Does anyone have any reloading information on the 309 with 125, 150, and 165gr bullets. I just purchased a rechambered 30 herrit 6-grove barrel that has been cut down to 12 inches and would like some more information from other sources to aid in finding a good deer and varmit loads. Thanks for your help.

I have had a 309 for 25 years and have a good deal of data.Send me your addy and I'll send you some. I may take me a while to compile it as I will be in the hospital for the next week, but I'll get around to it soon.

shortgun

Thanks shortgun, I hope your hospital stay goes well for you. You can e-mail me at Whelen35@yahoo.com

I will also send you what I have. My 309JDJ is my most used barrel when hunting. I have many others but I keep going back to it. It is a 14", 6 groove, w/TSOB mounts, Burris scope. This barrel has done everything I have expected and then some. With the 150grn Nosler Ballistic Tips you will be amazed at the accuracy and killing power. I have taken large (140+ lb) does in the OK panhandle at 250yds and a couple farther from solid rests and they all went down right there or a few steps. I don't burn the max loads and don't need to. I just shot my pistol and learned where it hit and went from there. A Ballistic Plex Burris scope is a very good investment on a long range barrel like the 309. I will be doing more testing on some 165 grn BT this fall maybe for an Elk Hunt.

Mike

Thanks mike,
Here in east central ND we have some large deer also, and I needed something larger than my 250 ssk savage for long range, and I have short range covered with my 7-tcu, and 45-70. You know, with twin girls, and all of the other needs of "life" I really did need a new gun to put food on the table. Do you think my wife will go for that one?

Whelen35 they {the wifes} are smarter than you think, SO on the gun issuse probably not. Mine likes to add up the cost of the hunts and hunting stuff and decides we could probably be eating pen raised bison instesd of deer meat.LOL

Gee I guess I am lucky, my bride of 28 years prefers Deer to Bison. On a good year I can even get her to go hunting with me. BUT that still does not get me out of hot water when I want / need a new Contender Barrel. For a while I got away with the "You know Honey, a new Contender Barrel costs a lot less than a complete new gun", but that line must be getting worn out so I have to come up with a new one.

SD Handgunner

I finally loaded up some test round for the 309. I like powders that can be thrown from a measure and done on a progressive press when I can. So in this case, I have worked up to a load of 49.1gr of BL-C(2) cci large rifle primers, and hornady 150gr sst bullets. After making shure this load was safe pressure wise, I started to zero my new nikon 2.5-8 scope. After a rough sight in, I shot my lase 5 shots into 1.5 inches @ 100yds shooting from shooting sticks and sitting with arms on knees. I will load up some more and see what speed we are working with. So far, I really like the 309jdj. Recoil is not bad at all, and was a real pleasure to shoot after pounding away with mt 45-70 most of the summer. I think the deer are soo going to tremble in fear come this fall.

If you get a chance, try this load. Someone gave it to me to try, and it's worked out "well". Never done so little load development for any of my guns.



(oh yeah, 100 yards)

Cas
What kinda speed are you getting out of that 309jdj load?

shortgun

Shortgun It says 2600 Fps on his target. I know for a fact that that load knocked the you know what out a coyote at 190 yards this past hunting season! It was impressive! Sorry to steal your thunder cas I just couldn't resist.

Rich
I guess I should look at the whole picture! I did not notice the barrel length either. That accounts for some of the velocity increase. My barrel is a 14 inch rechamber and that load would be a little to hot for it. That load is pretty much equal to 308 win loads I would think..sounds like a good one.
shortgun