Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good .308 Loads

That was the first thing I did.

Anyone worked up loads wif the SST 125s? Snatched hundred pack cuz they were available. Pretty sure they'll kill anything in Tennessee if I can push them at 3,100+.

Top end charges of 748 work well with the 125 Sierra and Ballistic Tips, why not with an SST?

That said, they would probably be a better game bullet if slowed down a bit.

I load 125gr NBT and NAB with Varget, I think 50-grs and it bug holes.

Is Varget close to 748 in burn rate? My 308 loves 748 but I'm low on it. Have Varget and want to load Nosler 180 PT for my next Wyo hunt.

Varget is similar, but cleaner burning and more tolerant of temperature changes. It should be easy to work up a very good load for that 180.

That's nice to know as I hang out with some big clawed critters in Cody. They are everywhere and have tracked me after sitting down for lunch up in the rim rock. Creepy. I like 180 Partitions just for that reason. Literally almost got run over by one a few years ago while standing just off of a game trail. The locals laugh at me but them Griz freak me out.

Was working up a good 180 grain Accubond load, found that this recipe worked well:

180 Grain Accubond
Winchester Brass
CCI 200 Primer
46.5 grains of RL-17
COAL- 2.810"

Not going to endorse the load, test up to it, but it shot GOOD! Like the RL-17 for heavier 308 Win bullets.

TAC works well with 155's too, I've been messing around with 155 scenars and getting 2900 and up, no pressure signs, and one ragged hole. Lapua brass, Federal primers, and 45-46 grains.

Yesterday I tried 180 gr partitions with 47 gr of MR2000. Got 2680 fps from a 24" barrel, good accuracy, no pressure signs.
I wanted a .308 load for black bear over bait.
I think I found it.

Varget and 4064 are non-existent. Has anyone tried 335, or 7828 in .308 loads?

Thanks

335 could be made to work, but it isn't optimum. Forget 7828 entirely.

RL-15 seems to be findable. Have you tried that? That is my powder of choice for most of my .308 loads. Otherwise, and I know it's not "optimal", but good old 3031 with a 155 will work just fine, too. That could be one of my favorite combos.

I just picked up a Tikka T3 Stainless last month and haven't had much time to work with it. With deer season months away I figured I had plenty of time - then the chance to go on a hog hunt came up (late August) and I had to get busy! I was getting very good accuracy with the Speer 150 gr. HotCor and Varget - but I only had twenty bullets! Then I found out that it's a little hard to find 30 caliber bullets right now (haven't shopped for any in a loooong time!) Luckily, I manage to find some Sierra 150 gr. Pro-Hunters and Nosler 150 gr. Partitions to work with. I wasn't getting the velocity I wanted with Varget (about 2711 fps) so I decided to give IMR-3031 a try (thanks mathman!) IMR-3031 turned out to be just what I was looking for! I'd still prefer to use the Partition bullet but I don't know if I'll have time to work with it. The Sierra's are shooting good!



Sorry about the group picture, had to use my cell phone. Three shots @100 yards.



Bullet: Sierra Pro-Hunter 150 Grain Spitzer
Powder: IMR-3031 43.0 grs. (30 April 2013 Lot #1637)
Primer: CCI-BR2
Case: Winchester
LOAL: 2.750 (2.205 with Stoney Point)
Average Velocity: 2799.94
Extreme Spread: 43.25
Standard Deviation: 16.34

The Varget load was not bad... just getting more velocity and better accuracy with IMR-3031.

Bullet: Sierra Pro-Hunter 150 Grain Spitzer
Powder: Hodgdon Varget 45.5 grs. (11 November 2012 Lot #5020)
Primer: CCI-BR2
Case: Winchester
LOAL: 2.750 (2.205 with Stoney Point)
Average Velocity: 2711.67 fps
Extreme Spread: 48.25
Standard Deviation: 19.51

You ought to be able to work up to at or near 47 g of Varget in the Winchester brass with a 150. Nevertheless, nothing wrong with IMR3031. I've actually been using it with 165's and 168's. Not top velocity, but about the best accuracy I've seen in my rifles.

Yeah, I know I need to do more work with Varget - just running out of time!

Any Ram Shot Big Game load suggestions for 308 Win. Found 8# works well in the 7-08, 375 Ruger, 9.3 X 62 and others.

The Ramshot load guide starts with 165 grain bullets. It should work with 150s, but it will likely be slow. I use Big Game in .22-250, 7-08, and .30-06 with great results.

Some of the target pics of loads that worked well for me dropped off when I "organized" my photo bucket album, so I'm reposting them. ...And I've got another .308 barrel coming for my Stiller, so have a renewed interest.

All loads shown from a 22" Krieger. All OALs include Sinclair "hex nut" bullet comparator.

John














[img]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n159/Hondo64d/Targets/168grBalTip.jpg[/img]

This was at least 10 shots. Could have been more, but can't remember for sure...

[img]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n159/Hondo64d/Blue%20308/150grGameKingR1545grBR230701.jpg[/img]

The numbers listed under charge are from the micrometer settings on my MVA powder measure. The 1.225 is about 45.7gr TAC. OAL includes a Sinclair "hex Nut" bullet comparator. The grid is .1 mil100m. These are 5 shot groups. I think I'm done with load development for this season.

John