Sako Powerhead blade 308W 162gn - factory load data

Donkey Basher

Well-Known Member
Has anyone come across any factory load data for the above? - historically Sako used to publish the powder & weight used in their factory ammunition but I haven't been able to find any for the this cartridge. I did find data for the 165gn TTSX which confirmed use of N140 which is what I would expect the 162gn blade uses too but am looking for confirmation. I'm going to use some factory ammo to get dimensions for seating depth etc & can weigh the powder charge but it won't tell me what the powder is. Viht list 3 powders for this cartridge combination in their app but the weight range leaves a fairly large overlap so simply weighing the charge is unlikely to isolate the powder used in the factory ammo. Ultimately I'm going to chrono the factory ammo so can work back from that using quickload but it'd be nice to know the starting point just as a fall back / cross reference.

Cheers.
 
Stupid (maybe) question but is the specific powder as important as you generating the same velocity out of your rifle as the factory ammo?

I assume you wouldn't be able to guarantee the same batch of powder so there would be a variance anyway so maybe using the powder you suspect is correct and working a load to match the velocity should (assuming all other variables being the same) produce the same results?
 
Stupid (maybe) question but is the specific powder as important as you generating the same velocity out of your rifle as the factory ammo?

I assume you wouldn't be able to guarantee the same batch of powder so there would be a variance anyway so maybe using the powder you suspect is correct and working a load to match the velocity should (assuming all other variables being the same) produce the same results?
The intention is, assuming they perform adequately, to try to mimic the factory load & hence waste as little powder as possible going 'down the rabbit hole'.

This is what I have done in the past with 6mmBR & 6.5x47Lapua - cartridge manufacturers spend time & money getting their loads right so why waste more time & money trying to do your own thing!
 
OK then, chrono the factory MV with large enough sample size. Pull one factory load and measure powder weight. Assuming the powder looks like Vihtavuori, look at their data to see which powder gives the same velocity with that weight. Verify by loading and chronoing. Repeat the last two steps by going faster or slower powder, if the velocity was not the same in your rung and VV data.

Even if powder comes from Vihtavuori, it's not necessarily any of the grades they sell to general public for reloading.

Vihtavuori data lists 4 powders for 162gr Blade, and only compressed max load of N550 reaches the velocity that Sako states for factory ammo. So either factory load is compressed, Sako uses different pressures than VV, Sako uses canister grade VV powder, or Sako uses something else that VV powder.

 
In the olden days, when Sako and Lapua made shitty cup'n'core bullets, "going light" meant that your bullet could blow in moose shoulder, resulting in wounded moose, lot's of extra work and also wasted meat.

That resulted going up in weight, especially since almost only use for softpoint was moose hunting. Bullet design also got better, but for some reason Finnish bullet makers never produced bullets with true premium features. Also Finnish legislation favors higher weight bullet, by having lower energy requirements for them.

So when Sako started using Barnes bullets and Lapua came up with Naturalis, they didn't dare to use lower weights. Part of this probably is the hunting culture, moose is still the dominant large game and shots are very close for typical hunter. Like 20-30 meters. So in most cases there were no problems, and most people used the upgraded Hammerhead/Mega bullets anyway, since they were considerably cheaper. Naturalis had and has shitty BC, and Lapua went through several generations to get adequate expansion at distance.

Now that Sako came up with Blade, they still didn't dare go to appropriate weight (IMHO 150gr in 308). Also the BC is not the best. They have tested lower weights also (at least 120gr and 150gr) and it seems 150gr is available as 840m/s factory load even though it's not listed at Sako site. But apparently they've done decent job with design and the 162gr factory load expands as well or better than their previous Barnes offerings. Lower velocity also means the bullet is not so violent on those 20 meter shots.

Part of the reason to keep the weight up might be change in Finnish legislation. The weight limit for largest game was lowered to 115gr for non-lead bullets, and also the energy requirement was lowered. So if you offer something like 120gr 308 factory load, there will be uneducated people who go and use it on moose. There's some fallacy that weight retention equals penetration. But when lighter bullet expands the same or more than heavier, the momentum just isn't there.
 
Thanks jthyttin, interesting to read about the reasoning around the use of heavier bullets, I've wondered why the blades are heavier than the typical lead core when everyone else seems to have gone down a bullet weight for copper.

Your point about only N550 delivering the stated velocity of factory ammo is on the nose, however, we all know that reloading manuals have been becoming more & more conservative & it may well be that the same velocity can be achieved with a larger load of one or more of the other powders.
 
That’s HEAVY for a copper bullet in .308, can’t imagine it will expand well at much past 150.

Use and love the power head blade in 6.5, but 162g in .308 seems excessive
Yes it is but should still be ok.

Certainly out to 250m (using the data above for mv).

There are documented tests online of various copper bullets and their expansion characteristics. The Blade will give good expansion (~2x diameter) down to certainly 2100fps and maybe a bit less.

sako-powerhead-blade-162gr-308win-factory-cartridge-bullet-test
 
Thanks jthyttin, interesting to read about the reasoning around the use of heavier bullets, I've wondered why the blades are heavier than the typical lead core when everyone else seems to have gone down a bullet weight for copper.

Your point about only N550 delivering the stated velocity of factory ammo is on the nose, however, we all know that reloading manuals have been becoming more & more conservative & it may well be that the same velocity can be achieved with a larger load of one or more of the other powders.
Going down one bullet weight in Scandinavia are from 180gr C&C to 165gr in .308w I will probably go for a 150gr copper in my next load (Bear to roedeer).
 
I’ve been using the factory load for some time, I cannot fault it. Works well on everything from fox to large fallow in my experience, in fact none of them have complained of an overly heavy bullet.
 
I will probably go for a 150gr copper in my next load (Bear to roedeer).
IMHO it's the best weigh for 308, provided you choose a bullet with good BC. I shot 150gr E-Tip few years ago. The load was somewhat hot, 870m/s out of 20" barrel, but no pressure signs with Lapua brass.

150gr will match the velocity of 130gr at 300m or thereabouts, if you're concerned with expansion. But that's about the limit for both, if you want decent expansion from run-off-the-mill bullets that are not especially designed for lower velocities.

In addition to better penetration, bonus with 150gr is lower impact velocity at short ranges so it's easier on carcass.
 
Back
Top