I wondered if any of you had a "pet" load for
.308 Winchester that you would like to share.
Price and availability is no problem, I personally prefer Vihtavuori(Finnish),Vectan(French), Ramshot(Belgian), and IMR (USA,USA!)
but will buy any other powder you specify is "good". Thanks... BTW, has anybody ever used
Somchem powder? One of my hobbies is finding new and "exotic" powders to use in my toys, er, tools!

Reloader-1

[ 12-24-2002, 10:39: Message edited by: reloader-1 ]

reloader-1 A load I have been using for about 26 years, is a 165gr. bullet with 39.5gr of IMR 3031. This is a mild load but has shot good in every type of 308 from a bolt action match, sniper type, M1-A, H&K 91, to a Savage model 99. I have killed a lot of game with this load. I usually used the Sierra 165gr. Hollow point Gameking, but I have also used Nosler Partitions, and Nosler Ballistic Tips. It is a good load for 168 Matchkings in the Semi-auto Match M1-A's to 600 yards. I have also used this same 39.5gr. with 180gr bullets in bolt guns. I used these same loads for High Power Silhouette
My 1000 yard load is 42.5 gr. of Varget with a Berger 185 VLD. These bullets are seated out long and are single load only.
I have also used a 150 gr. Soft point with 42gr of IMR 3031 to duplicate Military "ball" type ammo for rifles that liked 150 gr bullets better.
If I was going to develop a top speed hunting load in a bolt action 308 I think I would try RL-15.
There are a lot of newer powders out now that were not avialable when I developed my 165gr. hunting load, but it has worked so well I haven't found a reason to change.

47/H380 behind the Failsafe 180 worked very well on large Wildebeest and Gemsbok. On both, it broke the near shoulder and penetrated completely with lots of vital damage. Velocity is 2550 in my 20" barrel Savage scout.

Howdy, nothing exotic, but this load shot sub moa
in three different pieces. A M700 adl,Savage 11,
and a M98 w/Adams&Bennet bbl.
Win cases-CCI mag primer-bulk remington 150gr psp-
48grs Win 748. Not MAX, but YMMV.

Laters

I won a new .308 blr in a raffle. It didn't seem to like anything. I tried ballistic tips, sst's, sierra bt's. The bullet it loves is 150 hornady spire points. It loved 45.5 of RE12 under that bullet. Gosh, I always love it when a gun likes $.12 bullets and normal powder!! (although re 12 is no longer made so it may satisfy your desire for something unusual!!)

kraky Just for fun I wish you would try this load in your BLR: Sierra 165gr. Hollow Point Boattail Gameking over 39.5 gr. of IMR 3031 with a CCI standard or bench rest primer.
I have never seen a 308 that did not shoot this load pretty good. Works well with the 165gr. Nosler Partition and Ballistic Tip also.

Like Mr. Atkinson said on this forum, the 308 is a gentleman with bullets and loads. Here are some that work in a several rifles around my area.

125 Speer TNT or Nosler BT
51.1 to 51.5 gr. of 748
CCI BR-2 primer
Seat at 2.80

155 gr. Sierra Palma MK
46.5 gr. of IMR 4064
CCI BR-2 primer
Seated at 2.825

165 Sierra GK
47.1 gr. of N550
Seated at 2.750

168 gr. Sierra MK
40.7 gr. of IMR 4895
Seated .003 to .005 into the rifling

175 g. Sierra MK
48.6 gr. of H4350 or 42.6 gr. of RL 15
Fed. 210M primer
Seated at .003 to .005 off the rifling

Hope this helps some.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight.....RiverRat

At the momment my favorite loading is 180g Barnes XLCs over 44.5 g of Varget(max load so work up slowly). I am getting about 2630 fps out of a 20" barrel. I will be working up 168g loadings next I think, and maybe 150s but I am not sure about that loading in my rifle.

Oh with me shooting, I am getting about 1-1.2 MOA @ 100yds. I am sure the accuracy is much better than I am at shooting the load thus far.

[ 12-26-2002, 11:11: Message edited by: Dave In LB ]

43gr of IMR4895 and a 165gr Barnes XLC-BT seated .o35 off the lands and using a CCI 200 primer gives me 2770fps and sub MOA accuracy out of a 18 1/2 inch barrel.

My Pet Loads:

165 Nosler BT or Sierra 165 GK

IMR 4895 @ 43.6 or IMR 4064 @ 43.5
Fed 210GM Primers
Fed GM Brass
COL 2.80"

These are old Palma Match loads, still hard to beat, tried other powders but keep coming back to the IMR 4895 for my favorite in the 308 Win.

Try 42.5 grs. of IMR4064 with a Sierra 175gr. MK or 43grs. of AA4064 with same bullet. Shoot 3" groups all day with these loads at 550yds.
Jeff

Have had great accuracy with Barnes 130 grain XBT, BLC-2 powder, WLR or Rem 9 1/2 Magnum primer in Remington case. Powder charge around 50 grains. Chrony measured 3050FPS

Your mileage may vary.

My pet load is 46gr. RL-15 under a 150 ballistic tip. 2890fps out of a 24 inch barrel.

Lapua mega 185g bullet, Vihtavuori n150 44g, it�s a bit slow but a nice moose round, Shot four with it this year.