That 308 I mentioned further back has proven to be the goods. I found a good load with 8208 at 44.7gn, CCI LR primers and a 150gn SST. I know some don't think a 3 shot group is valid, but I only shoot 3 shot groups out of light barrelled rifles for a couple of reasons. One, if you haven't killed what you aimed at in 3 shots you may want to try tennis, and two, sporting rifle barrels are a bit light, and heat up fast. As far as 10 shot groups are concerned, a waste of ammo.
Current good load is 44.0 grains of BLC2 under a 165 gr. Speer BTSP popped with a Federal LR primer in Sig brass. 5 shots in .5 twice. more testing to come but this will do it.
I replaced the firing pin in my grandfathers Winchester 100 .308 and decided I may hunt with it. Steel tube Weaver 4x wire crosshair in a tip off mount from the late 1960’s.
Fiocchi Brass CCI 200 150gr Hornady RN Imr4198 - 31grs
6 shots just under 1” at 50yds. Nothing spectacular but from what I gather these rifles aren’t overly accurate. Recoil was mild and function was perfect. I fired 10 rounds, 4 getting it where I wanted the zero and then a 6 shot group.
I am in the process of buying the wife a 308 and am looking for some loads using lighter bullets than 150's. She dislikes recoil and for WT's, We don't make long shots, 250 yds is max and normally 150-175 yds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Daniel
I am in the process of buying the wife a 308 and am looking for some loads using lighter bullets than 150's. She dislikes recoil and for WT's, We don't make long shots, 250 yds is max and normally 150-175 yds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Daniel
Barnes TTSX 130 grain - TTSX, not the TSX 45 +/- grains of Varget (tailor it to your rifle) in fired Black Hills brass, which is supposed to be the same as Winchester brass. F210 0.010” off the lands works well. The 45 grains is well under max, there is no need to run full power and the recoil is mild when well below max.
We mainly use high shoulder shots to drop them where they stand to keep them out of the thorn brush.
One nephew shot a buck, 220#, facing him. The 130 TTSX was recovered from inside the offside rear leg.
I am in the process of buying the wife a 308 and am looking for some loads using lighter bullets than 150's. She dislikes recoil and for WT's, We don't make long shots, 250 yds is max and normally 150-175 yds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Daniel
Barnes TTSX 130 grain - TTSX, not the TSX 45 +/- grains of Varget (tailor it to your rifle) in fired Black Hills brass, which is supposed to be the same as Winchester brass. F210 0.010” off the lands works well. The 45 grains is well under max, there is no need to run full power and the recoil is mild when well below max.
We mainly use high shoulder shots to drop them where they stand to keep them out of the thorn brush.
One nephew shot a buck, 220#, facing him. The 130 TTSX was recovered from inside the offside rear leg.
I use 46.0 grains of TAC with a 150 grain TTSX for 2900 fps in my 22 inch barreled Ruger Hawkeye .308. It gives me good accuracy and worked fine in very hot temperatures in Africa. It worked well on a big sable and should be a good elk load.
How about telling us which brass case you used. Federal and military weigh much more than Winchester. The 130 ttsx at 3000 killed a bear three years ago. Bullet entered the left jaw, went through the skull exiting the atlas joint, went into the body and exited in front of the hip. My load is 51 grains of Tac, Winchester primer and brass.
I am in the process of buying the wife a 308 and am looking for some loads using lighter bullets than 150's. She dislikes recoil and for WT's, We don't make long shots, 250 yds is max and normally 150-175 yds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Daniel
Barnes TTSX 130 grain - TTSX, not the TSX 45 +/- grains of Varget (tailor it to your rifle) in fired Black Hills brass, which is supposed to be the same as Winchester brass. F210 0.010” off the lands works well. The 45 grains is well under max, there is no need to run full power and the recoil is mild when well below max.
We mainly use high shoulder shots to drop them where they stand to keep them out of the thorn brush.
One nephew shot a buck, 220#, facing him. The 130 TTSX was recovered from inside the offside rear leg.
I agree on both counts.
Thanks, Guys, I will give the load a try. I have also ordered a new rifle for myself so I will have 2 rifles to try it in. Daniel
Current good load is 44.0 grains of BLC2 under a 165 gr. Speer BTSP popped with a Federal LR primer in Sig brass. 5 shots in .5 twice. more testing to come but this will do it.
I got very similar results using the same brass and primers but with 44.5 gr of RL-15. My best results were at .130” off the lands, as mag restrictions had me starting at .110” off the lands.
I am in the process of buying the wife a 308 and am looking for some loads using lighter bullets than 150's. She dislikes recoil and for WT's, We don't make long shots, 250 yds is max and normally 150-175 yds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Daniel
Barnes TTSX 130 grain - TTSX, not the TSX 45 +/- grains of Varget (tailor it to your rifle) in fired Black Hills brass, which is supposed to be the same as Winchester brass. T F210 0.010” off the lands works well. The 45 grains is well under max, there is no need to run full power and the recoil is mild when well below max.
We mainly use high shoulder shots to drop them where they stand to keep them out of the thorn brush.
One nephew shot a buck, 220#, facing him. The 130 TTSX was recovered from inside the offside rear leg.
OK, The wife's rifle came in Monday and I have scope & rings on order that should be here Sat. or Monday. Loading time come about Tuesday . Jeff, I have a question , why did you specifie TTSX? Had you tried the TSX with poor results? I am going to try some of the LEHIGH bullets . Thanks Daniel
130 TTSX's also. Had been using 50g TAC, R-P brass, Fed 210m, 2.825" coal, but getting very low on TAC and low on Fed 210m so I picked up a brick of CCI-200's and have about 4lbs of Varget. I think it shoots well. And to somewhat expand on what others have said, the 130 TTSX hit like a lightning bolt. Haven't had a deer take more that 2 steps.
I have a Browning BAR Safari II .308 that I load with Nos. 125 gr. BT's and with 51.5 gr of W748 (see Nos. reloading manual # 9) for my wife. The recoil is lite and most of her shots are <100 yds - we haven't had to trail wounded deer more than about 50 ft.
Just finished load development with my Bergara Ridge SP 308. Shot Varget really well but finalized load with 50.5gr of Win 748, neck sized Federal brass shot in rifle, Federal GM Match primers, 130gr TTSX's seated just below first ring from point, can't recall exact depth but I got it wrote down in my load manual. Suspect that heat was messing with me a good bit when trying the Varget as it was in the 90's a good bit when trying it but no question about the 748.
HeavyBarrel
" A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government" G. Washington
I have 100 brass cases made by Australian Defence Industries this side of the pond, and I can only cram about 45gn of Varget into the cases that weigh around 185 grains. So considering that case capacity equals pressure, I should be OK. I'll run them through the Chrony and see. Anyone ha 308 brass that heavy?
Last edited by triplecanopy; 09/07/23. Reason: spelling
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