Anyone out there use 180gr bullets in .308 winchester handloads? What velocities are you achieving?

I've been working on a load for a couple of weeks now. Haven't run any over the chronograph yet but I'm narrowing in on a load with 180grn Nosler Partitions with Reloader 15. The accuracy has been great and I should have some velocities when I get out to the range again which I'll send along.

Good Luck

180 grain Failsafe, 47/H380, 2550 fps from 20" Savage scout. Excellent results on Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok, etc.

Try a stiff load of Varget. It was made for the 308.

Another vote for VARGET

308 Win
180 Nosler Part
44.0 @ VARGET
CCI BR-2 Primers
Lapua or Norma Cases

This is my heavy game load for Moose and Bear.
Varget prefers CCI BR2 primers in my rifles, extemely accurate load.

RL15 bests Varget in my rifle by about 40 fps with all bullet weights... the new RL15 is temperature insensitive like Varget and is as or more accurate so it's my powder of choice. With a 19" bbl. I get 2,600 with 180's/RL15.

you can get a bit over 2600 FPS with a number of powders..Best for me have been WW-748, 4064 and RL-15 with the 180 bullet...

The .308 treds on the 06 coattails pretty darn close...

I can even get 2590 FPS in a Sav. m-99, that pretty good...

Factory ammo gets 2600 plus on my chronograph in the .308

Thanks all. I asked because the idea of building a .338-08 has crossed my mind. It seems that a 308 necked up to .338 should get at least as much, and probably a bit more velocity with the same weight bullet. I was guessing between 2700 and 2800 fps with a 180gr bullet. I think this would be an excellent bear/deer load, and with 210gr load, I think you could take anything in N america. Maybe the 338/284 would be better though. Put together in a Kimber 84M action, you'd have a nice little lightweight package.

If I was going to shoot 180gr. bullets I would just stay with .30 cal. I would use at least a 210gr in the 338 bore. I like a bullet with a high sectional density [SD] for big game.

Both Varget and Reloder 15 get my votes, as well. You just can't go wrong with those two in the .308. Try them both and see which one your rifle prefers.

I also noticed that Re15 was a bit faster than Varget, accuracy was good with both. I get 2630 out of my Savage 99 with 180 grain Hornady RN. Won't tell you the charge 'cause it's over max but I loaded the bullet out and don't see pressure signs.

NoCAL