I recently bought a kimber 84 in .308 winchester.
been playing with it quite abit, and have discoverd it seems to like the speer 150 grain flat base and IMR-4064.
Today I tired 20 rounds of the loads, with federal 210s in winchester brass and 47 grains of 4064.
10 of the loads were crimped and 10 were not.
(lee factory crimp die.)
My rifle showed a clear preference for the uncrimped 10, shooting an avarage of .85 for 3 3shot groups.
But I also decided to try 3 with all the other factors the same , but I poured an extra half grain of powder in and I got a almost perfect half an inch.
I think I have my deer load but just for kicks I will try the same data with a 150 grain hornady SST just cause I have a year till I hunt again.
I did'nt chrony this time (to cloudy) but I would be very suprised if I was not very neer the 2800 FPS I am looking for.
...tj3006

look a little futher down this page. and there are a lot of loads for your new .308

Oh yes there are lots of great loads for the .308.
But once I find the velocity is up t par I would be amazed to find a load that groups any better.
Remember the rifle only weighs about 6 lbs.
My other 2 .308 s are a pre 64 featherweight and a a pre 64 88. The featherweight likes IMR-4064 while the 88 likes RL-15.
...tj3006

Thomas try VV 140

These are 300 yard groups with 155 Lapua bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by 308Sako:
Thomas try VV 140

These are 300 yard groups with 155 Lapua bullets.

Sako, have you had any luck with VV140 and 168 gr. bullets? Or would you use a different powder?

Just wondering.

sorry for reposting the picture. Fantastic performance BTW.

quote:

Originally posted by Copidosoma:
sorry for reposting the picture. Fantastic performance BTW.

No one is perfect... 175 MK's at the same 300 yards:



I didn't want to steal Thomas's thread, so I hope he will excuse this incursion.

When this rifle was new all I shot was the Sierra 168 MK. At that time the rifle averaged .35 MOA for it's best groups. I have also used the 175 MK more recently with similiar results. But as age and a shoulder injury have made me seek less recoil I discovered the Sierra 155 Palma first and later the Lapua Scenar.

While the bench and gravity help to hold the rifle steady, wind or atmospheric conditions helped enormousily with the above picture. It was a blessed calm.

As to powders, I haven't even used all the recomended ones yet, and I have been loading the .308 since 1964! Starting with IMR 4064 and the 4895's, on to Varget and the VV series, 135, 140 and 540, and 550. Dabbled with H335, W 748 and 760 plus several 4350's.

It is my belief that a barrel/bullet combination has a particular powder that it will favor once the velocity accuracy node is discovered. I feel this is all a portion of the harmonic nature of a bullets path in the bore. Cleaner burning powders have an obvious edge in bore consistency, hence my desire to try the VV series first these days.

The above rifle has seen 1,800 - 168's, 800 - 175's, 800 Sierra 155's and 800 Lapua 155 Scenars. + assorted Nosler and Speer offerings for another few hundred. Round count approaches 4,500 when the above group was fired in a factory Reminton SS barrel.

My 2 .308 rifles share the same taste and differ only for a mere .3 gn in powder charge.



Rem 700 P shoots .5 MOA with 168 MK/N 140/ 41.2



Ruger 77 MkIIVT rebarrelled with Lothar Walther SS match bbl. achieves <.2 MOA when fed 168 MK/N 140/ 41.5

Andre, very well done.

Have you found VV 140 to be stable from lot to lot over the years?

Thanks

d

Actually, yes ! I reload for many calibers and to limit my powder inventory, I've about standardized on VV powders. I find then satisfactory on many accounts : local availability, accuracy, clean burning, uniformity. I presently use N 130, 133, 135, 140, 160 and have come to trust them to the point of opening a new cannister, pouring the fresh powder on top of what remains (same powder of course ) in the powder measure and resume handloading.

