Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Remington SPS Tactical: Light bullet Loads for .308?

I have a Reminton SPS Tactical in .308 WIN. It has a 20 inch 1:12" twist barrel. My guess is that it should shoot lighter bullets better than heavier due to the twist. So far, I haven't found a load that it particularly loves, but it does overall shoot decent groups - MOA or less. Does anyone have experience with this rifle and can make some load suggestions? Should I stay with lighter bullets (130 - 150 gr) or go with the heavier loads(168 gr +)? It is my back-up rifle; at under 9 lbs with scope, light enough to hunt with if needed.
Thanks
Elk

I've got an SPS Varmint 308, that has been cut down to 20.5". Same 1/12 twist.

You should be able to find good accuracy with pretty much any 30-cal bullet you like.

I mostly shoot heavies, and have had great accuracy with 200gr Sierra Gameking, 200gr Nosler AB, 208gr AMax, 210gr Berger, and 220gr SMK. Even did sub-moa with the Hornady 225gr BTHP.

In the middle, I've had great accuracy with 155gr Scenar, and 168gr Nosler BTHP, and 168gr TSX, and 190gr SMK.

On the lighter side, 110gr VMax, and 130gr TTSX.

No problem getting sub-moa accuracy across the board.

First of all thank you for your service to our country, Shane. WIth any rifle, you try to wring as much accuracy out of them as possible and reduce the variables. Most all the loads and even factory fodder I've tried has done well with the rifle at this point but nothing to put a huge smile on my face. Would you be willing to share your load information on the 130 gr TTSX? I have some of those on my shelf that I'd like to try.

Thanks and many blessings,
Elk

Here's my notes for the 130gr TTSX. As always, start low and work up with normal caution.

308 Win
Factory 700 VS barrel
1/12 twist
20.5" BBL
WW brass
CCI 200
---------------------------

130 TTSX
2.8" OAL
AA2230C
50gr 2230C 3000 fps
51gr 2230C 3050 fps
52gr 2230C 3100 fps
53gr 2230C 3180 fps, slightly sticky bolt


Target with the 130gr TTSX. The aimpoint for the 100 yd group was the upper left corner of the inner box, so I was about 2" high, but well centered. At 400 yards, I was aiming center of the boxes, with an elevation correction dialed in of course.

Excellent. Thank you very much.
Elk

+1 on the 130 TTSX in the 1-12" 700. I loaded for an SPS-T and that bullet shot well with various charges of TAC and an OAL of 2.80". It was going about 2,950fps.

Not to dissuade you from the light bullets, but the 165-168 g bullets should shoot very well (maybe best) with that twist. They do for me, at least.

Start with a 165-168 g boat tail and 42 g Varget. Work up toward 46 g and you should get a load in that range that will really stack 'em. 46 might be too hot depending on the brass you use, or might be fine. Just work up to it.

I had a Remington 700 FSVS w/ a 26 inch barrel and the same twist for almost 15 yrs.
Some my best groups were made with Speer's excellent little 125 gr. TNT using TAC and H4895 powder. But it also did quite well with the Sierra 155 gr. and 175 gr. MatchKings. "Quite well meaning +/- 1/2 MOA. I recall shooting one group w/ AA's 2520 powder that went 7/8ths of an inch, dead center in the black at 300 yds. for three. Other bullets, like the 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, and Sierra's 125 gr. bullets also did quite well.
One thing I did notice is that it always shot better after fouling the bore for at least 8 rds.
The other is that I should have no parallax in the scope at whatever range I was shooting. E

Barnes 130gr TTSX
Winchester Brass
Federal 210
48.2gr H4895

150gr Nosler Ballistic Tip
Remington Brass
Remington 9 1/2 Primers
48gr H380
(This load was made by Chuck Taylor that I read out of a magazine but nonetheless, a very accurate load that usually shoots well out of most rifles chambered in 308.)

Thank you all. I appreciate the information. With the light bullets, particularly with the Barnes 130 gr TTSX, they recommend doing a light factory type crimp due to the short shank on the bullet. Are you doing this with the TTSX or relying on the neck tension being enough not to worry about it?
Thanks
ELK

My .308 is fussy. It likes 165 grain Nosler ABs with 43.5 grains of RL15 or 165 grain partitions with 44.0 grains of RL15 and Fed 210M **match** primers. Change primers, go up or down a half grain, and groups at least triple in size.

The only 180 it shoots well is the Speer round nose; I only use that with a reduced load for about 2000 fps. Hasn't done well with 150s. I thought I had the 130 TTSX working but when I went back to reshoot the same recipe the groups were in the 6 inch range at 100 yards. Oops. 125 grain ballistic tips showed some promise with Varget. I didn't have good luck with the 110 grain VMAX.

Honestly, I haven't shot anything but the 165 grain accubond load in a year and a half. It does everything I need a light (Kimber montana) .308 to do.

Tom

Thanks Tom. Having lived through fussy load developments, I can completely sympathize. I have a Weatherby Ultralight in 7mm-08 that was a bear to get below 1.5" groups at 100 yards and that took over a year of experimenting. Most were in the 3-4" range. Not fun for sure. But that isn't unusual for very to Ultralight rifles.

Thanks for sharing our experience.
Elk

No crimp on my 130TTSX. No problems with 130's in a 300SAUM either.

Thanks JPro.