I have a rem 7600/308 and was wondering about reduced loads with Jacketed bullet or cast bullets? Velocity 1900-2200 feet per second. Really like the idea of a very heavy 200 0r 220 grainer at about 2000 or so...

Any one have any experience with loads mentioned above?

Hodgdon has youth data with reduced loads of 4895 for the .308:

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/308win_y.php

But they use light bullets.

If I use Quickload and find a 200 gr load for 1900 to 2200 fps, I get:

30 gr IMR4895, 200 gr, 1900 fps, 26 kpsi

35 gr IMR4895, 200 gr, 2200 fps, 38 kpsi

41.3 gr IMR4895, 200 gr, 2543 fps, 60 kpsi



I have shot wimpy loads with lead bullets and IMR4895, and it downloads very nicely, and never has needed a magnum primer to get going.

I'm thinking that a 200 to 220 gr. cast bullet seated properly would be too long for the magazine in a .308. The base of the bullet would have to be below the neck, which could let the gas check fall off. (I'll come back to that later.)
I would suggest the RCBS #30-180-FN or the #30-180-SP molds. In wheel weight metal, at least from the batch I have, bullets have run about 190 gr. I have the FN version and it had been decently accurate to 100 yards. My rifles are all bolt actions so I may have a bit more leeway in magazine length.
Another bullet I have had excellent results with is the RCBS #30-165-SIL. From a box stock (almost) Winchester M70 in .308, I get groups averaging 1.5 to 2 MOA at two hundred yards. Rifle is the M70 Youth Ranger restocked in a Ramline synthetic, and a decent trigger job. (2.5 lb. pull) Scope is a tasco World Class 3x9X.
Another bullet I can recommend is the Lyman # 311644, at 190 gr. in WW metal. It will group at 2MOA from a Savage 110S silhouette rifle at 300 yards.
Loads for the 165 gr. bullet are 16.1 gr. of Alliant #2400, a one gr. tuft of dacron set lightly upon the powder. charge.
For the 190 gr. bullets, 25.0 gr, IMR-4895 with a one gr. tuft of dacron as above.
Bullets are sized to be .310".
My problem with the 200 gr. and heavier bullets is the gas check has to be below the neck. I was shooting a 156 gr. cast bullet in a 6.5 Mannlicher I once had, and the check had to be below the neck. I had one round that showed very high pressure, the primer literally disappeared, and the primer pocket looked like a gaping hole. As I always check powder charges with a penlight, I know it was not an overload or double charge. Anyway, a double charge would have overflowed the case. The only thing I can think of is the gas check came off, formed a blockage allowing the pressure to skyrocket to dangerous levels.
That's just something you might want to consider.
Paul B.

Hi Paul,

Just talked with my Brother and he is in your city today.

My thinking on this topic is geared for hunting Deer on a River bottom. Short range is the (0-50 yards) and I do not want a high speed, jacketed bullet flying around the woods!!!



I think a 'slow' moving heavy bullet will be just the ticket.....but a little bit faster than an handgun round.



Altho this year my son and I got 3, fat, corn-fed Doe's with one shot for each Doe...44mag.



This 7600/308 pump, I have, is sure fast on re-chambering a live round..