Andre, Thank you as I too agree on this observation. I have had superior results with several of the VV line, 130, 133, 135, 140, 540 & 165. The 165 in the 6 Rem with 107 Sierra's is quite amazing.

sorry I have not been back here to update for a while.
I finanly got the Chrony out and did some testing.
Now .308 sako, I gotta love that stuff you are doing with your remington.
But Lets keep in mind I am looking for hunting loads for this little 6 lb Kimber.
I have alredy decided that 47 grains of IMR-4064 under a speer 150 GR hot core was plenty acurate, with a .8 avarge for 3 shot groups at 100.
I upped the powder charge to 47.5 This time, but the accuracy fell off to just under an inch and a half.
But I did a batch of the 47 grain load .with a 150 grain sierra FB and they avaraged 1.02, and off sand bags I figure that is for practicle purposes just as good as the .80 with the speer , beacuese the point 22 diddference in group avarage is as likly shooter as load performance.
But The chrony was all good news as velocity from the speer load with 47.5 avaraged 2866 and the sierra with 47 grains 2852.
Guys, for a 6 LB hunting rifle , I think there is very little room for improvment with me at the trigger. 2850 and MOA is excelent as far as I am concerned,
My next project is to find a good load with a 165 grain bullet.
That means similar acuracy with a velocity of 2700, or so.
I have played with some 165s a little , enough to get some Idea of what the rifle might like.
it gasve me a couple real good groups with varget and a 165 grain hornady interlock FB, But I ran out of those Bullets.
So just cause I had some on hand I did up 15 each of 165 grain Hornady interlocked Boat tails and 165 gr remington corlocks over 45 grains of varget.
all these loads are with Wichester brass and federal 210 primers.
I will let you know what i learn !
...tj3006

Thomas, Thanks for allowing my transgressions.

For the 165 grain I strongly recomend that you stick with the stick (IMR 4064) Though the VV 140 or VV 540 would also be very acceptable I am sure. Somewhere between 42.5 and 44.5 should match the accuracy of the 150's and give you the use of the best one weight projectile for the .308 in the game fields.

Sako,
If by transgressions , you mean , mixing target loads and target rifles with my hunting load thread,
that is certainly ok with me.
Its all usfull information.
Its a little late for me to, as you put it, stay with IMR-4064 with the 165 grain bullets.
As I have loaded 15 rounds with Hornady 165 gr interlocked BTs and another 15 with a 165 grain remington corlocked over a decent charge of h-varget.
but If Varget does not prove satisfactory, I will follow your advice with my next batch.
I did shoot a few 165 grain handloads already, and I think initial impressions were that my little Kimber might have a preference for Varget in this weight of bullet.
But 1st impressions are often decieving.
...tj3006
.

Sako, I too have found that my Rem HB in 308 likes the 168 MK's as well as 150's and 155's. Is there a good (reasonable priced) source for the Lapua Scenars that you are shooting?
Peter.

I pickep up a 1,000 at Powder Valley, still a value outlet...

tj.....

Like André, I use alot of VV Powder and currently keep 130, 140, 160 & 560 in stock. I also have enough confidence in their consistancy to add the remainder of the previous can to the new one too.

I don't do much target shooting with the .308 Winchester; exclusively hunting loads and I've found VVN140 to superbly accurate. I prefer the Nosler BT's & Remington Bronze Points in 150 gr. for this cartridge.

After that IMR-4064 (when available here in Europe) followed by H-4895.

Well, guys,
I think I have prety well coverd myself for 150 grain loads.
I am getting better than MOA and 2850 FPS with both speer and sierra flat base game bullets.
At some point I might want to try somthing like a 150 grain partition but The standard cup and core type will do for now.
I have begun experimenting with 165s.
I got very good groups with a 165 grain Hornady interlock bt over varget.
And I just loaded somr of the same set up with IMR-4064 , for comparison.
I hope to get a chance to squeeze a few off this week.
While the load is alredy acurate enough I will need to get speeds of around 2750 or so to have them push the 150s out as a deer load.
I am not sure if i will attemt to work up a 180 grain load, as I might make my 2 very cool 06s into safe queens.
...tj3006

308sako:

Thanks for mentioning Powder Valley, I wasn't familiar with them. Prices seem quite good at first glance.

Gatogordo, My pleasure...

And Andre' may I also thank you as I shot today at 500 meters with a new lot of VV 140 and Sierra 77 MK's in my AR... sight setting the same and accuracy the same (1/4 MOA of vertical) and 1/2 MOA spread.

600 yard F class match tomorrow.

I'm delighted 308Sako, as I never had the opportunity to personally verify my statement at such a extendeed range.