Gentlemen,

A short time ago, I purchased a Ruger Scout. When I bought it, I bought 4 or 5 different factory loads, and all shot OK. My groups were less that perfect, but when I went to a 150g, soft tip Winchester, my groups went from so so to awesome.
I decided to start reloading my own, and I just can't seem to dial in on the right combination.
Does any one out there have a pet load for a Scout with a 16 1/2 barrel, or know how I can duplicate that Winchester load??

Mine loves Nosler's 165gr Accubond with a max load of Varget. Scary accurate. The 150gr AB is almost as accurate.

Edited to add:
Any good load with Sierra's 168gr Match King works pretty well too.

I use either Federal 165 Barnes triple Shock or some older loads (not sure if they still make them) Federal 165 Tropphy Bonded Bear Claw. Both shoot like they have eyes.

I have settled on 48gr of RL 15 and 150gr Partition Golds for a hunting load. I get sub MOA groups from a long and short Model 788s and a Tikka T3 lite weight.
My practice load is 45.5gr of TAC and the 150gr Bal Tip. Also shoots sub MOA in all 3 rifles.

To duplicate the winchester load get or borrow a copy of the winchester reloading catalogue. They will have their exact load receipes there. You may use that as a starting point and even fine tune from there. I also have had very good luck with the winchester soft point.

bbell,

I've looked at the Winchester catalog, and can't find a single thing pertaining to Win. factory loads. Am I missing something??

My Kimber Montana with a 20" barrel loaded with TAC 47gr. and a Nosler 150 gr. partition sparked by a Federal Gold Match 210 will get 2870 fps.

It will shoot just under 1", but I needed to shoot the three shots as fast as I can before the barrel heats up.

The fact is that you cannot EXACTLY copy the Win load as they use a bulk powder and you cannot get it. I have taken apart factory loads before and being the same on the box found different types of powder in different years made ammo of the same discription on the box. They load to a FPS and pressure and it varies as to which lot of powder they are using.

The best you can do is try to come close.

There are two loads that have worked great for me in the .308(not 16 1/2" barrel) with 150 grai bullets.

42 grains 8208, 2824 to 2856 fps.

43.5 grains 2230-C, 2732 to 2798 fps.
USE WITH CAUTION !! roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

hodgdons carry's winchester powder now.
they should show 748.
my 308 load is 42 grs of imr 4895 and a 150 gr bullet, has been since the 80's.
every now and then i try something else,but go right back.
generally it's the bullet/barell/velocity [node] combo that makes the accuracy difference,not the exact powder.

My favorite 308 load is a 165 gr Sierra HPBT, Nosler 165gr Partition, 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, or for paper a 168gr Sierra Matchking, over 39.5gr of IMR 3031.

I have never shot this load in any 308/7.62mm rifle, where it did not shoot pretty good, and in most rifle it shoots awsome.

For 150gr bullets I use 42gr of IMR 3031.

For a light deer hunting load use the 150 to 170gr bullets designed for the 30/30 over 37gr of IMR 3031.

I have had good luck with 3031, varget, and h4895 with the sierra 165, a hdy 165 IB, and a 155 (I think AMAX).

if the winchester 150 load works, then you mmay save time and trouble by trying to duplicate it using winchester bullets and 748. the win PP bullets are relatively cheap, and I have had good luck with them.