Got a favorite 308 load?
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Not sure if you are looking for pure accuracy, or, a hunting load.
For accuracy, I haven't found anything more accurate than a Lapua 155 grain Scenar, in Lapua brass, with Varget behind them. I did use them for deer hunting for a couple of years, but, unless you hit bone, they don't have much expansion, being primarally a target bullet.
I have replaced the Lapua bullet, with a Combined Tecnology, ballistic silvertip, and although it isn't quite as accurate as the Lapua bullets, it is devastating on deer.
Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertip Hunting Bullets 30 Cal (308
BillyWayne
Member
I use 150g Sierra Gamekings for deer with 46g of Varget and Winchester primers. I get about a 5/8" group at 100 yards. Velocity averages about 2800fps. This is with a Remington SPS glass bedded in a Bell and Carlson stock with lapped lugs and a trigger pull of 2.5 pounds.
Mr Pokeyman
US Veteran
Is a 308 a good round for black bear?
If you are looking for an accuracy load....I use 168 Sierra MatchKings with 41.5 grains of 4895, a LC casing and Federal primer.....it replicates military M852 ammo and shoots VERY well in all of my .308's
If your rifle won't shoot this load it probably won't shoot well with anything.
Randy
If your rifle won't shoot this load it probably won't shoot well with anything.
Randy
I am looking for a deer hunting load, sorry I should have been more specific. I have had good results with Nosler bullets and Varget in the 7mm08. I have read that ball powders are best for the 308 but have not used them much in rifle loads.
788 Rem., 170 gr. Hornady flat point, 36 grs. IMR4895, 2000 FPS. Will put 3 shots in 9/16 at 100 yds and grandson has killed 11 deer in 12 shots. Works for him. Larry
kwselke
Member
My favorite .308 load is 46.1 grains of IMR-4064 under a 150 grain Sierra spire point boat tail. All three of my .308s like this load. I use WLR primers and several different brands of brass. IMR-4064 simply works in .308 Winchester.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I shoot a 30-06 but my shooting and reloading buddy shoots a 308.
He has used many powders over the years and likes 4895 and 4064. More recently he has been using Varget and now he's working on RL-15, all with 150gr bullets. If you want to try ball powders in the 308 there's nothing wrong with BL-C(2), W748 or AA2520.
Since you like Nosler bullets use them but my buddy uses a GameKing bullet since Deer are thin skinned and easy to kill. With a 150gr bullet he's charging 46.5gr RL-15.
He has used many powders over the years and likes 4895 and 4064. More recently he has been using Varget and now he's working on RL-15, all with 150gr bullets. If you want to try ball powders in the 308 there's nothing wrong with BL-C(2), W748 or AA2520.
Since you like Nosler bullets use them but my buddy uses a GameKing bullet since Deer are thin skinned and easy to kill. With a 150gr bullet he's charging 46.5gr RL-15.
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Is a 308 a good round
Mr. Pokeyman, Yes, .308 is a good round for Black Bear, Mulies, White Tail, Coyotes,etc. I use a Nosler 150gr. Partition Bullet, 50 gr. of 4895 and Federal or CCi primers. I also use Lake City brass when I can find it,or order brass that is primered from Remington. I shoot it in my Mod.700 with 1 1/4" groups at 200yds. Hope this Helps. I am new to this site, and am enjoying it immensely.
Mr. Pokeyman, Yes, .308 is a good round for Black Bear, Mulies, White Tail, Coyotes,etc. I use a Nosler 150gr. Partition Bullet, 50 gr. of 4895 and Federal or CCi primers. I also use Lake City brass when I can find it,or order brass that is primered from Remington. I shoot it in my Mod.700 with 1 1/4" groups at 200yds. Hope this Helps. I am new to this site, and am enjoying it immensely.
Lenny_D
Member
I have shot quite a few deer using a 150 grain Speer flat base on top of 45 grains of IMR 4064. It pushes the bullet somewhere near 2750 fps. Accurate out of several different makes of rifles and kills them cleanly. I've had no reason to change that load for over 20 years and don't have plans to.
