Advise on 16" .308 load

[NigelM]

Just about to start loading for a 16" .308.

2 loads required, possibly.

1. Woodland/Arable deer, mainly Fallow, Roe and munties, shots out to about 150 yds max, most well inside that.
2. Driven Boar

I would like to use Barnes bullets but not sure the velocity is going to be high enough to get proper expansion. I don't want excessive meat damage but do want to put them down quickly.

Perceived wisdom says that short barrels suffer significant velocity/energy drop with light for calibre bullets but heavy for calibre are much less effected. It also says to get the best from a Barnes you need to be pushing it along pretty quickly.

I'm leaning towards a 165 grain partition for both jobs. It will probably be travelling somewhere between 2500fps and 2600 fps at the muzzle and the partition should expand very effectively at those velocities at the ranges I will be shooting over.

I will need a fast burning powder to make sure it's all burnt in the short barrel length. Leaning towards starting with IMR4895 at the moment.

For those who are playing with such a rifle, what have you found works particularly well? Have you successfully used something like a 130 grain Barnes and if so what velocities have you achieved?

 

[Kiwi hunter]

Hi Nigel
I have no experience myself but a shortened rifle is very popular and commonly called a "bushpig" in NZ. Take a look at this thread.....
FishnHunt - New Zealands Famous Hunting and Fishing Forum Since 1995 - Show us your bush pig
Good luck
Hayden

 

[User00014]

Just about to start loading for a 16" .308.

2 loads required, possibly.

1. Woodland/Arable deer, mainly Fallow, Roe and munties, shots out to about 150 yds max, most well inside that.
2. Driven Boar

I would like to use Barnes bullets but not sure the velocity is going to be high enough to get proper expansion. I don't want excessive meat damage but do want to put them down quickly.

Perceived wisdom says that short barrels suffer significant velocity/energy drop with light for calibre bullets but heavy for calibre are much less effected. It also says to get the best from a Barnes you need to be pushing it along pretty quickly.

I'm leaning towards a 165 grain partition for both jobs. It will probably be travelling somewhere between 2500fps and 2600 fps at the muzzle and the partition should expand very effectively at those velocities at the ranges I will be shooting over.

I will need a fast burning powder to make sure it's all burnt in the short barrel length. Leaning towards starting with IMR4895 at the moment.

For those who are playing with such a rifle, what have you found works particularly well? Have you successfully used something like a 130 grain Barnes and if so what velocities have you achieved?

As you well know i am loading to the other end of the scale, the thing you are going to have to watch is pressure!

If i were you i would step down to 110gn Barnes (equal to 130gn standard bulletand will kill anything you would want to poke it at!) that way i am sure you will get the speed you require with out the pressure.

Its what a call proper re-loading, safely flying by the seat of you pants until you get it right, there is no real helpful load data on shortened barrels its just try and try again.

I have scrapped using Barnes bullets for my down loaded cartriges i have now opted for another non toxic bullet with a lower BC .

 

[tackb]

What is factory doing in your barrel ?

 

[NigelM]

What is factory doing in your barrel ?

Riflecraft have cut down the std Howa Sporter barrel.

 

[NigelM]

As you well know i am loading to the other end of the scale, the thing you are going to have to watch is pressure!

If i were you i would step down to 110gn Barnes (equal to 130gn standard bulletand will kill anything you would want to poke it at!) that way i am sure you will get the speed you require with out the pressure.

Its what a call proper re-loading, safely flying by the seat of you pants until you get it right, there is no real helpful load data on shortened barrels its just try and try again.

I have scrapped using Barnes bullets for my down loaded cartriges i have now opted for another non toxic bullet with a lower BC .

Thanks Lee.

We will have to compare where have got to before long.

Nigel

 

[NigelM]

Hi Nigel
I have no experience myself but a shortened rifle is very popular and commonly called a "bushpig" in NZ. Take a look at this thread.....
FishnHunt - New Zealands Famous Hunting and Fishing Forum Since 1995 - Show us your bush pig
Good luck
Hayden

I'm glad you sent the link.

I can't imagine what would have come up on the search engine if I had Googled "show us your bush pig"

 

[tackb]

I meant how is factory ammo performing in your 16" barrel?

 

[NigelM]

I meant how is factory ammo performing in your 16" barrel?

Sorry!!!

