Please Share your favorite .308 win loads! For target and for hunting

I've read somewhere that more and more people are going to Varget for powder, any comments?

Here is a duplicate load of the Federal Gold Match.. 41.5 gr IMR4064.. 168 gr HPBT match king 2.800 COL.. try it... you can load it for less than the obligitory $1.25 per round.. HTH.. Les

Thanks Les!

I just picked the gun up today with new brass so I should be ready soon to try that out

150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over 43.5 grains of IMR 4064 has given me good results.

168 Sierra MK / N 140 / 41.5
These are 5-shot groups at 100 m.

Bugle, if you try varget, also try RL# 15 there has been a few guys that have liked it to .

6.5 SWEDE.

42.0 of RE-15 behind the Sierra #2200 HPBT MK
Fed. brass, Fed 210 Match primer. Cartridge OAL:2.850
Consistant 1/4 MOA out to 300 yards
Give it a try.

I have two 'standard' hunting loads that I always try first with any .308 that comes my way. They are:

180 Nosler Partition / 44 gr. IMR 4064 / WW brass / CCI-200

150 Nosler Partition / 47 gr. RL15 / WW brass / CCI-200

They're not benchrest loads, but both always work well for me and can work exceptionally well with a bit of minor tweaking to suit the particular rifle.

I have had good luck with all the powders listed here in one rifle or another. My currant .308 is a pre 64 featherweight. When it would,nt shoot RL-15 or Varget , I was redy to sell it.
But I decided to try IMR-4064 and it got much better. Then I tried WIN-748 and now it would be very hard to get that rifle out of my hands.
...tj3006

Thanks guys and keep them coming!

bugle,

here are several loads that have shot reasonably well out of my weatherby SVM.
180 gr. nosler ballistic tip over 40 gr IMR 4064, wlr primers, 2.825oal


165 gr sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail, 43 gr IMR 3031, 2.810 oal, wlr primer


165 gr sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail, 43 gr IMR 3031, 2.810 oal, wlr primer


150 gr sierra spitzer, 46 gr rl-15, 2.750 oal, fed 210m primer.


150 gr nosler ballistic silvertip, 46 gr RL-15, 2.830 oal fed 210 primer


I use lapua brass for my 308 reloads. Currently i have settled on the 150 gr sierra/46 gr rl-15 load as my go to load for hunting.
gwb

A maxed out load of VV 140 behind the Lapua 155 Scenar. Range was 300 yards, and no it was not windy!

Im heading out to get primers right now along with some 4064! 348 cases prepped and ready to go plus another 50 cases of brand new stuff ready to go. Woohoo next week will be fun as long as the wind isn't blowing

You chose wisely.
But Don't get the least bit discouraged if your first choice in powder or bullet does not please you.
And if the sierra bullet works good you are well set up for most game.
I just put a coat of tounge oil on the stock of my old 1953 vintage model 70 featherweight.
Its no collectors version as it has a recoil pad and I reddid the stock.
But It shoots real well.
I got my book out and a few good loads for this rifle are.
168 grain barnes tsx
46 grains W-748
Win case fed 210M primers
3 shot groups of.92 and .68.
3 over the chrony were
2773 , 2768 , 2763.
150 grain speer FB
48 grs IMR-4064
3 into .45 and .69.
No chrony on that one.
150 grain Coated fail safe ,
47.5 grains IMR-4064
3 into .95
3 into 1.10
2811 , 2847.
168 grain T-shock
46 grs IMR-4064.
3 into .79
2726.
All good game loads. that coated fail safe at roughly 2825 was not super acurate , but plenty good enough. I would like to try that load on a black bear !
...tj3006

I see a pattern. It starts with IMR ends with 4064. Great powder. RL 15 and H4895 also great choices. Any of those behind a Sierra Matchking or Prohunter.

I have a mod 70 coyote with 24" barrel my best loads are 46gr of VIT N140 with a 150gr SST COL 2.800
47gr of REL 15 with 150gr gameking

44gr of VIT N140 with a 167gr Lapua molycote HPBT
All with CCI primers

Bugle,

46 grains Varget pushing 150 gr bullets is a pretty good starting place.

