Load Advise For 308 Win

bkelectricinc said:

Gentlemen…
I am searching for a recipe for a 18" pencil bbl in 1:12 twist Kimber Adirondack. Mainly hunting deer sizes animals. I'm old school…leaning on the heavier side for knock down purposes. I favor Nosler Partions(165 or 180).

My concern is the short bbl! It's the shortest one I own. I obviously I want a weight that stays stabile up to 500yds.


Thanks in advance!

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165 gr. SPEER B.T.S.P. #2034. Over 42 gr. IMR 4064 CCI #200 primer 2500 F.P.S. Best load I have found and shoot nothing but!

Speer 150 gr Hot Cor spitzer shoots well in my 700 SPS Varmint 12 twist which has been cut down to 20". Using CFE223, Lake City brass and Fed 210Ms.

Remember, USMC M-40 series w/1 in 12 twist all shoot 175 gr. OTM. OP's 180gr. bullets (not VLD's) should work. Just question of velocity from his barrel length.

165 Sierra Gamekings HPBT with Varget anywhere around 45 grains shoots well in10 11 or 12 twist barrels soft points shoot well also but I have best luck with HPs. 168 and 175 Matchkings also shoot well as a target round

You could try a light mono. I shoot the 152 Hammer Hunter in a 20" 308. About 2828 FPS using CFE223.

I get a smile on my face when I hear the words "knock down power". If a bullet had the power to knock an animal etc. down it would do the same to the one shooting it.

I have killed a good number, 100+, of deer with the 308 Win over the years as well as other 30 cal. weapons doing crop damage control as well as just hunting. If you want to shoot those heavy 180s unless you hit the CNS be ready to do some trailing. On the norm they are too heavily constructed and the 308 does not drive them fast enough to expand fully and impart shock as well as permanent wound track in the average size deer in my experience and they run off a good ways. If long range, over 300 yards, is in the mix then one of the 165/168's comes into play because of the retained velocity and better ballistics. But if under 300ish yards is normal then 150 or lighter seems to work best. I have killed a bunch with the 150 Sierra Pro Hunter and Game King and Nosler BT pushed by IMR 4895. The BEST deer bullet I have ever used for 300ish and under yards is the Nosler 125 gr Ballistic Tip pushed by 46 grs IMR 4895. This is a thin skin HUNTING bullet not a VARMINT bullet. This does right at 3000 fps from my 21 1/2" Heart barreled Rem 700 and is bug hole accurate and has been in a number of others rifles. Just like any of the Ballistic Tip bullets impact velocity needs to be under 3000 fps or you will have blow up problems. In my experience best impact velocity for deer is under 2800 fps with Ballistic Tips and it will exit from a deer shot through both shoulders. With the 125 BT out of my 308 at 3000 fps and 30x47 2850 fps rifles and 14" Contender Pistol in 30-30AI at 2670 fps I have shot at least 100 deer mostly inside 300 yards and I can count on one hand those that have not been dropped in their tracks and those did not go over 3 or 4 jumps before going down for the count. I have not tried any but the 125 Nosler Accubond just might be a good one also.

I side with RT2506. Given your rifle I would go with a 125gr balistic tip out to 400yds or so. My load is 52gr of win 748. I used the 125gr TNT last year on some cull does. Worked great. Little more frangible than the BT. My prefered shot is slight quartering away and slip it in behind the onside elbow, hope ya dont like heart meat cause there ain't nothing left.

The Sierra Pro Hunter 150 grain is my favorite bullet with Reloader 15. Very accurate and consistent load.

You might try RL-15 also...we get about 80 FPS faster than Varget and 4895.

The new 165 game kings behind 4895 is hard to beat. The 1-12 could be a handicap to a degree. The 308 is so versatile. The SST is a great deer bullet. Speer hot cores are a great bullet but they're a flat base so 600yds and under. For light white tails even an A-max will work. You have a million options in .308. I would use what you have or can find for powder and bullet combos and work it up. Darn near anything will give you a good load once you find the sweet spot. The research is done for you already. If you use milsurp brass reduce your loads to compensate for the heavier brass. The 11 and 12 twists were ideal for 155gr bullets. I had a 12 twist that shot 180s in an 18" barrel just fine. You'll just have to experiment some. Any powder that works in standard barrels is fine in the shorter. You will notice a heck of a fireball with the older standbys. The newer stuff not so much. Varget has been an amazing powder and versatile for so many cartridges but the shelves are getting slim for it because of that. I recommend it as well. Good luck.

hey Buddy try Reloader 15 that is the snyper load for the Military.

Rl15 43.0 with the #2145 Game king will shoot to the same zero out to 400 as the 168 match king. At 555 I need .2mils more.
Want more hit 43.0Rl 15 with the 178eldx.I have 0 issues with a 12tw and this bullet. I run LC M118lr and Lapua brass. FGMM runs the same speed on the same charge as Lapua but you need to sort using 199 grains as the up down line. Lighter needs .1-.2 more and above needs .1.2 less to hold your es down. Have fun

16 inches and 12 twist, that is a a couple of problems Look Up TAC powder on western reloading. I've loaded for shorter barreled ar-10's for knocking down pigs. The Speer TNT varmint 125 grain hollow points enter on one side and jelly the whole rib cage interior of 250 lbs hog and no exit or damage on the far side. Very good without worry of wounding another pig on the far side. White tail the same thing. You can shoot into a group without worrying about collateral damage. 150 - 175 gr spbt is always a concern of pass through rounds.