308 Accuracy loads

Bluejay75

Bluejay75

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I’m primarily a hunter. I like the fact that I can reload ammo that usually comes out about twice as accurate as factory ammo. I won’t load a single load for one gun so these are loaded to my shortest throated rifles. All are less than 2.78 COAL.

My go to loads are 46 grains 748 and a 165 Grain Sierra Game King or Speer 165 BTSP.

Second would be 47 grains of 748 and almost any 150 grain jacketed bullet. Getting into extruded this load cycle as well.

All of these are sparked with WLRP. I am transitioning to magnum primers this season.

Share yours if you don’t mind.
 
A bit of both. Or better yet, the most accurate hunting loads I can mass produce. A 1 inch 10 shot group is perfectly acceptable.
 
Bluejay75 said:
A bit of both. Or better yet, the most accurate hunting loads I can mass produce. A 1 inch 10 shot group is perfectly acceptable.
Click to expand...
Silly question, why are you asking this on a forum? Have you not established a load by now?


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Glad you asked. I got a noticeable hang fire this past season. Made it a mission of mine to do a new set of work ups with extruded powder.
 
I only use 165-168 bullets, Varget or H4895 but TAC works great in .308 as well.
Absolutely love SGKs, as accurate as some match bullets and better than many polymer tip miracle hunting bullets. Drops em down just fine as well.
 
My 308 hunting loads:

150 SP, H335 43.3, 2.735 COAL
165 SP, LT-32, 36.4, 2.8
165 SP, H335, 36.8, 2.750

I have some half-done Varget loads for hunting rounds but I use the proven loads above.

Not criticizing, but I think you're chasing an unrealistic accuracy being 1MOA with hunting bullets.

The hangfire, yes, that's concerning. Magnum primers might help, but my hangfires are caused by poor (humid) loading, or improperly seated primers. Did you pull it to see if you could figure out anything?
 
Have you tried Dan Newberry's OCW method?
optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com

Recipes here

OCW Load Recipes... - Dan Newberry's OCW Load Development System

Dan Newberry OCW or Optimal Charge Weight Load Development method or system for handloading, reloading, bullets, brass, powder, primers, accurate handloads.
optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com

It's interesting to note that Newberry's 748 125gr 308 load extrapolated to 150 projects 47.93 as your accuracy node which isn't far off where you landed.

I've found it to be pretty good in general. I think one of the limiting factors for your goal will be your oal because seating depth can be a huge factor in accuracy.
 
Sasquatch said:
My 308 hunting loads:

150 SP, H335 43.3, 2.735 COAL
165 SP, LT-32, 36.4, 2.8
165 SP, H335, 36.8, 2.750

I have some half-done Varget loads for hunting rounds but I use the proven loads above.

Not criticizing, but I think you're chasing an unrealistic accuracy being 1MOA with hunting bullets.

The hangfire, yes, that's concerning. Magnum primers might help, but my hangfires are caused by poor (humid) loading, or improperly seated primers. Did you pull it to see if you could figure out anything?
Click to expand...
The ones that hung all fired. I would say 5 out of the 750 estimated shots. I have a few of those left +\- 250 rounds. I had contemplated pulling them all and recoup the 1.5 pounds of powder. Or just keep them as sighted and blasting ammo. They served me well. I started with 1000 rounds of that.
 
Bluejay75 said:
The ones that hung all fired. I would say 5 out of the 750 estimated shots. I have a few of those left +\- 250 rounds. I had contemplated pulling them all and recoup the 1.5 pounds of powder. Or just keep them as sighted and blasting ammo. They served me well. I started with 1000 rounds of that.
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How much hunting do you do? After I have my set loads, I make 20 rounds a season, sight it in at start of season, and have plenty left over at end...

If you're just using it for plinking, seems a waste of good hunting bullets.
 
That batch was built with Federal Fusion 150s. I got them as seconds 1100 of them. They were around 8-10 cents each. So I treated them as general shooting/ hunting ammo. Learning wind, zeroing guns, learning scopes etc.

This time around I’m loading with purpose.
 
I shot some loads over the chrono today and was surprised by the results. The charge was compressed in FC Military brass so I wanted to check and see if I had any pressure signs.

Load 43.5 grains of 3031, FC Military Brass, Hornady Interlock 150 JSP, seated to a couple thousandths off the lands (all the cannelure out of the case) WLRP.

This load shot an average over 10 rounds of 2863 FPS with an ES of 20 and SD of 11. This is from an 18.5 inch barrel. I thoroughly inspected the brass and had 2 ejector marks out of the ten casings. Best numbers I have ever chronod in 308.

Will test for Accuracy this Sunday at Wake County range. I have them loaded from 42-43.8.
 
Not me.
I only handloaded for a short time, mainly to learn how. Then life got in the way.... But I LOVED Varget, burns very clean too
 
Keep in mind, this was a specific tactical load designed for maximum accuracy, and was specific to that rifle.
It was specifically tailored to hit a 1" group at 300+ in heavy wind
I believe industry standard in 20/1000 of an inch with the ogive, but that rifle liked it tight.
 
I will add my $.02:

Varget as it is seems to be temperature tolerant, and Nosler pills.

Either Accubond for the tough ones, or BT for the weaker ones. BC's for both are great.

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk
 
Bluejay75 said:
I shot some loads over the chrono today and was surprised by the results. The charge was compressed in FC Military brass so I wanted to check and see if I had any pressure signs.

Load 43.5 grains of 3031, FC Military Brass, Hornady Interlock 150 JSP, seated to a couple thousandths off the lands (all the cannelure out of the case) WLRP.

This load shot an average over 10 rounds of 2863 FPS with an ES of 20 and SD of 11. This is from an 18.5 inch barrel. I thoroughly inspected the brass and had 2 ejector marks out of the ten casings. Best numbers I have ever chronod in 308.

Will test for Accuracy this Sunday at Wake County range. I have them loaded from 42-43.8.
Click to expand...

I do not hunt but target shoot a lot. My 308's are not where close to 3863 ft/sec. I usually use Varget when I have it then 3031, H335 and 748. With a 150 FMJ I can get < than 1 MOA at 100 yards and no problem hitting steel out to 525 yards. Usually running around 2,600 ft/sec out of a Savage Bolt Action.
 
KnotRight said:
I do not hunt but target shoot a lot. My 308's are not where close to 3863 ft/sec. I usually use Varget when I have it then 3031, H335 and 748. With a 150 FMJ I can get < than 1 MOA at 100 yards and no problem hitting steel out to 525 yards. Usually running around 2,600 ft/sec out of a Savage Bolt Action.
Click to expand...
I hope you don't get that 3863 fps!

I kid!



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I was shooting out of a 22” Braughton barrel.
5/1000 of an inch off the lands and grooves for the Ogive.
And I used a large muzzle brake- used to puss off anyone next to me but as Happy Gilmore said “He shouldn’t have been standing there”
 
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