Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 308 WCF/180-grain Bullets

I remember an article from Finn that he preferred 150's in the .308, just changing bullet construction as needed.

I got 2,613 in a 700 ADL with a 24" stainless barrel.


Okie John

Thanks. I think I'll just stick with 150-168s.

thanks,


Okie John

I've never been a 180/308 guy. I've always used 150's and 165's. I took my biggest whitetail, a 200lb (dressed) 4x4 with a 150 Speer HotCore (in and out). Also took my biggest elk, an old mature 7x7, with the 165 Hotcore. The last elk I shot (or latest :)) was with a Hornady 165 SP Interlock. It broke the big upper leg bone of the 6x6, penetrated both lungs, and was in the offside ribs.

Sub-MOA with too many cheap factory loads, light recoil, cheap bullets, not much muzzle blast....

Something doesn't feel right.


Okie John

I've come to own one of the small ring Swedish Gustafs 96 actions rebarrelled to 308 Win. by Kimber back when. So this string about 180 gr. in the 308 is of interest to me.

Mine is quite accurate with 150 gr. Horns at ~2600 FPS, but I've been warned by somebody who may not know his stuff to avoid higher pressures or heavier pills with this action.
Are there known upper safety limits to this action I should be aware of?

I've had a couple of the Swedes made in the early 1940s as I recall, but I don't know the answer to the strength question. There seems to be a lot of controversy on this. I suppose most are comparing these actions to 98s.

It sounds like you are asking if your 150 gr Hornady load is safe, and about any warnings about pressure that is too high.

I am a firm believer in the KISS principle. SAAMI suggests 51,000 PSI for the Swede, so I would go with what the experts are saying.

I crunched the numbers using 2600 fps and a Hornady 150 gr. SP 3031 bullet, Re 15 powder, COAL of 2.800 inches. The computer tells me that your load is mild. About 43000 PSI. Using the information I plugged in, and because it is accurate, you have a winner. This is only a computer generated estimate, but having shot a lot of 308 in competition and hunting, it will only be out 1,500 psi at best.

With a 180 gr. bullet at 51,000 PSI, I would be happy with 2400 to 2500 fps.

Mr. Redgwell, thank you for the specifics on my 150 gr. load in the Swede action.

GrouseChaser,

I doubt the low SAAMI pressure standard for the 6.5x55 has anything to do with the 96 Mauser action, which is actually just about as strong as early 98 actions. However, some "experts" have written in the past that the 96 can fail because it lacks the third "safety" locking lug that the 98 has toward the rear of the bolt. But very few people have ever seen a 98's two front lugs fail sufficiently to engage the third lug.

Instead, SAAMI probably established the low 6.5x55 limit because of Norwegian Krags, because they only have a single locking lug, so are indeed a weaker action.

In other words, I wouldn't worry about shooting any kind of factory .308 ammo in your rifle. And no, 180-grain .308 ammo does not generate more pressure than 150-grain ammo.

You're welcome.

John, we'll have to agree to disagree on the pressure levels, regardless of action. Whether it's a Krag or a Mauser, better safe than sorry.

GrouseChaser,

Another way to look at your combination is that (assuming appropriate powders of course) 2600 fps is easy cruising for the mild 300 Savage cartridge. You are using the larger capacity 308 case to generate that speed which points to even lower pressure.

And "thanks" to you John. The 6.5x55 history is good to know, and makes sense with the Krag platform. I have modern .308s I can 'rod at the bench. I'll keep the Swede moderate (and I'm hoping, accurate).

Don’t you guys ever get tired of results like this?

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Now I’m gonna have to go work on something hard like, I dunno, marksmanship.


Okie John

Perhaps I'm not following, but SAMII pressure limits are established for cartridges, not actions. You're quoting the 51,000 PSI for the Swedish round, BUT the rifle has been rebarreled to 308. Why would you feel the need to limit a 308 to 51,000 PSI, it is no longer a 6.5x55. The SAMII pressure limit for the 308 is 62,000 PSI. By limiting to 51,000, you're leaving a lot of performance that can be safely achieved within those established limits. Safety is always of primary concern, but SAMII has accounted for that when deciding their established pressure limits. Sure, if you want to load a 3-06 down to 30-30 performance, you can, but it is silly to do so just so you don't push it too hard.