HI ALL...Need some help...am having a devil of a time getting Nosler 165gr Partitions to shoot well in my Ed Brown Marine Sniper Rifle...24" KREIGER BBL....this rifle shoots Federal Factory 150 Ballistic tips into.6" Groups at 100yds....also Fed 168gr Match into .5" groups at 100yds...so I know its not the rifle....started with TAC Powder....went from 40gr. to 44gr...Nosler case and current production WW Large Rifle primers....the primers seemed to seat easy compared to the Federal 210 and F210 Match primers I have used in the past when loading Nosler cases for my 30/06.....ALL groups are from 1.2" to 1.4"...and the primers show flattening at 41gr and up...at 44gr they were very flat and it looked like I got some gas leakage halfway around the edge of the last round fired at 44.gr...before I try and BUY...a half dozen diff. powders, can anyone point me in the right direction...??? ALSO...I have been told that premium bbls. such as Kreiger...Lilja...Shilen..with their TIGHT dimensions will show more pressure than factory bbls...??? I have Viht. N140....IMR 4064...H4895 & IMR 4895...Also Have F210 & F210Match primers....Lapua Cases...Nosler Cases...Federal Match Cases...WHERE to begin..?????
Thanks to All...
Pete

Try Varget and/or RL15

My 2C,

Use your Lapua or Fed match cases- check length

Debur/uniform flash hole

Add your 210GM

Load your IMR 4064 45.5ish

(maybe less,--start lower , The partition seem to be less"compressible" than the match bullets IMO, getting a little more pressure/speed with less powder-IMO--some "tight bores" get good accuracy and velocity as low as 41.5 to 42 gr of 4064)

Play with your OAL (my guess--around 2.81+ in your bolt gun)

(Do you have a comparator to set length on the Ogive?)

(use a Competition die RCBS etc,
OR a Lee Collet Neck sizer--really a surprising die)

(Also , contact the company, Ed Brown will most likely share info on loads)

I've gone to Varget in most of my loads-- very consistent (and temp stable).

I have used this load with 165/168gr bullets in the 308 since the mid 1970's

I have never shot ANY 308 taht did not shoot this load pretty good, and in an accurate rifle it shoots as good as 168gr Federal Match.

I have used this load with 165 Nosler artitins in several rifles as well.

Try 39.5gr of IMR 3031.

That is not a warm load in most guns, [I use the same powder charge with 180gr bullets] But since you have seen high pressure signs, start with 38gr and work up.

IMR 4895, IMR 4064,Varget, and RL 15 are all great powders for the 308, but this IMR 3031 load has shot so well with 165/168gr bullets I have never seen a reason to change.

Sargeny, As great a hunting bullet as the Nosler Partition is, well, it's not the best target bullet. Sometimes an 1 1/4 is about all they will want to do. If I had a hard time getting them to shoot, and unless I was hunting Elk, Moose, or large African Plains game, I would load the 150-165gr Nosler Ballistic tips, or Accubonds. They are alot less fussy then the partitions.


But if you wish to stick with your on hand components, I go with Duggyboys suggested load.