A reloading queation

[Ogur]

I have bought some 165 grain 308 fox bullets, both target and hunting.

My plan is to hand load ammunition for my lever action. A large bit of the land my hunting team uses is moors, so I want to get rid of lead. Aside from that, some day regulations will most likely forbid lead useage alltogether.

I use my 308 for moose and brown bear mostly, but roedeer as well and the odd fox I might come across. Under the winter time I will be doing "toppjakt", where one goes out on skis and snipes grouse and capercaille from the treetops. People use non expanding rounds for that.

I am looking for reload data, but having a hard time finding any. I have Rhino 17 (URP) powder, but can't find any tables. The website has a few not officially tested loads.

Does anybody have a reloading manual with data for this powder/ bullet combination and can give me the name of it so I can buy it?

My plan is to also change out my 7x57R/12ga to lead free, so I can solo hunt with that one with a bith of a better conscience as well.

 

[finnbear270]

Ed at Edinburgh rifles has load data, & I believe also proofed loads, so I would be enquiring with him. Steve.

 

[finnbear270]

You may find you need to source some other powder too?

 

[Ogur]

I'm rather limited in what I can buy locally. The nearest firearms dealer is 180 kilometres away. One of the downsides of living in northern Sweden so to say

I have rhino 17 now. But if I can find a manual that lists a powder that is locally purchaseable that would work as well ofcourse.

 

[finnbear270]

Maybe a long weekend in Finland?, Vit powder. by the way, Welcome. Steve.

 

[JTO]

I have bought some 165 grain 308 fox bullets, both target and hunting.

The general feeling is that copper bullets have to be loaded for higher velocities than lead. Perhaps you should choose a lighter bullet for a .308

 

[8x57]

I've never come across Rhino 17 so I did a google search and what came up first of all (no pun intended) was a powder or pill for male enhancement. A further search suggested that it was a Norma powder. Have you thought of dropping Norma an email to see what they suggest.

 

[Ogur]

The general feeling is that copper bullets have to be loaded for higher velocities than lead. Perhaps you should choose a lighter bullet for a .308

I need to do some calculating on that. Only class 1 weapons may be used in moose/ bear hunting. A class 1 bullet is defined by being an expanding bullet of at least 9 grams, with at least 2700 J energy at 100 metres, or over 10 grams, 2000 J at 100 metres

 

[Ogur]

I've never come across Rhino 17 so I did a google search and what came up first of all (no pun intended) was a powder or pill for male enhancement. A further search suggested that it was a Norma powder. Have you thought of dropping Norma an email to see what they suggest.

It is the norma URP equivalent powder. Both produced by Bofors, but rhino seems to be sold in Sweden only.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Lead free is not as dangerous as popping birds out of the tree tops here in the UK, There is Murphys Law world wide though.
Good luck with trying to get Norma to answer, perhaps being written in Svensk will get you a response.

 

[Ogur]

Lead free is not as dangerous as popping birds out of the tree tops here in the UK, There is Murphys Law world wide though.
Good luck with trying to get Norma to answer, perhaps being written in Svensk will get you a response.

It is a typical northern Swedish hunting form. Where I hunt the nearest town/ hamlet is at least 30 km away, with mountains inbetween. The population density here is 0,8 persons per square km

 

[Steff]

It is the norma URP equivalent powder. Both produced by Bofors, but rhino seems to be sold in Sweden only.

I just quickly ran this through QuickLoad. It seems that URP is a bit on the slow side for the .308. And should you go with lighter bullets this will be even more true.



THIS IS AN INDICATION ONLY. PLEASE USE WITH CARE!!!!!

In any case, even if you go for lighter bullets such as 130 or 150 grs. you shouldn't have any problems meeting your class 1 requirements.

 

[Ogur]

I found GRTools here on the website. Seems a good way to compare different powders. URP is quite slow it seems. I'll look into some other ones and call around as to what's available.

With the 165 grain bullet I would need a muzzle velocity of 680m/s to have 2000 J left at 100 metres, not accounting for temperature/pressure.

I was tipped 165 grains by lever action shooters. They seem to prefer a bit heavier on big animals like moose and bear. Also, shots are rarely placed over 100/ 150 metres here.

 

[Steff]

I found GRTools here on the website. Seems a good way to compare different powders. URP is quite slow it seems. I'll look into some other ones and call around as to what's available.

With the 165 grain bullet I would need a muzzle velocity of 680m/s to have 2000 J left at 100 metres, not accounting for temperature/pressure.

I was tipped 165 grains by lever action shooters. They seem to prefer a bit heavier on big animals like moose and bear. Also, shots are rarely placed over 100/ 150 metres here.

680 m/s is nothing for a 165grs. bullet in the .308. If I was you I‘d give it a shot with your URP.

 

[Ogur]

I'll try a bit, but there's not much room for adjustment. I can go between 40 and 42 grains. Higher and I get press charges. Lower and I won't come up to the velocity.

680 m/s is nothing for a 165grs. bullet in the .308. If I was you I‘d give it a shot with your URP.

 

[Steff]

I'll try a bit, but there's not much room for adjustment. I can go between 40 and 42 grains. Higher and I get press charges. Lower and I won't come up to the velocity.

What‘s the problem with a compressed charge? I have found that 10% above max. capacity is no problem.
I‘m not saying URP is perfect for your purpose, but if this is what you have - it‘s not impossible.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

It is a typical northern Swedish hunting form. Where I hunt the nearest town/ hamlet is at least 30 km away, with mountains inbetween. The population density here is 0,8 persons per square km

Dankeval.