Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 308 WIN 200 grain AB

Anyone ever loaded this combo? I have an 18” barreled 308 that I’m trying to get set up for deer and elk. Shots out to 300 yards.

I haven't, and I wouldn't.

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I ran the numbers for this load. All generic to QuickLoad and berger ballistics app.

18" bbl, 36.54 grains of Varget begets 2182 ft/s at the muzzle.

At 300 yards, 1756 ft/s and 1370 ft/lbs of energy.

Drops 23" at 300 yards with a 100 yard zero, or 7.3 moa

Drifts 8.5" at 300 yards or 2.7 moa in a full value 10 mph wind

This is at sea level, elevation will work in your favor.

300 yards is on the edge for advertised bullet performance

With a 10 twist bbl your bullet will marginally stable, this will decrease the effective BC so ballistic numbers will be less/worse.

A 9 twist will offer full BC of the bullet.

As always work up any load to assure safety in your rifle.

Yeah, a lot of guys think their 308's are 30-06's. I hear it all the time. It's bs, especially when you try stuffing a long heavy pill in the little 308 case.


I like "heavy for cartridge" pills when talking about regular ol C&C pills, but damn a 200gr in a 308win? And in an 18" barrel? For big game out to "300 yards"? No thanks.. When I saw this thread lastnight, I just laughed.. I'm glad you said you wouldn't, because you are a known 308 lover. You obviously know what works. With that being said, will a 200 work in a short barreled 308? Yes, but why? There will be a guy come along and say it's the best thing since sliced bread, he uses it in his 300 black out and it works dammit!!!! Could I get that 250gr pill (pictured above) to work in my 20" 308? Hell yes and I bet I could get it to shoot accurately in my AR10, but again, WHY? In the whole scheme of things, each cartridge has its sweet spot for certain bullet weights and types for big game hunting purposes. Some guys don't know that, I guess. If it were me, I'd run a lighter weight Barnes (130 or 150 max) or a 165 (max) C&C or 150gr controlled expansion (partition for example) in that short barreled 308.

I've run the 220 gr. Sierra round nose at 2300 and change from a 22" barreled M70 in .308. Powder was W760, Winchester brass and WLR primer.

The source I have for a 200 gr. bullet shows: Barrel length unknown.

W760 Start: 44.0 gr./ 2244 FPS/ 42,400 C.U.P. Max: 45.0 gr./2381 FPS/47,000 CUP

W748 Start: 38.0 gr./ 2212 FPS/ 42,000 C.U.P. Max: 40.0 gr./2349 FPS/47,800 C.U.P.

You'd probably lose about 100 FPS due to your shorter barrel.

FWIW, the Max for the 220 gr. RN and W760 is 44.0 gr./ 2295FPS/ 46,900 C.U.P. I got 2320 FPS from a 22" barrel if that's any help.
Paul B.

Given Brad's elk experience with the 308 I'd happily load a 165 Partition, Accubond or Ballistic Tip.

My wonderful Kimber Montana Scout at 18” will send 200 grain Speers or partitions at 2535. Use Winchester brass weighing 155 grains, Reloader 17 and either a Federal or Winchester primer.
Wonderful load from a light and handy rifle. Especially in g bear country and it does crush elk.

As Frank500 said, I'd probably use partitions at that weight because they'll expand going alot slower.

I would do a 165 Partition.
Or a 150 or 180.
Honestly, probably would never be able to tell any difference except on paper.
And drop, to some extent.


Then again, it's a 308.
Almost any softpoint factory load from 150 to 180 would do fine.
Nothing fancy needed, just a simple blue collar working horse.

My .308 has a 24" 10 twist barrel but 45gn of Winchester 760 generates 2390fps and very good accuracy using the 200gn Accubond.

If I were bent on using a 200, I’d probably opt for a softer bullet like the ELD myself if that’s what you wanted to do, just to ensure expansion.

I used the 212 ELD this year in an 06 at 2700 and was very impressed on elk myself.

I would look at the 168 ABLR

208 amax in an 18-1/2'' M7 / Varget - velocity ? no idea - kills big hogs dead .

I'd load a 130gr TTSX and kill kritters dead just as good or better due to the difference in accuracy and save my shoulder... they don't absorb heavy recoil like they used to.
This combo has killed countless numbers of deer, Elk and Moose