I have a 308 26 " barrel one in 10 twist-----------------I want to start developing a varmint load--------small ground squirrels---------a coyote now & then-------What is lightest bullet can I shoot in that twist?????? I don't want to have to wear the barrel out starting out with 110 gr & working every weight up. I'll be shooting at max. maybe 400 yd------95 % of the shots I would guess at 200 yd. I just don't like the idea of a 168 gr pill bouncing around all over the place.
I had good luck with Ram-Shot TAC powder behind both the Berger 110 MEF, and the 125 Ballistic tip. You can scoot the B-Tip at aroud 3300, and it hits coyotes plenty hard. With loads like that the .270 Win ain't got nothin on the .308. ~lokey
A friend reports good results in an '06 with the Speer 125 TNT. I bought some for my .308 but haven't shot them yet. The Speer 130 hollow point in .308 also has a reputation for opening up quickly & being very accurate.
Don't worry about the 125 B-Tip on deer, broadside, lenghtwise, Texas Heart, whatever. You're not driving them fast enough to destroy them, even if you like to shoot shoulders. This is the best deer load I've found for my .308. It flat anchors deer. ~lokey
My 308 1 in 12" rwist will put the 125 gr. bullet one on top the other with a charge of 49.0 grs of W-748 powder. One deadly combo on deer or varmint. I can't say your 308 1 in 10" twist will like the 125 gr. bullet, but give it try. My 30-06 with the 1 in 10" twist will shoot very well with the 125 gr. bullet.