Loading the .308??

[Rusty]

Jr. Has started playing around with his .308' shooting Hornady 168 gr. BTHP's it's printing under an inch but that's factory foder. Has anyone had experience with any particular powder that gave the best results loading that bullet?
We have found the the 150 gr bullet doesn't seem to shoot as well as the 168, but then that's no surprise.

Thanks,

[BigSky56]

alliants Reloder 15 the current powder for the military's 308 long range accuracy round but they use a 175 sierra matchking. I use it in 300 savage and with a 165 and its accurate. danny

[Lefty Dude]

Varget works well for me.

[PaperPatch]

Win 748 and 165 Hornady does very well for me.

[iceman]

I have had good success with IMR 4895 in 308 with 165 gr. I have also had good results with RL15 in 300 savage. I will also try it in my next 308 along with win 748.

[JB]

I haven't loaded the 165 gr, but I've had good accuracy with 4895 in the 308 with several lighter weight bullets.

[Don McDowell]

748 works the best in my rifles, with RL15 a close second.

[Rusty]

Thanks, that's a good start. He tried some 4895 the othe day but we'll keep tweeking. The long range load sounds interesting.

[Old Ironsights]

All of my .308 loading is geared around "no re-supply" for my HK & .224 sabot reloading for the Savage.

With the HK, I try to match MilSpec just to keep my Sights close.

Just working out the Sabots now. Hope to do some prairie-dogging later this summer.

[Chuck 100 yd]

165 gr match bullet with 44 gr. Varget.
"THE" mid range accuracy load.
If your rifle will shoot anything it will love that one!!
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

[Don McDowell]

OI, 3031 works good with those sabots.

[TedH]

When I started loading for mine, everyone raved about Varget, so I started with that. It never impressed me. IMR 4895 has been very good with the 168 gr. SMK. I shot a 2.2" five shot group at 500 yards with that combo out of my Remington 700 Varmint.

[Irelander]

I also have good results with IMR 4895 (42.7gr) and 168gr AMAX bullets. I can easily shoot just over 1" groups at 300 yards with my Remington 700 LTR.

I have been meaning to try the Lapua 155gr scenar bullets because the guys over on Snipershide.com rave about them. But those are paper punching bullets and I like to hunt and punch paper with the same round.

[model55]

rl 15 or imr 4064 have worked for me in the past.

[model55]

Just had a brain fade but what are you going to be shooting it out of?The reason I ask is at least one of my reloading books suggested Imr 4064 or 4895 for those rifles like the M1 Garand or M 14 because the operating rod is not up to faster powders.Not having a M14 or M1a I'm not sure if that applies so hopefully some body can correct me if I'm wrong.

[guido4198]

My Match load for the M1A is 41.5 gn IMR 4895 and a 168 Sierra Matchking.
Your results may differ...but this has been my "go to" load for 30 yrs or so.

[Rusty]

This will be fired from a Remington 700 VS and possibly out of my Ruger# 1. No semi-autos.

Thanks,

[Cliff]

Not a hand loaded .308. I have a Savage M-12 for a scout rifle. It absolutely loves one type of ammo. Winchester 150 grain silver tips. Old style ones. Heavier bullets won't group. Other brands of 150 grains won't group. The old style W-W 150 Silver Tips will do around 3/4 inch at 100 yards, if I hold my mouth right. Nice little Bolt Action rifle. Will have to find a hand load which will equal the WW stuff. Just saying. Have a good day ATB

[6pt-sika]

Outta our old 1962 vintage Mannlicher Schoenauer MCA the Sierra 150 spitzer with 47.5 grains of IMR4064 shoots very nicely.

In the past I've had a number of 308's that did nicely with the Nosler 150 and 165 BT as well as the Hornady 165 SST .

[Chuck 100 yd]

Here are a couple pictures from my testing of the .308




My rifle is ,or was, a mod.700adl .243. I stocked it and added a Krieger barrel with a tight neck barrel,Jewel 2oz. trigger. It wont accept factory ammo, the necks have to be turned.
This rifle weighs right at 17 lb. and with its 36X scope is a real tack driver. 1 in 10 twist for cast bullets. I still have not found a mold that will cast bullets that will stay under about 3/4" at 100.