I have a few different 30 cal bullets. Been loading for my bolt action 30-06 for years. Just trying to get a feel for what others have had good results with. I have been loading Nosler solid base boat tail 150 gr Ballistic tips for the 06. Use them for hunting deer size game with awesome results.

Looking for recommendations on what bullet weights work best in the 308 auto loader. Target and hunting. Thanks.

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Not so Free in the Free State

I'm no expert in this, but I gather that the .308 and the .30-06 are practically identical in performance up to the 165 grain bullet level. So it makes sense that you will get the results you want with the Nosler bullet that you are using now.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

" Looking for recommendations on what bullet weights work best in the 308 auto loader. Target and hunting."

I guess what I was asking is , Does the 5r rifling and twist rate, like a certain weight bullet better than others. I have the 150s , 168s, 180s and 200s . Or we can go lighter. Down to 110s.

I know I can load them all to go bang. Hoping to save a little time on R & D and a little lead. If some one with experience has the answer all ready.

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Not so Free in the Free State

Am I the only one who thinks Smith should have made a 10mm M&P pistol and used that name for it, instead of for the rifle?

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

It's not the same rifle as your M&P 10 but I have had excellent accuracy with a 150 grain Nosler Accubond in my Ruger Gunsight. BTW, the Ruger Gunsight features a 6R barrel with a 1:10 twist rate.

I've been using IMR4895 and 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips in my Model 99 for years. It's not the fastest load around, but the deer have never seemed to care.

Semi-autos work best with middle burn rate powders for the cartridge. Most powders with burn rates similar to the 4895's works very well in the .308 autos. I use 3031 behind a 168gr match bullet in my M1A. Again, not the fastest, but it serves it's purpose.

If you need max velocities, try Rl-15 or CFE223. They work, they are accurate, but I'd reserve the max loads for bolt guns.

OP, I load Sierra & Nosler 168gr BTHP behind 41gr IMR4064 with CCI primers for my M-14 and 16" & 20" AR-10s.

It's a bit milder, but I'm only concerned with accuracy to 500m while not taxing the rifles so much being autos have more moving parts under recoil.

IMO IMR4064 is the best powder for loading the 308. For deer size game I like a few bullets. I like a 165gr Sierra GameKing, a 168gr Nosler Ballistic Silvertip, a 165gr Speer Hot-Cor or a 165gr Remington Core-Lokt bullet. (I like the Sierra GameKing bullet best)

For thicker skinned game I prefer a premium bullet like the Nosler Partition, Nosler Accubond, Speer Grand Slam or Sierra Pro Hunter bullet. (I like the Nosler Partition best)

I know there are a lot of good bullet companies out there like Berger, Barnes, Lapua, Norma and Swift but I have never really used their products. There are only so many bullets you can realistically try. Availability and price is also a consideration. It's bad enough the Partition bullets cost ~$39/50 I really don't want to pay $58/50 for Swift bullets only to find out my rifle doesn't shoot them well.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Can't honestly answer your question as posed. Too limited with my M&P 10. I can say I've had pretty decent accuracy (~ 1 MOA @ 100) with my handloads of 4064 behind a Hornady 150 FMJ. Next up are Hornady 150 SP's and Sierra 165 HPBT's. Most folks use 168 & heavier match bullets in this rifle and it does fine from what I hear.

One hard lesson for my rifle - OAL means everything. Completely eliminated FTE's by keeping the 150 FMJ to 2.700". Well DUH - it's what the manual recommends Good luck!

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Webfarmer