Loading for .308 Win

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I think you are onto a good start. I too tried 4064 with differing results while others swear by it. If your hunting is similar to mine, you got it covered. Every deer I ever shot around here was 50 yards or less. Yet I know the dope of my rifle out to past 300 yards. Not sure why I don’t just sight in at 50 and call it a day. If you want to try AA2520 or IMR4895 in the future. I can share some.
 
dh1633pm said:
I think you are onto a good start. I too tried 4064 with differing results while others swear by it. If your hunting is similar to mine, you got it covered. Every deer I ever shot around here was 50 yards or less. Yet I know the dope of my rifle out to past 300 yards. Not sure why I don’t just sight in at 50 and call it a day. If you want to try AA2520 or IMR4895 in the future. I can share some.
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I’ll get a chance to shoot the 46.0 grain loads again before the season and I’ll see what happens then.
I will probably go with this load for the season as it shows (so far) that I can be within the kill zone out to 300.

Thank you for the powder offer, it is greatly appreciated! For now I think I am good.
Good luck this hunting season it’s coming up fast!
 
South Prairie Jim said:
Well now that I’ve opened my big mouth. Your bottom row of groups does somewhat display centers on the same vertical plane, ( note the center line on the target) so that is the concept. Make no mistake about that however your best to ensure repeatability at greater distances and that’s where the load starts moving as noted on the last targets.
I may be all wet but that’s what I see.. I would still go back and review the 44. area
View attachment 1101974
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I reread your last post.
I think I may take your advise and start with the groups you recommended, 43.8, 44.0, 44.2, 44.4, and also 44.6.
You’ve got me curious now.
The Nosler data states that 44.5 was their most accurate group.
I realize that, that doesn’t necessarily translate to my rifle but, with your thinking and their results, there may be something to it?
I guess we’ll see. Worse case scenario, I have a load right now that shoots well at 300
 
655E41FA-D92F-4B37-83D7-F2B708D012AB.jpeg Like I said I have basically the same riffle and whether I use 155 or 168 they tune very close to each other. As this 200 yard test shows 44. shoots small with 44.4 is about max ( might have been 100 ? I can’t remember but the results are the same
 
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During the lockdown I learnt myself up on reloading my Rem 700 .308. It has an impossibly long chamber thus I was unable to play with the modern seating depth theories but I did use Satterlee's velocity node theories and ended up at 43.8 of 4064 pushing the heavies. 175 Sierra Match King, 2662 fps average, 8200 feet density altitude. My SD and ES numbers are out in the garage but they are pretty darn good. Even jumping them .150, I am ringing the steel at 700 yards pretty easy now. I am total noob at precision rifles so I am proud of this.

I haven't decided if I want to do a PRS or F-Class project next. But either way the .308 has been great to learn on.
 
Nice to find this thread as i will likely begin loading for .308 soon...and the only powder I have in any decent quantity is IMR 4064. I only put together a few testers at 44 and 45 grains, for a rough feel where to go...and I don't even have the dadgum rifle yet! Stupid, ain't it? :D
 
armoredman said:
Stupid, ain't it? :D
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Not one bit. Gotta load them some time. Just make sure to measure the CBTO and compare to the new rifle so you know where you are in relation to the lands. If you're within SAAMI specs you probably aren't jammed but you can't adjust seating depth appropriately unless you know where you started.
 
armoredman said:
Nice to find this thread as i will likely begin loading for .308 soon...and the only powder I have in any decent quantity is IMR 4064. I only put together a few testers at 44 and 45 grains, for a rough feel where to go...and I don't even have the dadgum rifle yet! Stupid, ain't it? :D
Click to expand...
45 did well for me with a 165 Speer bullet but that's max. What weight bullet are we talking.
 
The was the beginning and end of my hunting load development for 308 Win using Varget. That was 46.5 grains under Hornady 150 grain Interlock. Intended purpose is to whack deer. That is 5 shots that even with the flier is 1 MOA. The other 4 are under 0.75 MOA. Cooking along at an average of 2930 fps, a deer standing in front of that would be in big trouble.

The 308 Win has to be one of the singe most versatile calibers and easiest to reload for going. Literally dozens of powders available for it and who knows how many bullet options, and so many of them do so very well. Having said that, there are a few all stars that always seem to turn up and Varget loads are usually high on the hit parade.

IMG_0120.jpg
 
Sometimes you have to make do with what you got. I found 308 easy to load for. Heck, I loaded up some accurate 308 150 grain FMJ’s using surplus 846. Last fall, I loaded test rounds for soft point hunting bullets at the same 150 grains. They too were accurate. Rifles used Ruger GSR and Remington 700 milspec.
 
Wolfshead said:
I’m all ears!
Please, explain more!
Seems few people know OCW or are willing to talk much about it.
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You've already been given great advice, but I haven't seen this mentioned:

Generally, groups on the same horizontal plane mean that your powder charge is in a good node for your gun and you are getting consistent velocity. When you have this, slight seating depth adjustments or slight charge adjustment is probably all that is needed to shrink the groups further.
Vertical spread means your velocity is inconsistent. This can be the charge is not right or not consistent.
Barrel heating often causes a diagonal string, but usually not until after 3 or 4 shots.
 
AJC1 said:
45 did well for me with a 165 Speer bullet but that's max. What weight bullet are we talking.
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Hornaday #3031 150gr Interlock. I've been loading that for a buddy of mine - that bullet on top of TAC is a tack driver in his rifle...but I am out of TAC.
And...I found out my rifle is backordered...oh well, I can prep more brass, (have a bunch), and maybe load some more testers, so I can have a GOOD first range day!
 
armoredman said:
Hornaday #3031 150gr Interlock. I've been loading that for a buddy of mine - that bullet on top of TAC is a tack driver in his rifle...but I am out of TAC.
And...I found out my rifle is backordered...oh well, I can prep more brass, (have a bunch), and maybe load some more testers, so I can have a GOOD first range day!
Click to expand...
42.5 is the low node in my 308 with tac and a 155 target bullet. I'm curious your results as I have a single box of Speer 150 that I can load but a good starting point helps. Seems like a full case is well appreciated by 4064.
 
ev780 said:
During the lockdown I learnt myself up on reloading my Rem 700 .308. It has an impossibly long chamber thus I was unable to play with the modern seating depth theories but I did use Satterlee's velocity node theories and ended up at 43.8 of 4064 pushing the heavies. 175 Sierra Match King, 2662 fps average, 8200 feet density altitude. My SD and ES numbers are out in the garage but they are pretty darn good. Even jumping them .150, I am ringing the steel at 700 yards pretty easy now. I am total noob at precision rifles so I am proud of this.

I haven't decided if I want to do a PRS or F-Class project next. But either way the .308 has been great to learn on.
Click to expand...
seems like you have talent. Keep going!
 
Howa 9700 said:
The was the beginning and end of my hunting load development for 308 Win using Varget. That was 46.5 grains under Hornady 150 grain Interlock. Intended purpose is to whack deer. That is 5 shots that even with the flier is 1 MOA. The other 4 are under 0.75 MOA. Cooking along at an average of 2930 fps, a deer standing in front of that would be in big trouble.

The 308 Win has to be one of the singe most versatile calibers and easiest to reload for going. Literally dozens of powders available for it and who knows how many bullet options, and so many of them do so very well. Having said that, there are a few all stars that always seem to turn up and Varget loads are usually high on the hit parade.

View attachment 1103877
Click to expand...
24" barrel?
 
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