Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting Recommend 200 yard .308 Hi-power load?

Not a competitive shooter by any stretch, but a 168 matchking on top of 44-45 grains of varget is nice in 308

I did real well with that load in 600 yard prone High Power competition.

Guy

Back when I was competing in NRA Sporting Rifle Hi Power, my 200 yard go-to load was 40.5 of IMR 4895, Fed Match Primer, Sierra 150 Pro Hunter (flat base). A little over 2500 fps in a 22" model 70 push feed. Managed several clean targets in slow fire prone, slinged up of course. Also took a couple sporter weight rifle 300 yard benchrest trophies, same recipe.

When Gary Anderson was asked that question he said just use 41 grains of 4064. If it doesn't shoot, rebarrel your rifle!

I would think 4895 or Varget giving the equivalent velocity would act just the same. Look in a handbook.

My match load is 45.5gr of varget with Sierra 168gr matchking

150s are fine, but for 200 it would be hard to convince me that I need anything heavier than a 125gr bullet.
Just about any of the above mentioned powder charges or about 40gr of Varget are fine, especially in a bolt gun since it doesn't have to work the bolt too.

I too was a fan of the 125 TNT mouse fart loads in a .308 M1. Unfortunately my loading notebook from that era has hidden itself quite well, so I couldn’t tell you specifics as to powder and charge.

http://www.provenreloads-handloads.com/articles/2016/9/18/old-school-308-winchester-match-loads.

imr 4895 and 4064 are go to powder..

42 gr of 4895 and a 155 match pullet will get it done.. same for 4064.

this site has quite a few High power loads mainly for 223 as this is what's used today but it also has proven 308 and 30-06 loads

http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm

308 = Varget..................................................

The only match bullet I've ever loaded in the .308 is the 168 MK. Varget is a good powder, but if you have access to H4895, try it as well. You might see a slight accuracy advantage using one over the other. With 150- 180 grain non-match hunting bullets, I've seen better accuracy overall with H4895.

125 Speer TNT ,Or 125 Sierra Spz, w-wCase fed 210 primer,Winchester 748 powder ,start/finish One grain down from max book load !.

42.5gr either IMR or H 4895.Federal or CCI LRP, load a little shy of the lands if magazine permits.

I never used the 150 in competition. My favorite accuracy load was 39 gr. of IMR 3031, 168 gr. Sierra HPBT bullet #2200, LC case, just about any standard LR primer. I used that load for 20 yrs. of 200 yd. match work with iron sights with VG results.

If I remember correctly (very long time ago) the US Army Marksmanship Unit used that load as well. I believe the velocity was about 2550 fps.

Given decent bullets that are not too long for a 1-12 twist...I think it is hard to find a load that is not accurate enough. I would like to use 190s in my Savage Bull Gun...but they are not accurate (enough) Avoid silly slow powders...not that accuracy may not be there they just scatter un-burned powder kernels everywhere. Ken Waters declared 3031 best with 165-168 bullets I use Varget /155 gr.for F Class and Benchmark /165 SST for 600 yard and under.

I think it was the Marine Corps. I've even heard that load referred to as "Marine match".

PM Sharpsman.

That was the standard for 300 meter free rifle match shooting for a very long time.
These days just use my Palma match load, 46 grains of Varget behind a 155 Sierra or Lapua Palma match bullet.
I have also used Hornday bullets in 155 grains but have not competed with them, I just use the Sierras mostly.
ICat

Hatcher's 300M load called for a 173gr at reduced velocity. 2250fps comes to mind. A full course 300M position match is 120 shots plus sighters on a target much more demanding than our Highpower targets. Recoil reduction with accuracy was huge. (today the gold standard is the 6BR).

FA put out a Hatcher load in their International Match loading in 30-06 in the 1950's then the T275 load in 308. The most common spec for the 308 loading I see on boxes is 2440fps (maybe because these are the ones that weren't consumed in competition as much). It's times like that that I miss my old friend Ray Meketa who collected and documented the 308/7.62 Match loadings. I recall discussing with him the spec'd velocities for the various lots of T275. My recollection is that they were mostly loaded with IMR4895.

Trivia: The VLD bullet design is the result of a cooperative effort between US folk such as Bill Davis of Tioga Engineering, Lou Palmisano, Jimmy Knox of JLK et al in an effort to give the US 300M team a lower recoil, wind resistant, accurate round to shoot in competition. I believe they were successful there and we in the sub 30 cal world benefited from the outfall.

another bit of trivia (since I'm on a roll); The 168 Sierra Match King was originally known as the 168 International because it was designed and produced for 300M shooting. I believe the debut was in Mexico City for the 1968 Olympic games (for the record, Gary Anderson won Gold!)

Interesting thread. I’ve generally shot 150gr in the 308 over Varget. I’ve been experimenting with some new powders and slugs. I had a good supply of 165gr, but I think I’ll save them and go to the 168gr. Recoil is never an issue. This girl weighs 12.5lbs…..