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Joined: Oct 2004
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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So much for the reloading manuals and web sites! 5 shots, 2960 average speed, 24 (23.5) in barrel.
I'm hoping to borrow a friend's shorter barrel 308 and see what his rifle gets: I have a 243 and shot it against a shorter barrel - mine's 21; her's is 18.5. Her's shot faster! Not alot, maybe 50-60 fps IIRC.
And these zombies line up and eat from the media’s trough
Cowards CANNOT be free. Nor should they be.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Anybody have data for low recoil loads using TAC or Varget with 125s? I'd like them right about 2,500 for <100 yd woods deer.
Make my Kimber & son's RAR Predator more pleasant to shoot, too!
�When in doubt, I whip it out.� Uncle Ted
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
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I can tell you TAC isn't the one you want for this application. 2500 with a 125 is very mild in a 308 and TAC generally runs much better at full throttle.
Varget isn't ideal either, with your desired result coming in 550 fps below the starting load.
4198, H or IMR, is what you want.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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�When in doubt, I whip it out.� Uncle Ted
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,059
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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What is your preferred bullet weight in the 308win?
I was looking at the Nosler reloading manual which gives you an asterisk next to most accurate load for that powder. I notice with the 150gr loads it seems around 2700fps is the most accurate which is often midpoint of velocity window. Whereas if I look at 165gr loads it seems 2700fps is the most accurate which is often at the top end of load data.
So does it make more sense to load 165gr bullet weight over 150gr bullet weight?
I hunt whitetails but also interested in some hog hunting which I found hunting reserve down in Tennessee said shots average around 60 yards.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,254 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
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I'd say not to worry about that. Many factors can come into play in one load edging out another for accuracy in a given test barrel. 150/155/165/168 all have given me good success in various .308 hunting rifles with standard cup/core bullets.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
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What is your preferred bullet weight in the 308win?
I was looking at the Nosler reloading manual which gives you an asterisk next to most accurate load for that powder. I notice with the 150gr loads it seems around 2700fps is the most accurate which is often midpoint of velocity window. Whereas if I look at 165gr loads it seems 2700fps is the most accurate which is often at the top end of load data.
So does it make more sense to load 165gr bullet weight over 150gr bullet weight?
I hunt whitetails but also interested in some hog hunting which I found hunting reserve down in Tennessee said shots average around 60 yards. If you put them together straight I assure you there is good accuracy to be had well above 2700 with a 150 if a 150 is what you want to use. I have a 22" barreled 308 that tops out around 2650 with a 165, but it's cruising well above 2800 with 150's and several powders. Hodgdon's top load of H4895 under a 150 grain Ballistic Tip has been a winner for me.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Campfire Regular
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Thank you, JPro. Just some of my rambling thoughts as a relative newbie to reload. I've only started reload since April of this year but only for pistol/handgun cartridges. I haven't dabble into rifle cartridges yet. I have 223 rem and 308 win that I want to reload for.
Thank you, mathman. It seems that the 308 win can struggle to get those 165 gr bullets to 2700? Perhaps the 150 gr bullets is better choice for the 308 win's case capacity?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Thank you, JPro. Just some of my rambling thoughts as a relative newbie to reload. I've only started reload since April of this year but only for pistol/handgun cartridges. I haven't dabble into rifle cartridges yet. I have 223 rem and 308 win that I want to reload for.
Thank you, mathman. It seems that the 308 win can struggle to get those 165 gr bullets to 2700? Perhaps the 150 gr bullets is better choice for the 308 win's case capacity? That varies with the barrel and chamber. I load for two 24" barreled Kimbers where 46 grans of Varget will post nearly 2750 with a 165.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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2,700 can be done in a 22" sporter with the right load. I've noted several here who got there with RL15 or Varget.
And I'm not sure what powder Nosler is loading in their 165 NBT ammo, but it clocked 2,800 for me in a 20" factory 700. Fusions of the same weight made 2,600 on the same range session. Fusions shot better though.....
Now with even more aplomb
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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That's smoking pretty good.
If you want to make speed CFE223 looks like a good one, but watch it in hot weather. I don't know how much cold affects it either.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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A 130 gr. Hornady at 3,000+ fps will blow thru a WT chest, leaving lots of destruction, good exit and entrance wounds, mostly DRT. For Southern WT's, you don't really need heavier bullets, IMO. For something different, check out Cutting Edge bullets..They're monos but act somewhat like a Partition, 6 petals flying 360*, the base puching on thru. Here's the effect on a chest shot hog. See how the spine got messed up while not in the line of flight. 80# hog DRT. Chest shot hogs often run. I chest this one on purpose just to see how that bullet would work. Some say CEB Raptors aren't good in thick areas, will come apart when hitting a twig, etc. Used in open areas they seem to work pretty well. DF
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,059
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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mathman,
thank you for your post. Just for reference I looked at Nosler's website, they're using 24" Lilja barrel with 1:10 twist, for 165gr bullets with Varget max charge of 46 grain giving 2820 fps, with an asterik next to Varget's load of 44 gr for 2758fps.
Jpro, wow! 165gr at 2800fps from 20" barrel! impressive. I see from Nosler's website that RL15 gives top velocity, but heard it's temperature sensitive thus Varget is a little better in that regards.
Rifle powders on hand are H4895 and Varget. Those two powders should work in both my 223rem and 308win. For logistics sake, I tried to keep powders that can be used in both cartridges. At least my viewpoint that I'm using a newbie. Also helps keep my cost down by being able to use powders in both cartridges.
Appreciate both of your help.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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anyone having good luck with the 130 tsx? what powder works for you?
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I used TAC well enough. H4895 is supposedly about as good, as is CFE223.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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IME, it's hard to beat Varget in the .308.
DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Just checked the Barnes site for load data. They show TAC as their .308 accuracy powder with the 130 TTSX, 51.2 gr. at 3,246 fps.
DF
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Just for grins I tried my 155 Scenars pushed by 45gn of Varget in a comparison of cold (sat out all night at 5*) and warm (~65*). No difference, all right around 2900. Hard to beat that for a hunting load.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Just for grins I tried my 155 Scenars pushed by 45gn of Varget in a comparison of cold (sat out all night at 5*) and warm (~65*). No difference, all right around 2900. Hard to beat that for a hunting load. Was the gun cold too?
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Just for grins I tried my 155 Scenars pushed by 45gn of Varget in a comparison of cold (sat out all night at 5*) and warm (~65*). No difference, all right around 2900. Hard to beat that for a hunting load. Was the gun cold too? Yes, sat out all night. Two cold shots were 2906, 2896. Two warm shots were 2901, 2901.
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