Does anyone have a good 165 grain load for a 20 inch barrel 308? I picked up an Ed Brown tactical 20 inch and wondered where to start. Many years ago we loaded WW748 for silhouette shooting.

Don't have a load but I would look for something like 4895.

4064 or Varget will give you the highest velocities per grains of powder used.
Look at Hodgdon's data, I'm sure you'll find a load there to your liking.

Cheers.

My Ruger RPR has a 20" bbl, likes 748 behind SMKs from 135 to 175 gr. Use Rem 9.5 and Win LR primers. Velocity ESs are usually about 30 fps. 168 SMK at 2500 from 20" without stepping on it.

Vv N133
Reload Swiss RS40
Norma 203B

I use the same load I use in my long barreled 308s why mess with a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I use the same load I use in my long barreled 308s why mess with a good thing.

This----^

Unless we are talking about barrels below 10"-12" or above 28" generally speaking the powder that gives the best velocity in a 20" tube will also do so in a 18" or 22" barrel.

You guys don't have moderators generally and so perhaps in your shoes I would avoid ball powders like BL-C (2) unless the idea is to make one hell of a flash whilst getting good velocity...

What if you only shoot 150 grain bullets in your other 308s and want to shoot 165s in this gun? Does anyone ever answer a question directly on AR any more.
Thanks to those with helpful suggestions!

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
What if you only shoot 150 grain bullets in your other 308s and want to shoot 165s in this gun? Does anyone ever answer a question directly on AR any more.
Thanks to those with helpful suggestions!

Apologies if the answer was not to your taste, I was simply talking about generalities as you seem to regard your 20" barrel as especially short.

I didn't know if you had other 308s and therefore powders in stock for them and was suggesting that you try what you have before necessarily looking elsewhere .

I find that the book max load of RL15 shoots very well in my sako with 165 gr interlocks seated to the crimping grove.

I also find that over book loads max of N140 shoot very well with 165gr Nosler Ballistic tips but you are no doubt an experienced enough reloader to understand that I can't be giving over-max loads out to people.

Ghubert: Sorry but my grumpiness was not directed to you. I appreciate your help.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Does anyone ever answer a question directly on AR any more.

Have they ever? I agree with Paul. Go with the fastest "suitable" powder. 4064 is great, with a longer tube. 3031 is probably a bit too quick. I would try something along the lines of 4895 or Rlr 10x. Or, as others pointed out, just load it like it was 24" and give it a try..

I tend to run AA2520 with 175 gr SMKs for better precision ammo in the 308. Same load works fine (MOA or less) in 12.5" AR SBR, Remington 700 based 16", 16" DT Covert, and 22" Savage based bolt gun.

I didn't realize that my run-of-the-mill 1962 Model 700 308 with short action and 20" barrel was considered "short"; Be that as it may, I've been shooting 150, 165 & 180 gr bullets in it for 50 years. the powder that I liked best was H335; followed closely by BlC-2 and WW748. I'd have to check, but it seems to me that the load for the 165 gr was 46 gr H335. At the time I got some factory loads and I think they were loaded with a slower powder because if fired in any sort of subdued light and a giant (6') ball of fire was seen at the end of the barrel. If I loaded per the manuals with 4350 which according to the manuals gave the highest velocities and the fireball was repeated.

I have been using CFE 223 in my AR 10 with a 16" barrel. It has proven to shoot faster than Varget in this rifle by almost 200fps. I have used it with 155 Palma Match and 165gr Remington bullets. It's shooting both loads under 1" which is as good as this rifle will do with the Federal 168gr Match ammo.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Does anyone have a good 165 grain load for a 20 inch barrel 308? I picked up an Ed Brown tactical 20 inch and wondered where to start. Many years ago we loaded WW748 for silhouette shooting.

You'll have to be the judge of whether these are "good" loads.



This was shot in a handgun. I believe the barrel length was 14 inches.



The Tikka T3 CTR has a 20 inch barrel.



The 200 yard group was about as good as the 100 yard group. I thougt I had the scope parallax adjusted properly but maybe not.

I've tried a number of powders with 165 and 168 grain bullets and IMR 4064 seems to be the best for me. If you ever decide to go with 150 grain bullets, the powder I like the best is IMR 8208 XBR.

same powder you shoot in a 22 in. RL-15, IMR4064 gives me the best velocity with groups, there are a lot of powders that shoot great in a .308

quote:

Originally posted by vines:
there are a lot of powders that shoot great in a .308

One of the beauties of the 308 to be sure. They are easy to load for..

I have had good luck with 3031 and Hornady 165gr interlocks in the 18" barreled 308 we got here.
I stay with 4895 in the other longer barreled rifles.
except the AR-30 with the 30" barrel it gets 4831sc and 165 gr custom cast bullets.
your probably not too interested in that load though.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
What if you only shoot 150 grain bullets in your other 308s and want to shoot 165s in this gun? Does anyone ever answer a question directly on AR any more.
Thanks to those with helpful suggestions!

Sorry, but, what works in one gun may not work in another. Regardless of barrel length, the powders I suggested are the most efficient in the 308.
I do not have specific loads for that bullet weight for you.

Sorry I couldn't help you further, but, I work up my loads, I don't take other peoples loads, as a rule.

Cheers.

3031 and 4064 have proven to be accurate in my 16" barreled .308 with 165-180 grain bullets.

Thanks guys. I load 4064 with good results in my other 308s with 150 grain bullets. I'll start with that powder and the 165 grain bullets.

I have several 308s from 16.5 to 26 in barrels.
My research told me to work up loads with (my choice) varget, rl 15, IMR or H 4895, Imr 4064, IMR 3031 or some vv powder. Lots of good options. I would/will try Sierra's 'accuracy'load or get a load from the accurate shooting website first. Both, very good sources. Don't forget to Check the reloading pages part of this site.

in a 20" Kreiger AR. This is not a hot load.

168HPBT Noslers AR-Comp 40gr 2520fps SD was 12.
WW primers

http://www.alliantpowder.com/r...erid=35&cartridge=80

My Micro Medallion likes 44 grains of Re15 and just about any 165 grain bullet. It is a 20" barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Ghubert: Sorry but my grumpiness was not directed to you. I appreciate your help.

No worries at all chief, just didn't know what exactly you were after.

I found some old data and The old hodgon book max of 45.5 grains of H4895 gave me 2650 fps in a 18" Parker Hale 308 if that helps.

RL15 was faster by 100 fps in that rifle and N140 slower.

Not a 20" barrel, but my son's Tikka with a 22" barrel loves 44-45gr of Varget behind 165gr bullets. Charge tailored to the particular bullet being used.

44gr was used behind 165gr North Fork Bonded Cores to take various PG in RSA a few years ago.

For my Rem 700 SPS Tac, 20" H-barrel
100 yards in about 1/2"
168gr Hornady Match BTHP
22.9gr 4895 IMR or Hodgen
currently using S&B primers
OAL is about 2.9"