The Accurate Reloading Forums
.308 bullets

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28 November 2001, 05:53
hivelosity
.308 bullets
what bullet weight would you try in a .308 1:10, 24" barrel. Mauser action. Has anyone tried H-380 in their .308?
28 November 2001, 10:52
<Bill>
Why not give the old 180 grain Hornady a whril.

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www.rifleshooter.com

28 November 2001, 11:03
LE270
That rifle should work well with every bullet weight from 125 to 200 grains. If you're shooting for maximum accuracy, try any of the target bullets from Berger, Sierra, Hornady, or other bullet makers. H-380 should work well. WW748 and IMR 4064 are other powders that usually work well in the 308. You never know what bullet a particular rifle will perform best with until you try.
28 November 2001, 13:51
<jim k>
I'm using 49 gr. h 380 in l.c. brass, hornady 165 spbt rem 9/12 primers.Shot a 5x5 at 145 yds,droped him in his tracks,bullet expanded to 69 cal.
Jim
28 November 2001, 14:02
ricciardelli
H-380mworks great with 165 to 170 grain bullets and 185 to 190 grainers....
28 November 2001, 15:14
<Wolverine>
My Savage .308 with 1:10 twist and 26" tube likes 180 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. 168 gr Sierra MatchKings shoot nice, too.

[This message has been edited by Wolverine (edited 11-28-2001).]

28 November 2001, 18:30
RMiller
Of course depends on what your target is.
I've loaded 165 180 and 200 gr bullets in my 308 win.
28 November 2001, 18:52
<hotdog>
Sierra 150gr. game king. It is a lead point spitzer boat tail. Remington nickel cases so they are kept strictly for that rifle Winchester large rifle primers. 48grs. of H380. Seat your bullet for best depth. The day we shot it was 10to20MPH so I didn't try at 200yds, five shots with one flyer measured .075in. at one hundred yds. I think we all are cursed with the one flyer syndrome. But it still made my day! luck hotdog
28 November 2001, 20:13
Pete
Bullet weight and type to suit your own needs but I've just started load development for my .308.

So far, 49 gr of H380 behind a 143 gr BTFMJ gives me 1/2 inch groupings and 44 gr of BLC-2 behind 168 gr BTHP gives me touching holes.

185 gr? Not tested any yet but I've loaded 40 -45 gr of BLC2 and 42-47 gr of H380.

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tikka 3 barrels

29 November 2001, 12:10
hivelosity
Thanks for all the help. Tried the H380, 45,46,47 and 48 grains. 168gr. Sierra hpbt.
the 48 grain shoot the best. 4 shots touching, measured under 1/2" with the 5th. shoot as a flyer opened the group up to a little larger than 3/4". I think I can work with this and have a pretty good load.
Dave
11 December 2001, 10:07
<Reloader66>
The .308 cartridge has one flaw, it is a poor cartridge for the heavy weight bullets. I would use the 125 to 168 grain bullets. The 1 in 10" twist is best suited for the heavy bullets but the .308 case can't drive the heavier bullets to the velocities needed to be effective. It is more sensible to have a .308 with the 1 in 12" twist because of the limited case capacity. That twist will handle bullets up to 175 grs.
The .308 with the 1 in 12" twist using the 125 or 130 gr. bullet is one of the best deer getting combinations you can use. With a velocity at 2900 FPS that bullet weight will anchor deer with a shocking effect.
11 December 2001, 15:05
<sure-shot>
Reloader 66 hit the nail on the head so hard it bounced! The best compromise bullet weight for a 308 with a 10 twist is the 165-168gr. You may try the 150s also. I like a 12 twist in 308, 11 twist in 7mm08 and the 10 or 11 twist in the 243. Good luck, ss
12 December 2001, 06:13
<Wolverine>
I agree that powder capacity limits the .308 cartridge on heavy bullets, but I would hardly call it poor or ineffective. According to my ballistics program, my 180 gr ballistic tip loads stay supersonic past 1100 yards. That's effective enough for me.

That said, I believe that 168 grain bullets are optimal for most .308's.

12 December 2001, 09:38
Paul B
Rifle. Win. Mod. 70 in .308 Win. Bullet, 220 gr. Sierra RN. Powder, W-760, velocity, 2350 FPS group, 3/8 inch for 3 shots. Now! Who sez a .308 Win. with a 1 in 12 inch twist won't shoot? Should just about work as well as the old 175 gr. load in a 7X57 at 2300 FPS. Nuff said?
Paul B.
12 December 2001, 13:26
RiverRat
I have had excellent with IMR 4064 and the 155 gr. Palma bullet by Sierra, IMR 4895 military pulldown powder and the 168 gr MK, 748 works well with the 125 gr Nosler BT loaded toward the upper end. And yes they do work for deer. That load is my favorite coyote load bar none. And a good friend of mine has shot two Hart barrels out of his Sako using H380 and the 168 gr. MK. Also Varget works well with the 175 gr. MK, loaded upper end in my rifle.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight....RiverRat