No idea, don't pick it up until next week when it gets back from the proof house. I don't plan on using any factory ammo as I enjoy my reloading. Just at the planning stage at the moment, hence the question.

 

[tackb]

Sorry!!!

No idea, don't pick it up until next week when it gets back from the proof house. I don't plan on using any factory ammo as I enjoy my reloading. Just at the planning stage at the moment, hence the question.

i would just load to factory specs to start and get a load that works then maybe if you feel the need do a bit of refining ?

 

[Selous]

I use 130 TTSX and h4895 in my 20 in 308. I think around 46g but would have to check. Superb load!!

 

[NigelM]

I use 130 TTSX and h4895 in my 20 in 308. I think around 46g but would have to check. Superb load!!

I don't suppose you have chronographed it have you?

 

[Paul 600]

I suppose you could have a 50 cm barrel and still be extremely compact, well that's if it's a Blaser.

 

[Kiwi hunter]

I'm glad you sent the link.

I can't imagine what would have come up on the search engine if I had Googled "show us your bush pig"

Exactly!!

ATB
Hayden

 

[GOMX]

My Ruger Scout 308 Sweetspot 100yd load data , tested with Jet-Z mod fitted ,all shoot sub 1" if i do my part except from the 200gn sub sonics 2-1/2" (1"1/4" 50yds)


Short Stiff Stainless Barrel 16.5" with a 1/10 Twist

Sub Sonic loads
Lapua 200gn FMJ ,Lapua Case ,Trail Boss. 10.2gns

Deer Loads
Nosler Spitzer 165gn soft point ,Federal case ,47gns Vihtavuori 150 ,primer cci


Hornady 110gn Soft Round Nose , Lapua case, Vihtavuori 130 -43gn primer cci


Hornady 110gn Soft Round Nose Lapua case H4350 -45gn primer cci


Fox
Hornady Vmax 110gn H4350 45g Lapua case , primer cci

Boar
i only tried two home loads , but the SAKO Hammerhead 220g are just simply outstanding so decided to stick with them..
Hope this helps ...

 

[NigelM]

My Ruger Scout 308 Sweetspot 100yd load data , tested with Jet-Z mod fitted ,all shoot sub 1" if i do my part except from the 200gn sub sonics 2-1/2" (1"1/4" 50yds)


Short Stiff Stainless Barrel 16.5" with a 1/10 Twist

Sub Sonic loads
Lapua 200gn FMJ ,Lapua Case ,Trail Boss. 10.2gns

Deer Loads
Nosler Spitzer 165gn soft point ,Federal case ,47gns Vihtavuori 150 ,primer cci


Hornady 110gn Soft Round Nose , Lapua case, Vihtavuori 130 -43gn primer cci


Hornady 110gn Soft Round Nose Lapua case H4350 -45gn primer cci


Fox
Hornady Vmax 110gn H4350 45g Lapua case , primer cci

Boar
i only tried two home loads , but the SAKO Hammerhead 220g are just simply outstanding so decided to stick with them..
Hope this helps ...

Perfect, thank you very much for that.

 

[Selous]

I don't suppose you have chronographed it have you?

No not yet but will report back when I do

 

[jthyttin]

Regarding the driven boar load with lighter bullets, you probably want to remember several countries have 9g/139gr minimum bullet weight. It's been mentioned on SD that minimum is 10g/155gr in some countries, but nothing definitive.

 

[woodmaster]

I've got some deer loads for my 18" sauer. I'll put them up later. I did a fair bit of searching and development to ensure complete burns, keep pressure sensible and velocities up. My preferance is 15o gr BT's or SST which perform very well. 165 bt's were very accurate and at the right sort of pressures. 180 were harder to get to speed without loading up fairly high and work you're shoulder a bit hard but would be fine on stags or on boar with plenty of adrenalin.
I'll dig the book out later.

 

[NigelM]

I've got some deer loads for my 18" sauer. I'll put them up later. I did a fair bit of searching and development to ensure complete burns, keep pressure sensible and velocities up. My preferance is 15o gr BT's or SST which perform very well. 165 bt's were very accurate and at the right sort of pressures. 180 were harder to get to speed without loading up fairly high and work you're shoulder a bit hard but would be fine on stags or on boar with plenty of adrenalin.
I'll dig the book out later.

Thanks for that, will be very useful.