.308 Winchester, Any pet loads out there?
- Thread starter Ballenxj
- Start date
For .308 Winchester, the 165's are close enough to 168-grain match bullets that, unless they are copper solids (these raise pressure) you should be able to do well with Federal's load of 43.5 grains of IMR 4064 fired by a Federal 210 or a 210M primer in Federal brass. As always, start at the bottom of the load range and work up to that value, but it has been a good accuracy load for many.
There are thousands of combinations of primer, powders, brass, and bullets that are available. The 308 Win is inherently accurate and it isn't really difficult at all to get what you want.
I bought a Howa heavy barreled action 24" from Brownells back in the early summer for a project gun for my grandson.
He put it all together and first time out, shots 16-20 were shot for group and he got 1 1/4" group with some cheap ammo and 168 gr FMJ.
His next outing was at 200 yds and his 5 shot group was 1 1/2" with the same ammo.
We are thinking that he should do less than an inch with some good handloads that are tuned for his rifle.
I bought a Howa heavy barreled action 24" from Brownells back in the early summer for a project gun for my grandson.
He put it all together and first time out, shots 16-20 were shot for group and he got 1 1/4" group with some cheap ammo and 168 gr FMJ.
His next outing was at 200 yds and his 5 shot group was 1 1/2" with the same ammo.
We are thinking that he should do less than an inch with some good handloads that are tuned for his rifle.
I benchrest only 308 caliber , my rifle is setup for benchrest only meaning very light trigger press , in ounces not pounds which does make a difference in group size . My shooting friend has your rifle , he shoots the Hornady 168gr. A-Max Match and the Federal 168gr Sierra MK both shoot very well in his rifle at 200 yards
I get all his brass he's not a reloader so it works well for me . What I found at the low end of the scale . I full size only with the expander , minimum case headspace . Using IMR 4064 40.8gr. under a Sierra 168gr MK bullet with a .002 jump , shoots 1/2 groups at 200 yards on the average. I'm keeping my loads there until things change . Hope I Helped .
Chris
I get all his brass he's not a reloader so it works well for me . What I found at the low end of the scale . I full size only with the expander , minimum case headspace . Using IMR 4064 40.8gr. under a Sierra 168gr MK bullet with a .002 jump , shoots 1/2 groups at 200 yards on the average. I'm keeping my loads there until things change . Hope I Helped .
Chris
One half inch at two hundred yards equates to one quarter minute of angle. Good shooting!cw308 said:
My old .308 was based on a M93 Mauser, I forget the barrel make, but bedded, and floated in a Hogue overmold, with a Timney trigger. I think it was three pounds, but then again, it was also for hunting. (My grand son now owns it.) It was capable of one half minute all day long with Federal Premium 150 grain ammo.
What I intend to do is take everybody's suggestions, and find comparable loads in my Speer #15 manual, then go from there.
Yes your post was also helpful.
Ballenxj
A good trigger has alot to do with tightening your groups , after awhile it feels the same to me as a heavier trigger once you get alot of trigger time . Most of the time it's the shooter then the rifle or round . Once you get use to the rifle half the battle is over . It's my one and only benchrest rifle , it's the only rifle I shoot in my benchrest season . Once I found a reload that shot accurately I stayed with that round an concentrated on my form , made shooting and reloading more enjoyable . When tweaking powder charges and bullet length . it was like a dog chasing his tail , seemed to never end . Find a good reload and stick with it until things change . Then it will be time for a barrel change . Never really ends .
A good trigger has alot to do with tightening your groups , after awhile it feels the same to me as a heavier trigger once you get alot of trigger time . Most of the time it's the shooter then the rifle or round . Once you get use to the rifle half the battle is over . It's my one and only benchrest rifle , it's the only rifle I shoot in my benchrest season . Once I found a reload that shot accurately I stayed with that round an concentrated on my form , made shooting and reloading more enjoyable . When tweaking powder charges and bullet length . it was like a dog chasing his tail , seemed to never end . Find a good reload and stick with it until things change . Then it will be time for a barrel change . Never really ends .
"Beware the man with one gun, he knows how to use it." - unknown author but true
unrelated story, and this is not recommended reloading or shooting practice. Do not try this at home it takes a professional idiot with a lot of practice doing really dumb stuff
back a few years ago I knew a old biker type who like to sit on his back porch on Saturday afternoons and shoot at beer cans off a junk car about 150 yard down his property. He used Varget and 168 gn bullets, measured his powder by dipping his case in and tapping a bit out so it didn't crunch as he put it. With a Walmart Remington and a Bushnell 4X scope and he nailed those beer cans at a pretty decent rate, never shot a neighbor, himself or a guest and never blew his rifle up. I lost a $20 dollar bill on a bet whether he could take out a rear view mirror on that car
sorry for the derail but .308's shoot damn near everything well if the trigger puller knows what they are doing
A bunch of experimentation led me to choose Varget behind 168 to 165 gr bullets.You'll have to research and workup your own charge.
Right after we did that,Handloader mag had some "ultimate 308 Accuracy load"article.
This guy went all out,and really did an extensive,reasonably scientific study.
His conclusion was that I was right. Varget.
It seems to be easy to get the 168 gr MK and the Nosler Comp to shoot.They are not temperamental. They are known to go a bit wobbly a they transition to subsonic.
No testing on my part,but from what I've heard the 175 MKis better at over 800 yds.
Right after we did that,Handloader mag had some "ultimate 308 Accuracy load"article.
This guy went all out,and really did an extensive,reasonably scientific study.
His conclusion was that I was right. Varget.
It seems to be easy to get the 168 gr MK and the Nosler Comp to shoot.They are not temperamental. They are known to go a bit wobbly a they transition to subsonic.
No testing on my part,but from what I've heard the 175 MKis better at over 800 yds.
I did a little more digging for you.This link will find you the exact Handloader magazine issue..
I did not spend enough time to see if the text is there.
https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl257partial.pdf
I did not spend enough time to see if the text is there.
https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl257partial.pdf
Ballenxj
Keep in mind my load is designed for 200 yard paper punching only, not longer distances or hunting . Varget for some reason didn't shoot well in my rifle RL15 is another powder that shot well in my rifle but 4064 shot best . I only shoot in weather 50 and above .Just wanted to cover all bases .
Keep in mind my load is designed for 200 yard paper punching only, not longer distances or hunting . Varget for some reason didn't shoot well in my rifle RL15 is another powder that shot well in my rifle but 4064 shot best . I only shoot in weather 50 and above .Just wanted to cover all bases .
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