Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 150 hornady loads for 308

think i have settled on 150 hndy flat base for my new 308 but have limited time to work up load . have imr 4895 varget and rl15 on hand anyone have loads theyre willing to share would be greatly appreciated . noticed hndys data maxes out at 44.9 for varget was thinking around 46.0 grns would be max for about any 150 standard bullet from what i have seen on other posts . should have said i have a large supply of federal once fired brass .

Think lower maximums. The FC brass is a good bit thicker than WW and even RP, so it has less capacity.

The bullet you've chosen has a shortish bearing surface though, so it may want a little more powder than this data (shot in FC brass) indicates.

http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

Time may be limited, but you must do the due diligence.

In my BAR I've had good luck with the Hornady 150SP and IMR4895 at around 2825 but these are loads out of a pre-lawyered 1967 Hornady Handbook which is 6 grains higher than my 3RD addition version. People here love the RL15 tho I haven't tried it yet. Work up and be safe. The Nosler No. 3 Manual shows my load, but for their bullets. I now use 748 in WW brass and CCI 250 primers, shoots bug holes at the same speed, 22" barrel.

Use Hornady data for Hornady bullets. Cross check with the powder-maker's data to avoid any chance of a typo. And do take the advice to lower the loads a bit with Federal brass; it IS a bit thicker.

The Hornady #3031 150-gr spirepoint is one of my favorite bullets in the .308. It never required a second shot on any deer I shot with it. I often loaded it to only 2600 fps because my rifle was more accurate there, and still never had a complaint.

My range notes go back to 1978 with this round in one rifle. I find that with Fed Match brass, a load of 41.0 3031 gave 2700 fps. With RL-15, 44.0 grains gave 2750 and 1.1" groups.

The mild load with that bullet uses 43.5 H4895 for 2650 fps and all the accuracy one might require.

I had better luck with RL15 than Varget in my .308 with various 150s. If you have any N-540, its worth a try too. Very close to the same burn rate.

The 3031 and 3033 Hornadys are dandy bullets...I like IMR 4064 with mine but as Rocky imparted....Ive never needed a second shot...maybe not what his majesty thinks but..

In all of the 308's I've shot R15 and a 150 Horn sp have perked very well. Be the first place I'd go, followed by Varget and H4895.

If you're 308 won't shoot this combo I'd say there's something mechanicaly wrong with the rig or it's just plain stupido!

Dober

I'll throw out another vote for the hornady 150's. I and several friends use them up here in Wis for whitetail.....always great performance and quickly dead deer.

That's the bullet I use in my 308's. Great little bullet for deer (even bug mulies). 45-47 gr. Re 15 should get you where you need to be.

Fed. brass, 150 gr. Hornady and 46gr. of RL 15 has been the ticket in 6 different .308s for me.

Last year I switched to Varget over RL15... it showed me substantially better performance in cold weather.

Yes, that Varget is some good stuff. I use it in the .204 and 375 H&H - shows a bit of versatility, I'd say.

Bingo! Me too.

WN

Mac-if I recall right, didn't you use diff lots of R15 tween your summer and winter load work?

Dober

(hope you had a great Anni)

I have excellent accuracy with 47 -48 grains varget with 150 hornady SP, 150 gr accubonds, and ballistic tips. WW brass and CCI 200 primers. Velocities run 2700 to 2730 fps range. 20 inch barrel

46.0-46.5 Varget, 150 fb Hornady, Win cases and Fed 210 primers is a gooood load!

After today's experiment with 150 Hornady's in my 308 (Ruger 77 mk II), I could be happy with either Varget or RL-15, both at 46.5gr. Gonna run with RL-15 this year though because with the as-is seating depth is shot very well and the Varget load might take some tweaking. I'm done fiddling and just ready to to zero rifles, plink, and most of all HUNT!!!

I've had good luck with my 308, I use RL15 with Hornady's 150 SP in WW cases and primers also. Varget wouldn't group worth a crap when I used it.

Man, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

My m70 EW really likes Varget. I use 45.5 gr. with the HSP. A little slow (2780 fps) but is ok with me. It is very accurate.