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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
39.5 of 3031 is extremely accurate with a couple of 168 gr. match type bullets in FC and LC brass. This is in five of five rifles tried. Up to nine of nine now. If you've been shooting Federal 168 gr. match ammo and you still have that heavy brass, you owe it to yourself to try 39 or 39.5 gr. of IMR3031 under a 168 in it.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 130 |
I have just started playing with Power Pro 2000-MR and so far I am impressed. 1/2 grain under max with 150SST's and I am getting 2925fps with good solid sub-MOA out of my Browning X-Bolt.
I will be shooting a long range hunting match with that load in a couple of weeks, looking forward to seeing how consistent it is over 50 rounds.
Aaron
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 101
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 101 |
44.8 to 45.0 H4895 and the 150 TTSX has shot many one holers in three different .308 rifles. Velocity averages about 2830 from 21" barrel. Killed a bull with that load a couple years back.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032 |
39.5 of 3031 is extremely accurate with a couple of 168 gr. match type bullets in FC and LC brass. This is in five of five rifles tried. Up to nine of nine now. If you've been shooting Federal 168 gr. match ammo and you still have that heavy brass, you owe it to yourself to try 39 or 39.5 gr. of IMR3031 under a 168 in it. I'm getting ready to try this in some Lapua brass which, if I'm not mistaken, should yield similar results to the fed brass. well ... similar from the standpoint of volume/brass thickness. I expect the lapua brass to last longer. although to be fair, the federal brass has held up pretty well so far. I'm not pushing it to the gills, though
Uber Demanding Rifle Aficionado
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 606
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 606 |
Yeah I have been really temped to try it as well. What is 3031 like through a powder dropper? 39gr is the starting load on hodgdon site, I am guessing 24xxfps in a 22"?
You need to call it. I can't call it for you.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
3031 is a "Lincoln Log" powder, so it's crunchy through a measure. Nevertheless, it produces very good groups for me even with thrown charges.
Hodgdon used WW brass in their tests, so 39.5 grains in a thick FC case is a bit warmer than Hodgdon's data would indicate. It's still an easy going load though.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 606
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 606 |
Mathman do the group sizes fall off dramatically as the charge goes up with 3031?
You need to call it. I can't call it for you.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
I never pushed it.
A while back I came into a quantity of LC match brass, and doing a little research I found the 39.5 gr. 3031 and 168 load was an old classic match combination. I tried it and it shot so well I pretty much quit experimenting.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,792
Campfire Tracker
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OP
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Been playing with the 175gr VLDs. This one shows much promise. 5 shots. OAL includes Sinclair bullet comparator. For distance to ogive, subtract 1". John
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 96
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 96 |
I use Varget in my .308 loads. I have not had any trouble finding it the last few months and I have plenty on hand.
44.5 gr Varget (Not the fastest, but most accurate) 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Rem Brass Fed 210 Primer C.O.L.- 2.80
My hunting rifle in .308 is a sporterized Mauser 98 in a Butler Creek stock and Leupold 3x9 Vari X II. It will put 3 rds in .60" all day long at 100 yds
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Joined: May 2003
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Campfire Tracker
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A couple of more good ones. These are 10 shot groups, shot from a 24" Brux barrel. 168gr Berger Classic Hunter 45.5gr Varget CCI200 Lapua Brass Base-to-ogive: 2.105" Average Velocity: 2779fps 155gr Scenar 46gr TAC CCI200 Lapua Brass Base-to-ogive: 2.105" Average Velocity: 2886fps John
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,945
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,945 |
Thanks Hondo. I just acquired a 308 win 20" barrel. I just did an ocw test and found 45.4grs is ocw with 168 smk, lapua brass, cci-br2 primers. COAL is 2.850" and .070" off the lands.
I plan to test out some 155's scenars soon. Thanks for sharing
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,013
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
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Lapua Brass 46gr Varget 165 Nosler Ballistic TIp CCI BR2 Primer always shoots sub MOA (.5-.75) and if I was a good shot , it'd shoot like this probably alot more often That's the one! 46 gr Varget with the 165 gr bullet of your choice. I had a 20" youth model Rem. 700 and was able to get 2680-2700 fps with sub MOA groups at 100 yds. I was happy duplicating the ballistics of most 165 gr factory rounds with that accuracy. The bullets I used were either Hornady regular Interlocks or SST's.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,013
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,013 |
This is the dumbest thread I've seen yet. Is there a bad .308 load? We might better have a thread entitled ".308 loads to stay away from." That would be a very short thread.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648 |
I ran some 190 grain LR Accubonds in my new to me .308 MR with 22" tube this weekend. All loads were at 2.835" to fit the mag. Ran 10 shot ladders with 0.5 grain increments at 300 yards to look for nodes as well as pressure/velocity. I wanted to get to 2,600. I can say that with a 6.5 pound rig all up shooting max 190 grain loads, recoil does get your attention after a bit...grin...
RL-17 - topped out at 2,550 or so. Accuracy was bad, all over map.
RL - 15 -topped out at about the same velocity as RL-17. Accuracy was better. Didn't get to the high node, low node was at 2,450 to 2,500, too slow.
Big Game - topped out at 2,575 or so. Accuracy was so, so. Likely will not pursue further.
TAC - topped out at 2,625 or so when bolt lift started getting a bit heavier. Accuracy was great. Hit high nodes between 2,575 and 2,625. 4 shot group with a 1.5 powder charge range (range may be higher but hit pressure) went into a bit over 3 inches at 300 yards. I am going to play with charges and seating depths but I think there is a good load in here in the 2,600 range -
PS - I can provide charges if anyone interested.
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
I've been loading the other direction with 168 grain Nosler match bullets over IMR 3031 and 4064. Basically I'm going for approximate 300 Savage ballistics with good precision. Yesterday my five shot, 200 yard groups were .42, .57, .64, and .68 MOA. Not too bad considering the route I took. I just used Nosler's accuracy loads for 300 Savage and put them up in some heavy Federal 308 brass.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,648 |
That's it? grin...
My post maybe isn't specifically for "good .308 loads" but I thought maybe .308 connoisseurs may like some real world feedback on some potential "good .308 loads" with some interesting velocity/powder combos....grin...
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032 |
I've been loading the other direction with 168 grain Nosler match bullets over IMR 3031 and 4064. Basically I'm going for approximate 300 Savage ballistics with good precision. Yesterday my five shot, 200 yard groups were .42, .57, .64, and .68 MOA. Not too bad considering the route I took. I just used Nosler's accuracy loads for 300 Savage and put them up in some heavy Federal 308 brass. how many reloads are you getting out of the federal brass? mine seems to be holding up fine, and it makes really nice target loads with the Sierra 168's, but .... I've heard bad stories about its longevity ...
Uber Demanding Rifle Aficionado
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
I used to complain about s-o-f-t FC brass too. But over the last two or three years it has been very good stuff. Full power loads with 175 SMK bullets don't seem to open up the pockets.
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Joined: Feb 2014
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New Member
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New Member
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165NBT 47gr RL17 oal 2.82 cci250 3 shot group .160.
Remmington 700 sps AAC 16.5" barrel all factory
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