I haven't done near enough with Varget and .308s yet. I have done a lot with it in 243, 270 and 30-06. I really like that it is very linear. It doesn't go too hot on you without plenty of warning and it seems not to be affected by temperature much if any.

It's easy to live with and the lighter charge weights you use with it mean a little less recoil and blast.

I like it enough that I buy it in 8 pounders now. For mid range bullet weights at respectable velocity and excellent accuracy it's hard to beat.

varget
h4895
re-15
win-748 all awesome powders 125,150,165 gr bullets shine.primers fed 210 210match or gm210m
or cci's BR-2 are Excellent. regards

125gr nosler bal.tip over 49.5gr Varget. great target load and also does an excellent job on Florida whitetails.

45gr of Varget and a 165 Nosler B-tip is doing really well out of the gun. Time to fine tune !

Thanks for all the load data guys and keep them coming!

Justin

Just another generic vote for Varget. I have been very pleased with this powder in the 308 with 150 to 168gr bullets.


Tim

One of my favorites for a number of years now has been a Fed 210 primer and 46 grains of Re-15 under a 150 grain Ballistic Tip. I get match-grade accuracy from a Savage 10 FP-LE2, and it has done very well in a number of other firearms as well.

While I have used most available commercial brass, lately I have switched to Nosler for its exceptional uniformity. For me, it ranks quite close to Lapua.

hi i use the 308 for varminting i use 47 grains n133 with 110 vmax 3200 fps
also 45 grains varget 125 btips 3120 fps

Not sure of the posted accurate load in Sierra's manual today, but for a long time the preferred powder was IMR4064 for most match loads in 308. As I am sure you are aware they have a very extensive lab for such work and used their suggested loads for long range shooting for a number of years and it does indeed work very well.

steyrman2, what kind of accuracy are you getting with your load for 110 grain bullets? I have a supply of N133.
Peter.

hi peter is great im sighting in at 150 yards and it shoots 1" groups and at 300 yards around 2" i have used it on sika deer with good results along with foxes and rabbits out to 500 yards we shot last summer 5 " groups at 500 yards with ease

I thought I would share some very recent experence I've had loading for a .New , .308.
Actually it is only new to me and was made by winchester in 1960.
Its a model 88 lever action. On the medium bore page there is a picture with my 1953 model 70.
I bought it about 3 weeks ago at a local shop. It came with a bushnell Scope chief 2.5X8.
Not a bad scope at all, I just might leave it on .
The day after I bought the rifle I took it to a range with several hand loads.
One shot to make sure I was on paper,
And my 1st 3 shot group of the bench at 100 was .585. That was with a 165 grain Hot core under 45 grains of RL-15.
I had 2 more decent grops with that load.
Nothing worse than 1.125.
the 2nd load was with a 150 grain CT coated fail safe. Over 47 grains same powder.
Best group was .860 and the other 2 right around 1.25.
The last load was a 180 grain RN sierra.
I did,nt right down the powder, but they shot decently but not as good as the pointed bullets.
Then last week 'i loaded some more this time using IMR-4064 in all loads.
I was already very happy with the rifle, but powder switch was a good move.
1st group with a 165 grain hornady flat base over 47 grains .562 and the 2nd .606.
I choked on the 3rd group but 2 were touching before I pulled one.
That load should be scooting along prety fast and definatly had some punch at the other end. Not bad, I rather like it.
The 168 grain tsx with 43 grains was about what I would expect a 47 year old lever action rifle to shoot , with groups in the 1.50 range.
After the other groups it was a bit of a disapointment, but It would make a decnt elk load. I might try it again with a stiffer charge, it just might shrink the groups.
The rifle did not like the 180 grain partitions at all, with groups just under 3 inches.
My Next experiment will be one of my favorite powders for my model 70. W-748.
Already loaded some 150 grain Hornady Boat tails, 150 grain coated fail safes, 150 grain partitions,
and with W-760 180 grain sierras.
I must say that this old model 88 is a hoot !
Very very happy with the way it shot the 165 grain Hornady flat base,
Really can't think of a better all around bullet for the .308 , and with groups at less the .75 there is not an animal in Oregon I would not be vary well suited to hunt.(except at the ZOO, but its hard to get a tag for that unit.)
The .308 is great !
...tj3006
And at range of 300 yards !

