Favorite .308 bullet weight and load

Still kinna new to 308 myself but I have had good luck with 150gr and a mild 44.5gr load of Varget (1/2"-1" groups depending on the bullet and seating depth). I had some weird pressure spike at 46gr (2.5 under max) that has kept me from pushing any super speeds with them, trying RL15 again seeing as I did not get any drastic spike just not the groups I was looking for. In 165gr I can run compressed loads of Big Game which is supposed to be hella fast, but my rifle refuses to group well with 165-168gr. Still working with 180s, found a fast accurate load but everyone keeps telling me it is overpressure despite being a published load so I won't repeat it here, trying a few slower burning powders next, I'll post something when I get them acting right.
I don't use match bullets but I have had my best results with Sierra GKs, Speer BTSP, and Accutip bullets thus far none of which has poor external ballistics.
The local range master has the same exact rifle you do and he says his shoots the best with 168gr Matchkings if that helps at all.

What do you consider long range? I shoot 125gr Speer TNT for short range (200yds) and 155's for 300-600yds. For long range, I'd go with the 155 or 175. The 168 is a great bullet but suffers against the wind.

165SST was a good round with 42.7gr of varget

I'm starting with IMR4895, Sierra matchking 168's and gameking 165 and 150's. still working on load development so I'm interested in what people have to post on this one.

Much prefer my '06s but do occasionally pick up an inferior shooter and launch a few---lol. For game it is hard to beat 150 grains but for distance I keep a few 168 match rounds loaded. Also have some specialty rounds for hard to stop targets--you know accubond type stuff of course.

For hunting, I use a Sierra 150 and a case full of IMR-4064. For targets, I have used 168, 175, and 190, all Sierra Match Kings over either 4064, Varget or 4895. There are many,many good 308 loads. So many in fact, that it will be hard to find a bad load. Stick with the powders in the burn range that I listed and enjoy your new rifle. Lightman

Hard to beat SMK 168s and IMR 4064. Work up load from Lee second edition, I am right in the middle of the load range and shooting 3/4" off bags at 100 yds. ymmv

DDawg,
I've a 10 FCP HS-Precision and have settled on 175 SMK over a 42.9 gr charge of Varget in a Winchester case, COAL 2.800", with CCI 200 primers. It routinely shoots 5 shot groups sub-MOA and and I've managed a few 5 shot groups less than .5 MOA.

155 gr bullet, 43 gr 4064, or 42 gr Varget.

Either should get you around 2600 fps.

168 gr. HPBT MatchKing, 46.0g blc2, CCI 34, neck sized, 2.75" COL. very, very accurate and consistent.

46gr varget, 168gr smk, cci br2, overall 2.810.

My match load is a 178gr A-MAX, Lapua brass, CCI 200 primer and 44.2gr of Reloder 15. Here's a 9-shot group at 100 yards shot off a bipod and a couple of shots at a LaRue reactive target at 802 yards in some stout wind. I had to dial in 1 mil for windage for those two shots ... about 28". The 168gr SMK is ok out to 600 yards but the 175gr SMK, 178gr A-MAX or 155gr Lapua Scenar are better if you want to shoot out to 1,000 yards.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H_7qhGjztQ

Before I rechambered my .308 bolt action into .260 Remington I was shooting 175 grain Sierra Matchkings with 43.6 grains of IMR 4895 in Nosler cases and federal 210M primers. Got good results out to 1000 yards and shot and F-class match with this load. I used the IMR 4895 so I could standardize powder (I also use it formy M1A loads). Now I only load .308 for my M1A. I go with 168 gr. Sierras behind 41.5 grains of IMR 4895. This is a tried and proven load for the M1A. Very accurate for that rifle but not a great load past 600 yards. 168 grain Sierras aren't a great bullet for 1000 yard shooting according to the experts. (Never personally tried though). Pressure is the limiting factor for an M1A and u could load hotter than that in your bolt gun to reach out there. Do your load workups and see what your rifle likes.

I've had good results with N140 anywhere around 43 grains 150 grain bullets federal 210m primers work best. Accuracy sub moa.

155 Lapua, Lapua brass, 46+ grains Varget.

I shoot a 30-06 much more than a .308 even for longer distances.

BUT, there are many who use a .308 for Palma match shoots and the distances are 800, 900 and 1000 yards. The Sierra 155gr Palma MatchKing bullet (Part #2156) is an outstanding bullet and if a different weight would be better for those distances in the .308 I'm sure Sierra would make it. Sierra has 2x 155gr MatchKing bullets but the Palma MatchKing is slightly longer with a BC of up to .504 whereas the other 155gr MatchKing (Part #2155) has a maximum BC of .450.

For my bolt action, I prefer a 180gr Hornady SST over a near max load of RL15- that has proven to be the absolute most accurate for me and my rifle.

It also throws 150'-s to 180's well over H4895. If I was hunting with it, and had only H4895- I would not consider myself undergunned in any way.

In my semi-auto .308,It prefers a 150 gr bullet on top of a mild load of h4895.

That could just be my wifes' preference transferring to the gun, however.

Who knew ?

DDawg said:

Thanks for the responses.. If got my Savage 10 FCP-K set up and got to shoot some factory loads. I love this rifle!

I managed to find some 168gr Sierra match kings in stock at Cabelas, and I have Varget, H4895, and IMR 4060 in stock so I'm gonna start here.

Thanks
DD

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Of the 3 powders you listed I really prefer IMR4064 but all 3 are good choices for the .308 without a doubt.

For powder its hard to beat Varget!

My skinny barrel hunting/bang around the woods 308 I use Varget and 150 grain Nosler BT.

It sounds like you aren't talking about hunting though! I've shot a lot of different 308 bullets in my rem 5r 308. My favorite is the 168 Nosler custom competition (copy of the Sierra match king, just cheaper). The 175, shot great also but there really is no accuracy in 600 yard shooting in my experience with my gun. I've shot them to 750 yards with great results. The 168's in my load go subsonic somewhere around 850 yards if I remember right. So if you want to shoot 1000 you would be better off going 175 As they have a better ballistic coefficient.

178 amax is another awesome one.

I primarily shoot the 168 Nosler CC's since I was able to get a couple 1000 ct bullet boxes at really good prices a couple years ago. Good luck with that now!

Had good luck with 155 Scenars and a near max load of Ramshot TAC in Lapua brass and CCI large rifle primers. Will buy some small rifle primer Lapua brass here soon to experiment with here.

Also 43.3 grains of RL15 and 175 SMK bullets in Lapua brass... now that is an accurate load.