308 Looking for more velocity?

Von

Well-Known Member
I have a Tika Varmint 308 with a 16" barrel. The load / head i am using at the moment is 150gr Hornady SST / 46g Vit N140 Powder, 2.650fps. It shoots a nice tight group with this load but falls of the cliff at 200yrds, is their faster burning powders out their? or can anybody point me in the right direction where to go regarding gaining more velocity?
 
Last edited:
2650 for that barrel length isn't bad, maybe try h335, magic for short barrelled 308 or 7-08.
Otherwise just hold the muzzle a bit up.....
No matter how fast the bullet you'll need to compensate at some distance.
In Germany some are winning competitions with only 41gr N140 in a 155/308. Just add a few clicks.
edi
 
I have a Tika Varmint 308 with a 16" barrel. The load / head i am using at the moment is 150gr Hornady SST / 46g Vit N140 Powder, 2.650fps. It shoots a nice tight group with this load but falls of the cliff at 200yrds, is their faster burning powders out their? or can anybody point me in the right direction where to go regarding gaining more velocity?

A reloading manual?? That 16" tube will be your downfall. Change your zero (try 3" high at 100M) and learn your trajectory.~Muir
 
I have a Tika Varmint 308 with a 16" barrel. The load / head i am using at the moment is 150gr Hornady SST / 46g Vit N140 Powder, 2.650fps. It shoots a nice tight group with this load but falls of the cliff at 200yrds, is their faster burning powders out their? or can anybody point me in the right direction where to go regarding gaining more velocity?

The T3 Varmint (short barrel) MT comes with a 510mm (20") barrel. It's not much shorter than the standard 570mm (22.3") version.

Have you cut it down?
 
Yes iv'e had it cut-down to 16" don't get me wrong i knew this would be the case with regards to lost velocity! I think "Muir's" reply is the way to go! (Change your zero (try 3" high at 100M) and learn your trajectory) or i may save up for a scope with tactical turrets?
 
46 grains of N140 is probably your maximum load. I use it on a 30 inch target barrel and get around 2920. It is the length of the barrel. Just set the sights a bit higher, it will still have tonnes of energy for any British species out to 600 yards plus.
 
You might also try Hodgdons BLC-2 as it works well in the .308. Just be aware that with the mod the muzzle flash might be something to behold.
 
Von,

have a look at the new Superperformance ammo loaded by Hornady, in .308 it's loaded with 150grn SST's and it's suppose to push them out at 3000fps from a standard 26inch barrel. I've bought a couple of boxes to try.

Jase.
 
Be warned. Hornady has had reported to them some pressure excursions with the Superformance ammo. ~Muir

(And...What is "standard" about a 26" barrel?? Most factory rifles these days are 22" and pressure gun standards are 24 inches.)
 
Well 26" used to be a pretty standard length however cost cutting takes it's toll and a 22" barrel is cheaper and quicker to make than a 26" so we the customers get shorter barrels foisted upon us whether we like it or not.

First it seems they chopped the barrels down on their light weight models :rolleyes: I have always wondered how much weight chopping say 2"-4" from a normal barrel profile actually saves. But then again on these light weights it was also fairly common to hollow out the bolt knob and just how much does that save.. Add them all up and not doubt it does reduce weight and what's more it's not a new idea.
 
I got more velocity with R15 than VIT N140 so it might be worth a try.
I dont think you could expect much more velocity than your getting though with that barrel length.
 
reloader 7 could be worth a try. its a good fast powder, h322 is also good. or even benchmark.

here is some data for them for 308 with 150 grain round. dont forget these figures are for 26 inch barrel

Powder/Velocity25002600270028002900
RE-734.4 35.7 37.1 38.4
IMR-303137.5 39.1 40.7 42.2 43.8
Benchmark37.7 39.3 40.9 42.5
H32235.9 37.5 39.1 40.7
AA-223036.0 38.1 40.2 42.2 44.3
74842.8 44.5 46.2 47.9
BL-C(2)43.6 45.2 46.8 48.4
H33539.5 40.9 42.2 43.6 44.9
TAC40.2 41.6 43.0
XMR-249539.4 41.1 42.7 44.4
IMR-489539.8 41.1 42.4 43.7
VARGET41.4 43.1 44.8
IMR-406439.1 40.7 42.3 43.9 45.5
IMR-432040.6 42.3 43.9 45.6 47.2
Viht N14039.9 41.5 43.1 44.7
RE-1540.6 42.0 43.4 44.8
H38043.4 45.2 46.9 48.7
76046.7 48.5 50.2
H41446.4 47.4 48.5 49.5
Viht N55043.6 45.1 46.6 48.1 49.6
IMR-435045.8 47.2
Energy/ft.lbs.20812251242826112801

Accuracy Load: Viht N140/ 43.1grs. 2700fps/ 2428ft. lbs.
Hunting Load: IMR-3031/ 43.8grs. 2900fps/ 2801ft. lbs.
 
