What is left to say about .308 loads ? Well i experienced something that surprised me today. I was shooting various 150 grain loads with several bullets and W-748. I also had a load with 46b \grains OF RL 15 under a 150 grain sierra Flat base. This load shot .070 to .115 so its plenty accurate. no surprise there, but what did suprise me was how little recoil there was. I pulled a bullet and weighed the charge. so no mistake. that load should be pushing the bullet at around 2800, but compared to the 748 loads it was very mild. any ideas as to why ? ...tj3006
Posts: 605 | Location: OR | Registered: 28 March 2012
I can't really say why, but I have seen the same thing. The other thing I noticed was that in the latest 2017 reloading guide from Alliant, they re-set the max load for the 150 cup and core Speer bullet to 49 grains from the old max of 46. The last time I saw the 49 grain max was in the 60s version of the manual. It now says you can get 2919fps. I know others have been using the 49 grains forever, but I get the best accuracy at 45.5-46.
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 3942 | Location: Kansas USA | Registered: 04 February 2002
I haven't tried Rl15 in the 308; primarily because the three powders that I've used (W748, H335, Bl-C2) have always given great results. I suppose I should try something new, but fifty years of having something work well is hard to discount.
Posts: 1421 | Location: WA St, USA | Registered: 28 August 2016
Ray, I can relate never had to stray from 748 or IMR 4064. Bought some RL 15 when powder was hard to get. i think i will mess with it for this new rifle...tj3006
Posts: 605 | Location: OR | Registered: 28 March 2012
With 150gr bullets in my 308,I load 46.5grs of Varget or 45.5grs of TAC.Either one gives me under an inch groups running 2900fps.
My experience exactly. I have also had good luck with BL-C2 in the accuracy department. Really meters well out of my Harrells powder measure. The Varget does better with the RCBS chargemaster.
Posts: 7158 | Location: Snake River | Registered: 02 February 2004
Reduced ‘felt’ recoil is a phenomenon many attribute to R-15. I do shoot it as a .308 load as well (the most accurate powder in 2 of my rifles with 165 gr TTSX). But where I really appreciate the reduced “felt” recoil is in my .500 NE...where it is obvious compared to other common powders for it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM
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