reloading for 308

berg

Well-Known Member
I will be looking to reload my .308 in the near future so if anybody has any ideers? would be please to no .I was thinking 150gr pro hunters with imr4895 as that powder suits my 243 not looking for a fast round as when i was using 123gr sako sp i found they where tairing things apart.if any one has some redding dies to sell pm me
 
Tell us your rifle, how you use it, the game the ranges. Rather than us just giving you loads which work for other bullets or our rifles, it is likely someone has your exact rifle and uses it the same way, for an even more spot on answer.

Brass makes a difference, too. Generally, somewhere 42.5 to 44.0 grains of IMR-4895 with a 150-gr bullet and normal primer ( CCI-200, Rem 9, Federal 210), will do it. 2.80 inch length. Start at 40.0 grains and 2.80 inches.

In thicker brass, like military or Remington, 42.5 grains.
In lighter brass and/or if you seat the bullet out to 2.810, you might find 44.5 or 44.7 to be the charm.

So figure out what brass you will be working with, what primers you can get ( can you get Federal 210 GM?) and work around that, to begin.
 
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.308 is possibly the easiest calibre to reload for.

Try Viht N140 as it works out much cheaper, I use that under Sierra and Nosler 150gn heads. About 43-45grns of powder does the trick.
 
Tell us your rifle, how you use it, the game the ranges. Rather than us just giving you loads which work for other bullets or our rifles, it is likely someone has your exact rifle and uses it the same way, for an even more spot on answer.

Brass makes a difference, too. Generally, somewhere 42.5 to 44.0 grains of IMR-4895 with a 150-gr bullet and normal primer ( CCI-200, Rem 9, Federal 210), will do it. 2.80 inch length. Start at 40.0 grains and 2.80 inches.

In thicker brass, like military or Remington, 42.5 grains.
In lighter brass and/or if you seat the bullet out to 2.810, you might find 44.5 or 44.7 to be the charm.

So figure out what brass you will be working with, what primers you can get ( can you get Federal 210 GM?) and work around that, to begin.
tikka t3 lite woodland stalking everything other than sika sako brass cci primers
 
My rifle likes N140 or H4895, 150 grain head will do everything in woodland. Lots of folk get on well with 44 to 46g N140 with a 150 grain head. As always start low and work up
 
I use TR140 in my 7.62 target rifle. I imagine it would also work in .308 with 150gr bullets, and is a good slice cheaper than Viht N140.
 
I use TR140 in my 7.62 target rifle. I imagine it would also work in .308 with 150gr bullets, and is a good slice cheaper than Viht N140.
it does, 44-46 grns behing a 150grn prohunter works for me
 
:eek:

I have some of those in .308 factory loaded but not shot any deer with them yet,
Can you give any details please.
I just found them to be making a real mess ,someone told me they were going to fast .I used them for about six months or so then went up to 170 geco and I was getting a lot less meat damage, but a bit hard to get them a few weeks ago there should be more in now but I think as I have started loading for the 243 I might as well load the 308 . on the plus side if you are not worried about meat damage then they are quite flat and they would probably work better on the larger deer as the few fallow I shot with them weren't to bad ,but a lot of blood in the flank when shot in the shoulder much more than what I have been getting with the geco ,another plus is, I now have 200 + sako brass to load :D not much help try them and see let me no how you find them :tiphat:
 
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An excellent calibre 308 is easy to load and really versatile 125 /130 around the 3000fps ( using less powder than a 270 ) 165/168 at 2400 -2600 and sub sonic 190 ( just a bit of fun don't know what I am going to use them for or on ? ) all producing good results from a sako 1 in 11 twist, using vit 140, varget ( if you can get it ) and trailboss (sub sonic) with mostly nosler bullets I wont bore you with internet claims of cloverleaf groups or that with these loads you will be able to castrate a midge at 500 yards, work up some loads for your rifle I think you'll be surprised how accurate they can be, especially if you use Nosler bullets. I've shot muntjac with the Nosler 165 bt with less damage than with my 222. High velocity and light bullet tends to cause more damage as you found out!
knowitall
 
Lapua .308 is a little heavier, holds less powder, gets to pressure with less powder.