Well 26" used to be a pretty standard length however cost cutting takes it's toll and a 22" barrel is cheaper and quicker to make than a 26" so we the customers get shorter barrels foisted upon us whether we like it or not.

First it seems they chopped the barrels down on their light weight models :rolleyes: I have always wondered how much weight chopping say 2"-4" from a normal barrel profile actually saves. But then again on these light weights it was also fairly common to hollow out the bolt knob and just how much does that save.. Add them all up and not doubt it does reduce weight and what's more it's not a new idea.

Weight isn't the factor with regard to manufacturing, it's the machinery. You can generally get a straighter, more accurate barrel when you reduce the length. And yes, cheaper. I like a 24" barrel on my rifles; as much for looks as anything else. The new 6.5 tube on my FN is a 24-incher and it makes for a pleasing look.

Frankly, I laugh when I read of someone cutting 2 or three inches off of their rifle "to save on weight". Really? Do some pushups, or maybe carry less lunch, and those few ounces won't be such a burden.~Muir
 
Iu
reloader 7 could be worth a try. its a good fast powder, h322 is also good. or even benchmark.

here is some data for them for 308 with 150 grain round. dont forget these figures are for 26 inch barreUh

Powder/Velocity25002600270028002900
RE-734.4 35.7 37.1 38.4
IMR-303137.5 39.1 40.7 42.2 43.8
Benchmark37.7 39.3 40.9 42.5
H32235.9 37.5 39.1 40.7
AA-223036.0 38.1 40.2 42.2 44.3
74842.8 44.5 46.2 47.9
BL-C(2)43.6 45.2 46.8 48.4
H33539.5 40.9 42.2 43.6 44.9
TAC40.2 41.6 43.0
XMR-249539.4 41.1 42.7 44.4
IMR-489539.8 41.1 42.4 43.7
VARGET41.4 43.1 44.8
IMR-406439.1 40.7 42.3 43.9 45.5
IMR-432040.6 42.3 43.9 45.6 47.2
Viht N14039.9 41.5 43.1 44.7
RE-1540.6 42.0 43.4 44.8
H38043.4 45.2 46.9 48.7
76046.7 48.5 50.2
H41446.4 47.4 48.5 49.5
Viht N55043.6 45.1 46.6 48.1 49.6
IMR-435045.8 47.2
Energy/ft.lbs.20812251242826112801

Accuracy Load: Viht N140/ 43.1grs. 2700fps/ 2428ft. lbs.
Hunting Load: IMR-3031/ 43.8grs. 2900fps/ 2801ft. lbs.

Interesting table. I use 44.5gr Varget with 150 Nosler BTs any get just about 2700fps from my Rem 700 VSSF. This is less than shown on the table, any guesses why? Could primer choice affect velocity?

Atb

Mark
 
Varget is a good powder I currently use a compressed load of Varget (45.5grans) to push a 150grn pill at around 2850-2900fps but would't recommend trying it in your own rifle with out working up to it as it above the books max for the powder and bullet weight plus it's a bit of a thumper as well as a fire breathing load at last light. rifle is a .308 VLS with a 26 inch barrel.

In fact for the extra 100 fps it's not worth trying to push the velocity envelope at the expense of your rifle. if you want extra velocity look at using a faster burning powder A friend of mine uses BL-(C2) with an SST on top seams to perform well.

Muir:- Re superperformance I don't understand what you mean e pressure excisions? do you mean that folks in the US are seeing signs of excess pressure in the hornady ammo?

Jason
 
Hi you could also drop your bullet weight to 125 softnose or b-tip it should speed up a bit and flat shooting for a shot barrel
 
Weight isn't the factor with regard to manufacturing, it's the machinery. You can generally get a straighter, more accurate barrel when you reduce the length. And yes, cheaper. I like a 24" barrel on my rifles; as much for looks as anything else. The new 6.5 tube on my FN is a 24-incher and it makes for a pleasing look.

Frankly, I laugh when I read of someone cutting 2 or three inches off of their rifle "to save on weight". Really? Do some pushups, or maybe carry less lunch, and those few ounces won't be such a burden.~Muir

My feeling as a moderator-user myself is that much of the lust for shorter barrels is to keep the overall length of the moderated rifle down. My moderators add 4" to the OAL, and they are about the shortest available.
 
Back
Top