Searching for .308 load data

[Antsinpants]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help. I’ve bought some 165gr nosler ballistic tip and I’ve got a tub of N150 but I can’t seem to find any load data for the combo anywhere. I’m quite new to reloading having only successfully worked a load up for my .223. There are some similar bullets on the vihtavuori web site but there are different loads for the same weight bullet so wanted to air on the side of caution and not just take a punt on one.

Thanks for any help you can give, it’s much appreciated.

 

[Littlekilmory]

Vihtavuori’s website will give you a good start… N150 is a good powder for this bullet weight in 308.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Yep - Viht is an excellent powder and their guide is first class so use their data for that bullet’s weight - always start with the minimum charge for that bullet weight and work up slowly!
If in doubt or unable to find precise info on COAL for that bullet start by seating your bullet to the depth of the calibre e.g. if a .308 seat the bullet by .308” then measure the COAL as your starting point for load development. Alternatively you can just measure your rifle’s chamber with an empty case and bullet and back off say 50 thou to give you a good safe starting point then tweak the COAL until you find the sweet spot but defo not touching the lands!!
Simples.

 

[Smellydog]

I understand it's slower than varget and close to h4350. If so don't worry about safety. It's probably very forgiving. I'd probably drop 44gn and see what happens but expect a compressed charge before it gets interesting.

 

[Antsinpants]

I understand it's slower than varget and close to h4350. If so don't worry about safety. It's probably very forgiving. I'd probably drop 44gn and see what happens but expect a compressed charge before it gets interesting.

Funny enough I spoke to a guy last night that said the same thing. With n150 I’d run out of case capacity so go with n140

 

[Lee the Gun]

Nosler give the following info for N150 with a 165-Grain Ballistic Tip.
Unfortunately, there's no mention of barrel length on their data page:

42-grains 2565 fps
44-grains 2671 fps
46-grains (MAX) 2777 fps

 

[Littlekilmory]

46 grains and 2777fps looks more like 30-06 data. Not at all likely in a 308 as it would be a heavily compressed charge.

 

[Lee the Gun]

 

[Smellydog]

46 grains and 2777fps looks more like 30-06 data. Not at all likely in a 308 as it would be a heavily compressed charge.

30-06 is in the 50gn plus.
Nothing wrong with heavily compressed charges.
I use to load 50gn h4895 in a 308 under a 110 gn bullet. The powder was to the top of the case.

 

[Sampo]

.308 Winchester - Load Data - Vihtavuori. I can see some load data for 168gr. You can also ask Vihtavuori to include the bullets you have as they do keep the database updated and accept request for bullets they don't have published within the load data. Do remember asking for Fox bullets in .243 which did appear in a few weeks time.

 

[Littlekilmory]

30-06 is in the 50gn plus.
Nothing wrong with heavily compressed charges.
I use to load 50gn h4895 in a 308 under a 110 gn bullet. The powder was to the top of the case.

Jings, both Quickload and Gordon’s show 15% compressed charges at 46grn - not to mention dangerous pressures (based on Lapua brass/ N150). To all accounts, heavily compressed charges are a bad idea.
The 44grn charge does everything you need and more.

 

[NullMac]

39.2 to 42.7 is the N150 data for the Hornady SST. It's a lead bullet so the data should be valid. COAL is 2.776". Decent starting point. Usual caveats apply.

 

[Muir]

I found this:

No mention of N150 but does have barrel length for loads. ~Muir

 

[Antsinpants]

I found this:
View attachment 305327
No mention of N150 but does have barrel length for loads. ~Muir

Yeah this is what I found. Thinking I might have to get some N140

 

[308tikka]

There is probably more load data for 308 win than any other chambering on the planet.

As advised, use the VV site as that is the powder you want to use.

 

[NullMac]

Yeah this is what I found. Thinking I might have to get some N140

No you are fine on N150, just use the min - max range I gave you above