cci br-2
46.2 grains of varget
Barnes 168 grn blue moly coats
2.825 col
2710 fps from a 22" bll
.85 MOA
Hornady brass

All purpose hunting load

anyone have a source for a max load of RL-15 behind a 165 or 168 gr bullet (HPBT)? The alliant website is a bit slim on reloading info. Just wondering what people find as a limit (usual caveats as far as "it works in MY rifle apply of course)

quote:

Originally posted by Copidosoma:
anyone have a source for a max load of RL-15 behind a 165 or 168 gr bullet (HPBT)? The alliant website is a bit slim on reloading info. Just wondering what people find as a limit (usual caveats as far as "it works in MY rifle apply of course)

Hornady 7th edition shows 165-168 grain bullets, Reloader 15:
Start- 35.2gr, 2100 fps.
Max- 44.3gr, 2600 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by steyrman2:
hi i use the 308 for varminting i use 47 grains n133 with 110 vmax 3200 fps
also 45 grains varget 125 btips 3120 fps

Have you ever tried H414 with the 110 grain vmax heads? I am just starting into reloading and am in the north so there is a lot of paperwork as I'm sure you know! This somewhat limits scope to try different powders etc. so H414 is what I've got no matter how good, bad or indifferent it may be. I'm just starting to develop a load for plinking with the vmax heads. Not looking for max velocity as it will only be used at 100 yards so interested if you have tried this powder.

quote:

Originally posted by bja105:

quote:

Originally posted by Copidosoma:
anyone have a source for a max load of RL-15 behind a 165 or 168 gr bullet (HPBT)? The alliant website is a bit slim on reloading info. Just wondering what people find as a limit (usual caveats as far as "it works in MY rifle apply of course)

Hornady 7th edition shows 165-168 grain bullets, Reloader 15:
Start- 35.2gr, 2100 fps.
Max- 44.3gr, 2600 fps.

Thank you very much.
It is surprising how many "45 gr. of RL15 for a 165 gr bullet" load recommendations there are floating around out there with no mention of the max load. Typical.

Lots of variation out there. Sierra lists 43.1 as max. 2700 fps too.


man I need to go buy a chronograph.

hi caorach sorry for not getting back to no broadband here anyway yes i have tryed h414 it was abit slower than n133 and varget but i was happy with results i loaded down a bit and up to 55.5 grains good one hole groups at 100 yards if i had no other powder i would use it but n133 was a lot better alround

Having recently picked up a Kimber 8400 Tactical in .308 I too was looking for some favorite loads. Thanks fellas!

DEC - The 44gr Varget with 165gr Ballistic tip or 165gr Accubond has been a very accurate combination not only in my savage but in a friends Kimber. You should not be disappointed!


Good luck and good shooting


Justin

I'm getting best results with IMR 3031 behind 150 grains Sierras and Accubonds.
Another positive aspect is, that I no longer have to settle for compressed loads, which I absolutely hate.

quote:

Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
Please Share your favorite .308 win loads! For target and for hunting

I've read somewhere that more and more people are going to Varget for powder, any comments?

These have worked well for me...

.308 Loads

John

Here's some more. My rifle LOVES 150gr Game Kings.

Note: The OAL shown is from the case head to the bullet ogive using a Sinclair bullet comparitor.

John

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
I must say that this old model 88 is a hoot !

I had a Win 88 in .243 a few years back, and that gun would really shoot as well. It wasn't unusual to get 3/8" at 100 yards with it, using 70 grain Sierra MatchKings.

Winchester made those rifles really well!

You might want to try your .308 out with some 168-grain MatchKings too.

I shoot an FN PBR with the 24 in barrel and get groups of 3/4 in at 100 yds using hornady Amax 168 gr bullets with 42.5 grains of IMR 4895 and winchester large rifle primers. Be aware that some loadbooks will call this a max load for the IMR 4895 powder ;but it is not a compressed load.