Len
Len
rsrocket1
Member
I've loaded Hornady #3031 flat base soft point 150g bullets with 42g H335 for 2640 fps and 1 MOA from a 22" Remington 788. Funny thing is, 38g H335 gives me 2360 and still keeps 1 MOA with a lot less recoil. I tried loads anywhere from 36-43g and they all kept ~1 MOA, just the point of impact moved around and all groups were within 2.5 MOA of each other so for a deer rifle, it's plenty good. For plinking, less powder, less recoil and less wear on the bolt is better so 38.0g is fine for me.
Just a note, H335 is probably best used for 150g and lighter bullets although 168g Match bullets worked just fine. I like this powder because it serves an excellent powder for .223.
Varget is also an excellent powder for .308. You might need to run compressed for max velocity loads, but that powder is meant to be OK with compressed loads.
Just a note, H335 is probably best used for 150g and lighter bullets although 168g Match bullets worked just fine. I like this powder because it serves an excellent powder for .223.
Varget is also an excellent powder for .308. You might need to run compressed for max velocity loads, but that powder is meant to be OK with compressed loads.
bm51
Member
My .308 likes either 168 or 175 over 43.5 grains of varget. The 175s seem a little better out past 300 yards
A 30-30 150gr factory is around 2400fps and the 30/40 Krag had its 180gr bullet doing about the same velosity for a factory load.......both were king of the hill back in the Old days...........so you don't really beed maximum loads out of your 308 to take game cleanlt.
High speed 150gr bullets do a lot of damage to a deer if a rib or shoulder is hit. If slowed down to target speeds or a larger,slower bullet is used,very little meat is damaged and makes for an easier cleaning job...............unless you make head or neck shots.
High speed 150gr bullets do a lot of damage to a deer if a rib or shoulder is hit. If slowed down to target speeds or a larger,slower bullet is used,very little meat is damaged and makes for an easier cleaning job...............unless you make head or neck shots.
tatarica762
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I love reloading the 308!
150 FMJ or SGK + 44.1 grains of Varget + CCI primers on Hornady Match Brass = .5-75 inches at 100 yards (Howa 1500 308). (That's my hunting load; the 150 SGK, I use the FMJ for practice.
168 Hornady Amax + 41.9 grains of RE15 or 42.1 grains of Varget + CCI primers + Hornady Match Brass or Federal Brass. 2.865 OAL = under half an inch at 100 yards. (benched with 5 inch groups) 2 inches at 300 yards (prone+sling only). (Savage 10FP 308)
150 FMJ or SGK + 44.1 grains of Varget + CCI primers on Hornady Match Brass = .5-75 inches at 100 yards (Howa 1500 308). (That's my hunting load; the 150 SGK, I use the FMJ for practice.
168 Hornady Amax + 41.9 grains of RE15 or 42.1 grains of Varget + CCI primers + Hornady Match Brass or Federal Brass. 2.865 OAL = under half an inch at 100 yards. (benched with 5 inch groups) 2 inches at 300 yards (prone+sling only). (Savage 10FP 308)
tatarica762
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I'm converted to building a load using ladder or OWC (optimal weight charge) testing. You'll typically find 2 very good loads (one on the high/near max end and one on the lower/light end).
Some powder are also very forgiving. My favorite powder with the best groups are Varget but I was sold on Reloader 15 when I shot this group:
My little box of carefully loaded rounds to be used in a ladder test all spilled over so I didn't know which round was loaded with what load...so I just shoot all of them. The above group was a mix of different powder weights and they ALL fell within an inch (a little over an inch if you count the flyer)! That's how stable/good RE15 is; at least with my rifle.
Add that I was pretty upset and didn't really shoot my best; I was just having fun blowing up that ammo...i was surprised when I walked to the target 100 yards away and saw that 11 shot group.
Some powder are also very forgiving. My favorite powder with the best groups are Varget but I was sold on Reloader 15 when I shot this group:
My little box of carefully loaded rounds to be used in a ladder test all spilled over so I didn't know which round was loaded with what load...so I just shoot all of them. The above group was a mix of different powder weights and they ALL fell within an inch (a little over an inch if you count the flyer)! That's how stable/good RE15 is; at least with my rifle.
Add that I was pretty upset and didn't really shoot my best; I was just having fun blowing up that ammo...i was surprised when I walked to the target 100 yards away and saw that 11 shot group.
