Has anyone loaded a .308Win with 220's, if so what were your experiences, any favorite loads? If anyone with software would be kind enough to calc the best loads I would really appreciate it - and don't worry I am pretty safe/conservative when loading up.

Deke.

I have and have gotten a lot of flack because I even mentioned doing it. You asked so here goes. This is from published data OK?
Powder: W-760
Case: Winchester
Primer: Winchester standard (not magnum)
Starting load: 42.0 gr. 2177 FPS 42,000 C.U.P.
Maximum ;oad: 44.0 gr. 2295 FPS 46,900 C.U.P.

I was able to work up to the maximum load in a Winchester M70 with 22" barrel. velocity was 2310 FPS from my rifle. Groups ran from .375" tp .50" depending on how well I was shooting. Scope was a 3x9X Leupold set at 9X.

I'm quite sure we'll be hearing from all the "eggspurts" how shooting a bullet that heavy in .308 is just pissing up a rope but when factory 30-06 is supposed to only do about 2400 FPS, well I rest my case.
If you want to E-mail me a snail mail address, I can copy the data from the book. It's one of those One Load books that has sadly been update for the .308 and the 220 gr. data has been omitted.
Anyway, here's one person who has been there and done that on heavy bullets in the .308.
Paul B.

While for sure not my cup of tea. QL suggests something like H414 (which is Paul's 760) or RL17

44.0gr 4831
43.0gr 4350
35.0gr 4895

The above is from Hodgdon #26. All three shot very well out of my 22" 700. Didn't chrono, but I would guess the FPS to be somewhere in 2100 neighborhood , +/- .

RL17 and the 208 A-Max have been used together with great success. Guys are getting 2600 out of 24" and 2500 out of 20" barrels. Google will get you some threads at Sniper's Hide and Long Range Hunting. I've got some loaded but haven't shot them yet. I haven't seen anything on 220s.

LWD

Deke,

No reason not to try it, my only personal concern would be if they would stabilize and the only way to find out is to load some and actually shoot them.

quote:

would be if they would stabilize

Good point. You'll probably need at least 1:11" if not 1:10" My Savage is 1:10" so I should be good to go even at the lower velocity.

LWD

I loaded 220 grain bullets in a 308 Winchester years ago using Winchester 760/H414 and accuracy was quite acceptable. I don't know what the barrel twist was but I was using round nosed bullets which are easier to stabilize.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark:
Deke,

No reason not to try it, my only personal concern would be if they would stabilize and the only way to find out is to load some and actually shoot them.

My Winchester M70 has a 1 in 12" twist and they stabilized just fine. It's like that old line of BS where a 30-06 with a 1 in12" twist won't stabilize 220 gr. bullets. Oh really? My custom 30-06 on an FN Mauser with 24" 1 in 12" twist Douglas barrel is shooting groups right at one inch.
What did surprise me was the .308 outshot the 30-06 regarding groups.
I also tried the load in a Ruger M77 RSI but velocity in the 18.5" 1 in 10" barrel was only 2150 FPS and accuracy was not good at 3.0". However, that gun is the fussiest most temperamental rifle I own. it took me over two years to find a load it liked and at that the groups were only 1.5".
I havw a new custom .308 with a 1 in 10" Douglas barrel but I haven't gotten around to trying that load in that rifle yet. One of these days I'll get around to it.
Paul B.