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How much can you safely compress a load?

I loaded some .308 cases with 56 grains of IMR 4350 and seated 168 grain Sierra HPBTs. This is a compressed load but even with compression the rounds are too long for my R-700 short action.

They are about three-eights longer than factory ammo.

Would it be safe to push them in more to make them fit or should I pull them and start over with new components?

4350 isn't really a 308 powder, and that charge weight seems high. Are you sure you didn't get into some 30-06 data?

Pull them, start over.

STOP!

You got your load data mixed up. That's a 30-06 powder charge for a 168 gr bullet. Nosler lists 50 gr of IMR 4350 as max @ 104% and Speer shows 49 grs as max.

Yours is a big load for the 308 Winchester with a boat tail bullet. I don�t know how long your bullet is or how deep you are seating. How long is this bullet?
When you seat a bullet .300� deep in a 308 Winchester case you have enough room for 43.8 grains of IMR 4350 - uncompressed.
With flat base bullets 50.5 grains is compressed load in my cases. Many new bullets have a long overall length and these are hard to load for your short magazine box.

That data is for a 30-06 , not a .308 . You couldn't compress that charge into a .308 case . I've always stayed away from compressed charges myself . It's just an unnessary headache . Charges that fill the case about 85% work well for me . It's just a matter of choosing the right powder .

Talk about dumping it in with a dump truck and packing it in with a jack hammer. Phewwww.....

Thanks. I'm pulling them RIGHT NOW.

Can anyone give me a hunting load (not compressed) for the 168 grain Sierra HPBT?

With what powder?

I think I'd start out with another bullet.

If I don't have it I'll buy what is recommended.

I have these on hand but I could buy others.

A 168 in a 308 is very tractable. RL15, Varget, H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064, TAC, W748, BL-C(2) and the like work well.

Pray tell, where did you get that load data? I am assuming you haven't shot it yet?

I made a mistake. Have not fired it and won't. Almost all the pills are pulled.

Can you recommend a load from the above that is not compressed?

I've always had good performance from W-748 and 165-168 Gr. Bullets . Loads usually max out around 45 GR. . I took quite a few Deer with the old Speer 165 RN ( discontinued ) and that charge .

What kind of brass and primers are you using?

Only an idiot would give you load data you cant even tell 308win from 30-06 load data. Better give up before yoy kill someone.

purple... I think you will find that people here tend toward a higher level of sense and intelligence that what you're demonstrating. The OP understands the problem it appears and seems willing to learn and go forward. Insulting as a method of educating is both poor form and rather juvenile.