177.0 grain case, holds 55.85 grains H2O.

You don't have to load them all hot to be useful.

---- 155-gr -----------------
Duplicate the Lapua Palma Match ammunition with
155-gr Lapua Scenar BC = 0.508)
Lapua brass
45.2-gr Varget, RL-15 or N140
44.0 gr IMR-4895
Federal 210 Match or CCI BR-2 primer
2.80 inches ( regulation )
2,825 FPS in a 600mm / 24 inch barrel

45.6 gr IMR-4895 in a strong match gun, same brass and primers will get 2,900 to 3,000, depending on barrel length. I am not advising you to play around up there

But put a 150-gr Hornady SST or Sierra GK in there in place of the 155, drop the load a bit, because the 155 Palma has less friction by far.

----- Light load ------------------------
You don't need to hot-rod the light bullets to get performance. They are not made for hunting up close, anyway.

44.0 gr of 4895 will run a 125-gr Sierra or Nosler BT at 3,000 fps.
42.5 gr is better, a 200 yard match load for the M1A, at about 2,800 fps.

125gr BT, 45.2 VV-N140, Lapua case, 2.850", Rem #9.5 primer, 2810 FPS

125gr BT, 45.4 gr IMR 4895, Lapua case, 2.845", 210M primer, 2924 FPS

------ 150 gr -----------------------

Lapua again, CCI 200, Fed 210, Rem 9.5 primer
150-gr Sierra GK, 43.5 gr IMR-4895 (very accurate)
If you can, try seating it out to 3.00 or 3.05 and go up to 45.0 gr.


------ 165 or 168 --------------------
168-gr Sierra MK ( or Sierra or Hornady or Nosler 165 )
41.0 grains if IMR-4895
or
41.5 gr VV N-140
Lapua brass
Federal 210M primer
 
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Lapua .308 is a little heavier, holds less powder, gets to pressure with less powder.

177.0 grain case, holds 55.85 grains H2O.

You don't have to load them all hot to be useful.

---- 155-gr -----------------
Duplicate the Lapua Palma Match ammunition with
155-gr Lapua Scenar BC = 0.508)
Lapua brass
45.2-gr Varget, RL-15 or N140
44.0 gr IMR-4895
Federal 210 Match or CCI BR-2 primer
2.80 inches ( regulation )
2,825 FPS in a 600mm / 24 inch barrel

45.6 gr IMR-4895 in a strong match gun, same brass and primers will get 2,900 to 3,000, depending on barrel length. I am not advising you to play around up there

But put a 150-gr Hornady SST or Sierra GK in there in place of the 155, drop the load a bit, because the 155 Palma has less friction by far.

----- Light load ------------------------
You don't need to hot-rod the light bullets to get performance. They are not made for hunting up close, anyway.

44.0 gr of 4895 will run a 125-gr Sierra or Nosler BT at 3,000 fps.
42.5 gr is better, a 200 yard match load for the M1A, at about 2,800 fps.

125gr BT, 45.2 VV-N140, Lapua case, 2.850", Rem #9.5 primer, 2810 FPS

125gr BT, 45.4 gr IMR 4895, Lapua case, 2.845", 210M primer, 2924 FPS

------ 150 gr -----------------------

Lapua again, CCI 200, Fed 210, Rem 9.5 primer
150-gr Sierra GK, 43.5 gr IMR-4895 (very accurate)
If you can, try seating it out to 3.00 or 3.05 and go up to 45.0 gr.


------ 165 or 168 --------------------
168-gr Sierra MK ( or Sierra or Hornady or Nosler 165 )
41.0 grains if IMR-4895
or
41.5 gr VV N-140
Lapua brass
Federal 210M primer
wow thanks theres plenty to go at there :tiphat: I will let you know how I get on.
 
as when i was using 123gr sako sp i found they where tairing things apart.

Hi Berg.

I used sako 123gr for roe & hinds with very little meat damage.
The short barrel of the scout may of reduced the MV?

Cheers Aye
 
I don't know to much about that, all I know is that they were ripping things to bits, just to fast I think ,so I swapped for 170grn gecko much better
 
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