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Joined: Mar 2013
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2013
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20” 308 and a 168 BT, what’s the recommended powder to try for a hunting load? Nosler’s data shows BLC-2 (which I have on hand) but I also have CFE 223, 8208 XBR, Varget, H4350 and a few others.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,927 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,927 Likes: 13 |
Recommend you toss the 168 BT, grab some 155 Scenars, load the case up with Varget and call it done.
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL. The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world. The website is up and running!www.lostriverammocompany.com
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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'd skip the H4350. Any of the others you mentioned will work nicely. The 20" barrel doesn't affect this.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,530
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2019
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Recommend you toss the 168 BT, grab some 155 Scenars, load the case up with Varget and call it done. I say this as a fan of the 155 Scenar...but if you do this, I will take the 168 BTs off your hands. Varget works great with either. Rex
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Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 12
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 12 |
I've been shooting 8208 with 165 Nosler custom comps in 2 Remington 308 SPST 20" guns with excellent results for several years. I don't shoot them too fast, just accurate. Haven't used them for hunting with the BTs or anything else. They're just target guns.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
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20” 308 and a 168 BT, what’s the recommended powder to try for a hunting load? Nosler’s data shows BLC-2 (which I have on hand) but I also have CFE 223, 8208 XBR, Varget, H4350 and a few others. I shot the same rifle/bullet combo for several seasons. Varget worked great. I pretty much used the load on the front of the powder can.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 2 |
20” 308 and a 168 BT, what’s the recommended powder to try for a hunting load? Nosler’s data shows BLC-2 (which I have on hand) but I also have CFE 223, 8208 XBR, Varget, H4350 and a few others. I shot the same rifle/bullet combo for several seasons. Varget worked great. I pretty much used the load on the front of the powder can. Same here. I have a Remington 700 with a 20 inch heavy barrel, and it really likes a 168 grain Sierra MK with Varget.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1 |
Varget and somehwere at max worked best for me.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,178
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,178 |
Listen closely... 42.0 grains IMR4895 CCi BR2 LC match or FC GM brass 2.8"
If your rifle won't one hole this load then wrap it around a tree.
TRUMP- GABBARD 2024
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 406
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 406 |
My 20"Rem 700 LTR .308 shoots bug holes with the Nosler 168gr Custom comp bullets and Varget. Also shoots pretty darn well with RL15 and the 168gr bullets. I would think the 168gr BT's would shoot just as good with either powder.
Life's Tough, God's Good, Pray Hard!
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
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Back when Varget was not to be found, I tried RL15 and found it worked well in several short barrel .308s. Now the 168 NBTs are hard to find. If I ever go back to them, I might try Varget.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,530
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2019
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Back when a bunch of us bought Mauser M12's with 20" barrels at a killer sale, I started a thread for handloading for them. Might be some useful info there. The Mauser M12 Extreme Handloading ThreadBest of luck. BTW, your Varget and 8208 are very temperature resistant, the CFE223 not so much so. Temp resistance might be important to you in your hunting, or it might not. It's become an important thing to me. Rex
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 858
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 858 |
Listen closely... 42.0 grains IMR4895 CCi BR2 LC match or FC GM brass 2.8"
If your rifle won't one hole this load then wrap it around a tree. 4895 is one powder I don't have on hand. I'm going to try Varget first and see how it shakes out. I figured I'd catch a little slack on the 168 BT's but for southern whitetails I've had good results with them in 30-06 and H4350 for years (which is why I had a few bags of Blems on hand).
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,066 Likes: 7
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,066 Likes: 7 |
Listen closely... 42.0 grains IMR4895 CCi BR2 LC match or FC GM brass 2.8"
If your rifle won't one hole this load then wrap it around a tree. 4895 is one powder I don't have on hand. I'm going to try Varget first and see how it shakes out. I figured I'd catch a little slack on the 168 BT's but for southern whitetails I've had good results with them in 30-06 and H4350 for years (which is why I had a few bags of Blems on hand). That sounds great. No need to overthink it. Your 168 BT should work for just about anything that walks, including deer. I would, however, limit it to game smaller than a Brontosaur.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
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The 168NBT is one of my favorite 30cal bullets on deer and hogs. Has been accurate in the .308 and .300 SAUM.
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
Posts: 44,884 Likes: 10 |
The 168 Bal Tip is actually a pretty stout bullet, particularly at the velocities typically achieved by a 20" barreled 308.
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