Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .308 Winchester with 165s and a 20" barrel

What brass is that in?

Mathman-
Brass is Remington, primers CCI-200.

I don't have my log book with me for velocities, but the 168 or 165 NBtip and 46 grains of Varget kills deer very reliably, and I really can't tell any difference, nor could anyone I imagine, between the 20" and 24" barrels.

I found 2640 to be near max with a 20" 700 and Varget/168's. A guy could likely bump that up a smidge with the slower powders others mention here.

How about 2800?? Alliant 2000MR....

From my data: Steyr SSG69, 168 AMAX, Hornady book max load 50gr 2796fps five shots.

Best precision was around 2680 in that gun.

The factory Superformance Match 168AMAX is amazing in every 308 I have and it runs right at 2680 in the SSG69 and Tikka T3 tactical, both 20" barrels.

2715 fps in the 22" Kimber Montana. This is my standard hunting "go-to" rig because I can buy a case of that factory ammo and use it every bolt gun I have, heavy guns or the Montana. The AMAX is murderous on deer and hog too.

2000MR also did 2950 at book max with the 155 Scenar in a 20" barrel. Again best precision was found when throttled down.

Interesting that you say that. It seems a lot of people are changing their minds. I�m not sure if it is a decreased emphasis on sectional density, better bullets, or doing away with old �facts��.probably a little of each.

A 150 .277 at 2900-3000fps is a great elk killer so why do you need more than a 150 .308 at 2800-2900 fps? The standard .25-.30 caliber cartridges sure seem to be a lot more similar than different really. I am going to see if I can catch a 150 Accubond in a cow in October.

I guess my question is,why is that speed important? I shoot several 20" carbines and never worry about speed.My .308 is one of these...

No problem. Ive had 3 of them with 20" barrels, 2 rems and a sako...

My go to load was 165gr IB with 44gr imr 4895, which is 1 gr below book max. Chrony'd at 2700-2750fps from all three.

Tried varget, topped out at 2650, and not as accurate. IMO 4895 is the shizzle for short barrel .308's.

This is just my opinion but what's the extra 75-100 really get us other than to satisfy in our minds that we're getting the speeds we want...?

And this is coming from the past president of the red liners club...

Dober

I just worked up for accuracy, the extra speed was a bonus, and still under max. Took my last bull moose at 290yds with 50km sidewinds. No drama, and a full freezer.

If ya have any doubt, just ask about the capabilities of the .300 Savage. It seems to be well thought of.

That's how I finally felt comfortable with the velocity loss.

..not hard at all....

20" barrels
46.0 grains of 748
Federal Case
CCI BR Primer
2.795 LOA
165 Hornady SST/2730
168 Sierra Match King HP/2710
165 Hornady BT SP
165 Nosler Petition

Have shot these rounds from:
Remington LTR 20"
Remington 600 18.5"
Remington Model 700 Youth/Synthetic 20"
Remington SPS Varmint 26" (Hornady 165SST/2846 just chronographed today)
Ruger Frontier 16.5"
TC Encore 20 and 24"
SAKO TRG22 20" threaded

Shot the SST and SMK from the TRG22 a couple of weeks ago.

100 yards/SST



600 yards SST





100 yards/SMK



600...



800...




Well under max load.....

VeryVery accurate in all rifles that they have been tried in...

Bob

Worked up the original load of a 165SST in a Remington LTR with 20" barrel....

45 grains...



45.5...



46.0



46.5 things start going south....



47.0...and further south...





A friend shooting an LTR just like mine that I tricked out for him...but he liked the Sierra Match King...




His best group....

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/Long%20Range%20Shooting/LongRange050208023.jpg[/img]

..at 800 yards....

46.0/748/any 165 just seems to be a magic combo...

Bob

None of mine will digest 46 gr. of W748 under a 165/168 in WW brass, let alone in Federal brass.

I get no pressure signs at all....rounded primers, no hard bolt lift...nothing. All I use is Federal brass in my .308 Match loads.

Bob

.308? 165 NBT over 46.0grn Varget. Seating depth may vary.

Went over to LoadData.com and checked a bunch of reloading manuals they have listed over there as well as articles from HANDLOADER Magazine...some top out as high as 47.0 with a 168....

What primer are you using and what is your LOA? I seat the bullets so that the base of the shank is even with te bottom of the case neck...in both cases with these bullets the LOA is max for a Remington short action magazine. If used in a semi, like a DPMS Panther then the loads is shortened slightly so the crimping groove can be used.

Bob

I've used F210M, WLR and CCI 250. The bullets I mostly shoot are the 168 gr. Nosler CC and AMax loaded to approx. 2.82" OACL.

With the AMax, 44 gr. of 748 is a half MOA load for my 700 5R MilSpec.

Going with Dober on this one. IIRC, I'm getting just under 2700 with 165 Interlocks ahead of 45.0 gr of Varget out of my 22" Tikka. Phenomenally accurate.

Funny thing is, I am a trivia/minutiae geek and love details and specs. Used to keep quite detailed logs on all my shooting, but finally got tired of the time on the bench and the book work on all my various calibers. I went out and got a couple of .308's, bought 8lb kegs of Varget, some 175 SMKs for the 5R and 125 TNTs for the 5R and T3 (my walking around varmint bullet), and the 165 Hornadys for the Tikka.


I worked up to the 45 grains of Varget which shoots awesoome in both rifles with all the bullets and left the powder measure alone. Have been resisting the old urges to try every powder/bullet combo known. Makes life simpler and I get more field shooting done!

Once I found that great load I just ran it over the chrony to get my drops set and let myself forget about velocity. I must say, it's liberating!

YMMV.

I hunted for years with a 20" Rem. 7600 , loaded with Speer 165 Gr. RNs over 45 Gr. of W-748 . It' was a deadly load and rifle combo . Speer discontinued that bullet several years ago . If anyone out there has some they'd part with , I'd be interested !