Fast .308 Win. loads

[SRMohawk]

I was just at another forum looking up people's opinions on a new tactical rifle accessory by Badger Ordnance and came across a post wherein some guy was saying he found a .308 Win. load that could very accurately hurl 168-gr Sierra MKs 2850 fps out of a 26" barrel. It occurred to me that this is quite fast for a projectile this heavy given the subject case capacity, especially considering that accurate factory .308 Win. loadings incorporating projectiles of the same configuration and weight run 150-200 fps slower.

Anyone out there have an accurate (i.e. sub-0.5 MOA) load or loads that will safely achieve such high MVs?

This is pretty important to me, fellas, as I've never owned a rifle chambered for the subject cartridge but have come to believe that it behooves me to invest in having one built . . . clearly, something along the lines of an M40A-1 clone/ knock-off.

 

[Car Knocker]

Did the guy say whether that fast load was generating sane pressures?

 

[mc223]

Keyboard velocities don't show signs of pressure.

 

[ocabj]

I've been using 44.6gr Varget with a 175gr Sierra Match King with Lapua brass and a CCI BR2 primer in my 26" Savage factory barrel and it clocks 2775fps cold and 2825fps warm/hot. No pressure signs (no problems in extract, no flattened or pierced primers, etc).

BTW: Most match factory .308 175gr ammunition shoots around 2650 fps in a 24" barrel.

 

[USSR]

Presently running 170gr Lapua's out of LC Match brass at 2775fps. 168gr bullets can be run at 2800fps, depending upon the load and rifle.

Don

 

[db_tanker]

Jeez...I feel like an old grandma around here....only loads I get that fast out of a 26" bbl are a 147gr FMJ and 48gr of BLC2...gets me about 2900 FPS.

168 MK's I try to keep about 2600 FPS with 43gr of AA-2520.

I know a 308 likes a full powder load or close to it...but man you don't have to hot-rod it to get excellent results at the bussiness end.

No pressure signs and the cases come out smooth as glass.

Those loads used Federal brass and WLRM primers. I prefer to use a mag primer with ball powders and have always had good luck with them, especially the winchesters.

not responsible for those who use these loads...

D

 

[pvtschultz]

That's about 100 fps faster than Hodgdon lists for a 168 gr bullet. I know that he didn't do it with Varget as it gets quite compressed in the 308 at max loadings, but BL-C(2) will get it there with a little "over-loading"... and I am guessing at over 51,000 CUP at that. I personally have had better accuracy with less than max loadings out of my self-built 308 Win Mauser sporter.

 

[georgeduz]

this is why they have the 30-06,i hate pushing the 308 win.but it does tighten up your groups.

 

[Sunray]

"...an accurate (i.e. sub-0.5 MOA) load or loads..." The load is only part of the equation. The rifle has a great deal to do with accuracy too. A sub .5 MOA would require a very expensive target rifle to consistently give a group like that. Likely a benchrest rifle.
My old Lyman book shows that a max load of 748 BR runs at 2849 out of their 26" test barrel. 748BR is an old Winchester powder. Don't think it's available any more though.
I suspect the guy may be over loading a tick. Did he say what powder he used?

 

[SRMohawk]

This is interesting! Last week I was on the phone with one of the boys up at Sinclair International placing an order for more components and mentioned this to him. He insisted that some of them (the Sinclair people) are getting Lapua's 170-gr Lock Base projectile to achieve such velocity using Vitha Vuori's N550 powder. And he said it was a very accurate load, too!

Man, those Lock Base projectiles are tough, too. They were developed for killing people, so they work fairly well on medium-sized game animals (much better than match HPBTs at least).

 

[30Cal]

I would have to aske why would you need to push a 168 like that and what would you gain? Even if you safely get it up that fast, virtually every other match bullet out there will shoot flatter and drift less--at nominal velocities.

 

[.45man]

SRMohawk,

I have some great results using Berger VLDs, Hornady A-Max, and Sierra 168gr bullets. I have the load data and notes for you to check out HERE!!. Click on the .308 tab at the bottom.

The accuracy results are from 240 yards. You can see the rifle I used to shoot it HERE.. It is the Winchester Stealth Varmint rifle with a Leupold 8.5x25x40 scope on the far left.

All the best in your accuracy pursuit.

 

[Dave P]

If you want high vel loads, try some good 125 gr bullets.

 

[USSR]

I would have to aske why would you need to push a 168 like that and what would you gain? Even if you safely get it up that fast, virtually every other match bullet out there will shoot flatter and drift less--at nominal velocities.

+1. There are bullets out there that are better suited to LR shooting.

Don

 

[SRMohawk]

.

I would have to aske why would you need to push a 168 like that and what would you gain? Even if you safely get it up that fast, virtually every other match bullet out there will shoot flatter and drift less--at nominal velocities.

You are clealy NOT familiar with the Lapua Lock Base projectile! I've been shooting them for several years now in both my .300 WSM and .338 Lapua Magnum and when taking into account internal, external and terminal ballistics altogether, they've performed as well or better than anything I've tried with the exception of Sierra MKs.

 

[30Cal]

Not familiar?

The thread title and initial post lead me to believe we were talking about the Sierra 168gr out of a .308Win.

some guy was saying he found a .308 Win. load that could very accurately hurl 168-gr Sierra MKs 2850 fps out of a 26" barrel.

How'd we get to a Lapua bullet and a 300WSM?

 

[SRMohawk]

.30 cal.,
My apologies, brother! Guess I was being a bit of a jerk in the midst of all the excitement over .308 Win potential. 'Course, I tend to get that way when I get excited about something.

It's true, I was originally thinking of only the 168-gr Sierra MKs seein' as how they're the only match HPBT projectiles that I trust to be effective on live targets at long ranges. And it never occurred to me that I might try the 170-gr Lock Base in a .308 Win. (when I get one, that is) because it's a strange projectile in that it REALLY likes high velocities. Hearing otherwise from one of the boys at Sinclair surprised and delighted me. Especially seein' as how I can't even get 'em to shoot under 1.0 MOA in my .300 WSM until they've reached a MV of > 3150 fps. At that point, they dazzle!

But hey, if they wanna work at 2700 fps in a .308 Win., I'll be buying 'em by the case.