Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good .308 Loads

My 84M with 46 grains of RL-15, 150 grain T-TSX, Fed.210 primer, Remington brass, will do 2840 fps. With groups at .2, .4 and so on. All the groups I have shot with this gun, have been under 1/2 inch. With this load.

HD

There's a great new article in Handloader magazine, December's issue entitled, "Developing an accurate 308 load". They evaluate various brass, bullets (all of which are in the 165-168gr. range) and primers on accuracy. The article settles on Varget and R-15 as the powders of choice. The most accurate virgin brass was Nosler, worst was winchester. The most accurate once fired, neck sized only was also nosler followed closely by federal plated, winchester, remington (plain). These are out of 10 types tested. The best primers were-in order, cci 250, federal 210GM, federal 215, Win LR (out of about 12 brands tested. Worst was cci br-2. The tester settled on 45 grains Varget. The most accurate bullets (all seated to just touching the lands) were 2 berger 168gr match bullets, followed by 167gr. scenar hpbt, 168 sierra matchking, and hornady 165 interbond. These were the top 5 of about 30 bullets. Hornady 168 amax, 165 fusions, 165 accubonds, 165 hpbt sierra gameking, 165 sierra spbt, 165 spfb interlock hornady, and 165 bt noslers all did among the tops in hunting bullets. Federal gold metal match was the most accurate factory loads of several match type ammo. Worst factory ammo was Indian made 7.62 Nato Ball M80. Velocity ran about 2767fps with 45 grains of varget. 46 grains varget gave 2825fps but tester felt that was too close to max given the many variables (primers, brass, bullets) they were dealing with, so they stuck with 45 grains varget. Interestingly they also tested brass life before failure in full sized cases after every shot. Shortest brass life was with Nosler, Federal Military and Hornady (all lasting 11 to 12 reloads). Remington plain, plated and Norma lasted the longest with 20, 22 and 24 firings before failure respectively. All in all My take away is Remington brass, varget 45 grains with cci250 primers and 165 hornady inerbond, 165 fusion, 165 accubond, or 165 hpbt gameking would be a great recipie to work up to in any 308 with the same twist rate as the Test rifle, a sako TRG-22. Tests included 145,5-shot groups. Most of which were less than 1 inch and many under 1/2 inch. This article is a great read for any 308 loaders. Hope this helps somebody out there.

Laughing here. Long ago settled on 168 gr Sierra, 45 grains of Varget, Lapua brass and Federal 210 match primers for my match load. As you might imagine - it shoots well.

I simply substitute a 165 Nosler Ballistic Tip or a 165 Sierra Gameking for a hunting load...

Regards, Guy

I don't have ready access to my magazine right now, and I read the article a while back so I'm writing this from memory.

I have a problem with the author's methodology. As you mentioned, he chose "the most accurate powder charge" of 45 grains of Varget with one of the constraints being no pressure problems in any of the component types. He's not going to get the best load right there. I assure you that in RP brass 46 grains will be more accurate than 45 grains with 165/168 grain bullets in most rifles you would care to test it in. A charge that is safe and "best" in thick Nosler or Federal brass isn't going to be the berries in thinner brass having more capacity like RP, or the even more capacious WW.

My montana has a 12" twist. What would be the optimal bullet weights for this twist rate??? That Sako test rife from above has a 11" twist rate and shot great with 165-168grain bullets. Are there different implications for my twist rate and optimal bullet weights in 308???

It'll be great with any of the usual bullets.

You gotta love Steyr SBS Prohunter's. I have three: two .308's and a .280.
This load is a 130grTTSX with 50.5gr RL15, GM210 primer, Win brass. 100yds = .217"

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M70 CLASSIC CCI 200 FED BRASS 47 GR H4895 130 TSX

Does anyone use H380 in their .308? I had a M788 a few years back that LOVED H380 for sub 1/2" groups at 100 yds. I have an FN PBR XP in .308 coming this week and want to put together some loads for it. I think I need to go buy some Varget or RL15...

Did you ever check the velocity for your H380 load. I played with some years ago and found it too slow for the 308 with 150 and 165 grain bullets.

I've done a lot of 308 handloading since then and I'm pretty sure you'll be happier with Varget, RL15, IMR4895, H4895, W748, N140, IMR4064 or IMR4320 with typical bullet weights. Catch the drift?

mathman,
I didn't have a chronograph at that time, but I still use the same .30-06 load that I put it up against them. With my .30-06 slinging a 165gr. BT at 2850, the same bullet from my .308 with 51 gr. of H380 behind it hit 3" lower at a measured 350 yds with identical POI at 100 yds. I know that's not conclusive, but I've killed deer with both loads at over 400 yds. I'll swing out to Cabela's and pick up some Varget this afternoon, put some loads together with that and H380 and compare them over the chrono.
Selmer

How did you get 51 grains in the case under a 165? I was running into compression issues with 48 grains which was Hodgdon's listed max back when I played with it.

I'm heading for the range in a few minutes, but I think my chrono is dead.

I have a new one after today. 43 grains of TAC, 150g TSX, Lapua Brass and a CCI 200. Pretty sure its not going to be a screamer but man it was accurate. 150's sure are nice to shoot too.

My buddy says 2 inches high, next shot dude you missed, dude you missed again. I thought what the hell so grabbed the spotter and set it up. I said nope there just all together Tried that load again and another clover leaf. Tried to set up the chronograph but it was too cold for it to think fast enough.

Ramshot's data doesn't show a TSX but their 150 grain data indicates you have a good bit of headroom. You may be able to work up to another good accuracy node at a higher velocity.

I worked it up to 46 but the groups started to go with it. Got extractor marks on a couple of the 46gr loads. 44 and 45 grs were still under a inch. It was 0 today with a pretty cold wind so I will run it over the chrony next week. If any thing its a nice light load for the wife to shoot

I'd have guessed it would pull back in tight when you got close to max.

It'll probably kill deer pretty quick anyway. An easygoing load with a 150 grain Hornady launched at a little over 2600 fps killed them no muss no fuss for my dad.

Yup it will get the job done. I have some TAC laying around so I thought I would give it a try. Im pretty satisfied with the results.

I still dont think it will trump the Re15 loads with the 150's though.

If you'll save me a search, how much Re15 are you running in the Lapua brass under 150s?

I've worked up to 46.5 grains with 150 gr. flat base Interlocks. The groups are pretty good overall size wise, but I see a little vertical stringing at 200 and 300 yards that I think I can pull in with a couple more tenths. Some folks are finding the goody zone a bit over 47 grains, but that's not in Lapua brass. So I'm creeping up slowly.

mathman, to answer your question, it's a tight fit! I was wrong in my statement, it's 50.5 gr. of H380 under a 165 gr. BT. I haven't loaded that load for about 6 years since I sold the 788. I loaded some up last night, previously I wasn't aware of how much I was compressing the powder, but it was blatantly obvious to me last night. We learn constantly, right. I'll give them a run, but I've also picked up some Varget and RL15 to try out in the new rifle.

47g of re15. Its a compressed load as well. Never ran it over the chrony either. If I had to guess I would says its probably around 2850 ish'
The barnes manual list 150's with 48grs of re15 as there max. I had no pressure signs at 47.