommendations would you suggest for the .308 Win. 18" Proof Carbon practice barrel?

Varget behind a 200.20x to help simulate recoil.
I use 41gr of varget behind 195tmk but I have a little slower twist.
Nothing wrong with 155-168s for more mid range target practice

Db

You can buy Federal GMM pretty cheep these days.

Good luck

Jerry

If you want to save yourself a bunch of recoil on your practice gun then 110gr .30carbine bullets actually work pretty well and positively ZING out of the .308win case at 3100-3300fps with a really mild thump to the shoulder. A palma chamber suggests that it's meant to be optimum with 155gr palma match bullets but the 10 twist is enough to get way up into 180gr territory. I ran 110's in a 10-twist .308 that I used as a metallic silhouette match rifle for my chicken/pig/turkey loads and then bumped to 168's for the rams. Staying light with the short range stuff helped a lot with recoil fatigue in 60 and 80 shot matches.

Thanks for the input so far gents.

I bought some ELD-M 155 grain bullets to start with and will be using Ram TAC powder that I already have.

I also have a .223 match barrel that I use on that rifle for practice but wanted to shoot the .308 Win. barrel in CMP matches and for close hunting in addition to practicing with more recoil.

I'll try different bullet weights without a muzzle brake to simulate the 28 Nosler recoil so I can practice sighting my hits and quick follow-up shots.

42 gr imr 4064 behind rem core loct 150 gr psp's drives nails out of my 700P, the BC sucks, .314, but my rifle doesn't know that and out to 500 yards they hold well under sub moa

If it's recoil you want to practice dealing with, make it an ultra light rifle and lob 200gr pills from it.

BallisticsGuy said:

If it's recoil you want to practice dealing with, make it an ultra light rifle and lob 200gr pills from it.

Click to expand...

I'm just replacing the 28 Nosler barrel on long range hunting rifle so I can practice with the same action, stock, trigger, scope, etc.

kai said:

Thanks for the input so far gents.

I bought some ELD-M 155 grain bullets to start with and will be using Ram TAC powder that I already have.

I also have a .223 match barrel that I use on that rifle for practice but wanted to shoot the .308 Win. barrel in CMP matches and for close hunting in addition to practicing with more recoil.

I'll try different bullet weights without a muzzle brake to simulate the 28 Nosler recoil so I can practice sighting my hits and quick follow-up shots.

Click to expand...

careful with the TAC powder, it works well but can get spikey near the top loads with rapidly increasing pressure signs (at least for me it does)--- I use it for my 125gr plinking/fireforming brass loads in my 308, but I stay away from top loads/speeds --it works well in my 223 - 55gr plinkers too though

I've had great results with 4064 and 168 AMAX.

ELD-M something /// 168gr on up to 178 or the 200's,,, being a short barrel and or """if it's light weigth""" the frugal 160 ish gr boolitz will still give you some felt recoil...

168gr--- 44 to 46gr of Varget
178gr--- 41 on up to 43.5 Varget...

My 308 PRS rig likes the 178's with 43.5 Var

My Light weigth 308 sporter with same boolitz at 42.2 Var...

Those are hot loads for mid temp / cold days shooting...

Start low on powder charge and work up...

Hodgen Powder site has the
168gr Boolitz starting off at 42gr Varget.
178gr at 41gr Varget...

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

cohunt said:

careful with the TAC powder, it works well but can get spikey near the top loads with rapidly increasing pressure signs (at least for me it does)--- I use it for my 125gr plinking/fireforming brass loads in my 308, but I stay away from top loads/speeds --it works well in my 223 - 55gr plinkers too though

Click to expand...

cohunt,

Thanks for the warning. I'm new to Ram TAC and just started using it.

Thanks for the comments so far...
Sounds like I should be trying some Varget or IMR 4064.

I just got my bolt back from ARC today so I'll be doing some ladder testing of the TAC charges I already have loaded with ELDM 155.