Hello all, A friend of mine wants me to help him load some 110 gr .308 win. varmint loads, what would you do, load them slower 2800 fps or faster 3200 fps? The lightest bullet I have loaded the 308 win for has been 130 gr around 2825 fps, so what say ye. Thanks in advance for any help.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Light .308 win. bullets
- Thread starter NRFJR
- Start date
There is no shortage of plinkers around here. I have bullets for the 30 Luger. When using lightweight/short bullets a reloader must consider the running start. I want my bullets to have the jump; problem, there is a maximum to how close the lightweightight/short bullet can be seated to the lands. My experience with that kind of a problem is accuracy can be obtained through a very narrow window.
Then there is the bad habit of shooting short bullets; some shooters want to reduce the time gas can pass the bullet. There is nothing a shooter can do about eliminating the problem.
F. Guffey
Then there is the bad habit of shooting short bullets; some shooters want to reduce the time gas can pass the bullet. There is nothing a shooter can do about eliminating the problem.
F. Guffey
A 110 HP will expand rapidly at less than 2,000 fps out of a .30 Carbine. Load for accuracy, not velocity.
Wouldn't bother with light bullets for varmints myself. No real reason to use light bullets. Nothing beats varmint hunting using one's deer load as practice for deer season.
Wouldn't bother with light bullets for varmints myself. No real reason to use light bullets. Nothing beats varmint hunting using one's deer load as practice for deer season.
NRFJR,
Check what the twist rate on your friend's rifling is. If he has 12" twist, he'll do better with lighter bullets than someone with a 10" twist will. An exception might be the solids like the Hornady or Barnes bullets. They are long for their weight and won't come apart from over-spinning.
As to velocity, I would call the bullet maker. I looked at the Hornady V-max because it is also a little long for its weight, but I noted they boast it will expand at just 1600 fps. So you probably don't want it super fast. You could try a powder that works well with extra case space, like IMR 4198 at around 36 grains to start and work it up to see what happens. That should start at around 2800 fps from a 24" barrel. 2800 fps would keep you above 1600 fps to just over 400 yards.
A really light load could be assembled using IMR Trail Boss. A case nearly full under the bullet should be at around 2000 fps from a 24" tube. The expansion range should be to just past 150 yards with that light load's velocity.
Unfortunately, as Mr. Guffey says, you may find these light bullets want to be inside a fairly narrow band of velocities for best accuracy with a given powder. It may take a good bit of experimenting. That's because of the twist rate issue. The best twist rate would be like 13-14" as you would find in a 308 Palma rifle barrel. There's not much chance your friend will have that.
Check what the twist rate on your friend's rifling is. If he has 12" twist, he'll do better with lighter bullets than someone with a 10" twist will. An exception might be the solids like the Hornady or Barnes bullets. They are long for their weight and won't come apart from over-spinning.
As to velocity, I would call the bullet maker. I looked at the Hornady V-max because it is also a little long for its weight, but I noted they boast it will expand at just 1600 fps. So you probably don't want it super fast. You could try a powder that works well with extra case space, like IMR 4198 at around 36 grains to start and work it up to see what happens. That should start at around 2800 fps from a 24" barrel. 2800 fps would keep you above 1600 fps to just over 400 yards.
A really light load could be assembled using IMR Trail Boss. A case nearly full under the bullet should be at around 2000 fps from a 24" tube. The expansion range should be to just past 150 yards with that light load's velocity.
Unfortunately, as Mr. Guffey says, you may find these light bullets want to be inside a fairly narrow band of velocities for best accuracy with a given powder. It may take a good bit of experimenting. That's because of the twist rate issue. The best twist rate would be like 13-14" as you would find in a 308 Palma rifle barrel. There's not much chance your friend will have that.
Hornady has 4 bullets and 8 powders liste4d for 110s. Start velocity is 2700 our of a 22 inch barrel.
Along with the 4198 there are H 4100, RL-7, H 322, A 2015, I 3031, I 4895, RL 12
Sierra has like 14, A 2230, 748, BL-C2, I 4064, I 4320, H 380, 760, H 414
Sierra starts at 2800 out of a 26 inch barrel.
Along with the 4198 there are H 4100, RL-7, H 322, A 2015, I 3031, I 4895, RL 12
Sierra has like 14, A 2230, 748, BL-C2, I 4064, I 4320, H 380, 760, H 414
Sierra starts at 2800 out of a 26 inch barrel.
Marco Califo
New member
I shoot the Sierra 110 Varmitter using H335 48.6 gr Max load. Sierra says 3300 fps. It shoots just fine in my Savage 1:10 barrel. Every shot delivers a solid thump on steel plates out to 200 yards. I think this is an excellent, flatshooting, light 308 bullet.
There is a link in here to Sierra's 308 article & load data:
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/
There is a link in here to Sierra's 308 article & load data:
http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/
Have had vg good accuracy with Nosler 125 BT's over 748 in BOLT 308's. Have some lighter ones loaded for trial, ain't got to em yet.
Have had some difficulty with lighter bullets changing col in semi's, when tried with no powder/primer. They can pull quite easily (significant increase in col, after loading from lock back). Am not sure how much that actually matters.
Have had some difficulty with lighter bullets changing col in semi's, when tried with no powder/primer. They can pull quite easily (significant increase in col, after loading from lock back). Am not sure how much that actually matters.
I got a 3x3 mule buck in 2015 with a 125 gr. 0.308 Nosler Ballistic Tip moly downloaded to 45 kpsi 3200 fps with IMR-4166 in a Mosin Nagant I converted to 300 Win Mag with a Krieger barrel.
That powder downloads nicely like IMR4895, but has temp stability and anti Copper fouling coatings.
When I do clean Copper, it is; KG1, KG12, Witches Brew combined with 10 strokes of bronze brush that still measures bigger than groove diameter, alcohol, inspect muzzle for Copper, repeat if needed.
That powder downloads nicely like IMR4895, but has temp stability and anti Copper fouling coatings.
When I do clean Copper, it is; KG1, KG12, Witches Brew combined with 10 strokes of bronze brush that still measures bigger than groove diameter, alcohol, inspect muzzle for Copper, repeat if needed.