Looking for a light recoiling 308 load to start a beginner plinking with her new rifle. I have a bunch of 130gr hollow points and 150gr BT and would like to load some up at around 2000fps?
Any powder/charge combos you have used for this?

H-4831 46 grains.....use either the 130 or 150 grain bullet with this load

A better starter load is 110 grain bullets with that same powder charge.

Velocities with all these bullets and that powder amount get you about 2,150'/sec. That's pretty mild!!!

Speer #12 has some reduced loads in the velocity range you specify but I don't have their latest data manual. There are some data here http://www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/308win_y.php but the loads are a little faster than you are looking for. The starting loads in Lyman 47 seem to generate about the same velocity. In the past I have loaded the 308 Winchester "Lite" using 300 Savage and 307 Winchester data but those loads also started faster than you are looking for. Good hunting!

Try 150s with 36 grains of IMR 3031

19 grs. Bluedot and a 150 gr. NBT. Very accurate, light report and recoil.

I prefer IMR's SR 4759 for reduced loads as the powder is made in a high bulk state for the purpose of reduced loads. This means that most loads will fill more than half the powder space and prevent double charging. Powders like Blue Dot will not do this.

Start with the 50% formula. It goes like this. If a cartridge holds about 48 grs of powder with a full charge (308) then substitute half of that or 24 grs or IMR's 4759 and a light bullet for the caliber such as the 125 gr bullet. In most cartridges this will make 2600 to 2800 fps.

The 125 gr bullets will work on deer sized game. So will powders like 3031 and 4895 too but they won't go as light as faster powders with good accuracy.

I've been truly amazed at the accuracy of the blue dot loads in the .308, and they are very mild. 18.5 gr seems to be a magic combo with both 110's and 165's. I haven't tried other weight bullets, but would imagine it would work as well. I haven't cronoed them either, but imagine they are in the 1800-2000 fps range.

I have played a lot with Blue Dot loads, and love them..... However for the guys who don't have the discipline at the reload bench and do worry about a double charge, I have been working with SR 4759. In the 243, 270, 444, and 30/06, 300 Win Mag, 338 Mag and 338/06 it has proven to be very accurate! Some problem rifles have had their groups tightened up by SR 4759 better than Blue Dot did on them!

That 130 grain bullet is a great choice....

Good luck with the project!

cheers
seafire

Try 37 grains of H4895 with a 130 grain Hornady Bullet. I've had good luck with this powder. I get loads in the 1" range with almost caliber to start. You can refine it from there. It wont give you match grade accuracy, but for offhand shooting practice or some informal target shooting its great. Velocity is around 2500 fps. Recoil is very light.

Elk Hunter;

I think several other guys can attest to the same thing, but Blue Dot and SR 4759 will out shoot for accuracy any day over the H 4895 loads... since Hodgdon owns IMR now, I wonder when they are going to put SR 4759 into their youth load info on their web site?

About any powder that will give you 2250 fps with a bullet if zeroed 3.5 inches high at 100 yds, it should be close to dead on at 200 yds and the 100 yd mark it is at its highest point, and is about 3.5 inches low at 225 to 240 yds....

So 2250 fps MV will give anyone a 200 yd dear load, for any deer... just you have to feel confident in the bullet weight you are using and the caliber you selected...

Check out most of the reload manuals trajectory charts and you will find the same info!

cheers to all
seafire

Thanks for the info guys!
I can always count on AR to get the answers.