.308 Bolt action loads?

[tex_n_cal]

I just bought a .308 Bolt Action today, a Browning Micro-Hunter & will be working up loads before long. I picked up some of the Hornady Light Magnum loads to fireform, which claim 3000 fps with 150's. My rifle has a 20" barrel, so I doubt I'm getting that fast.

I would assume most of the published data is designed not to bend semi-autos...I am curious if anyone has experience with a similar setup, and can report what was feasible with 150 gr bullets?

Thanks!

 

[swifter]

Try Varget with 150's, gave me single-digit extreme spread in my 18" M-600.
Tom

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Powders I've had success with for .308 loads include Varget, WW748, and Reloder 15.
I would say the best results across the board in the three .308 rifles I shoot were with Varget, yet neither of the other two was far behind.
Take Care

 

[Art Eatman]

I imagine the Hornady LM loads were shot from a 26" barrel. You can figure on a loss of roughly 40 to 50 ft/sec per inch shorter barrel. The Federal HE sez 26" on the box...

Most of the data books I've seen (Speer, Sierra, Hodgdon) mention bolt-action as their test-rifles. Generally, the accepted max is around 53,000 to 55,000 psi--but I'm not sure what that is in CUP. Probably 49,000 to 50,000 CUP for an upper limit?

As usual, work up carefully, looking for flattened primers, sticky bolt-opening and all that stuff. Generally, the most accurate loads are a grain or two below max, anyway. And Bambi won't ever notice 100 or so ft/sec below max.

Art

 

[Bacchus]

I'd also recommend that you check out Win 748.

 

[dakotasin]

i've had amazing success w/ varget and rl-15 w/ 150's. rl-15 shot pretty accurate and got incredible velocity. varget got incredible accuracy and fair velocity.

depending on the velocity window i wanted to be in would decide which one i went w/. no problem hunting w/ either one.

 

[tex_n_cal]

Mmmm...thanks. Varget is my favorite for the .22-250 & .375 H&H...sounds like it ought to be a good starting point

 

[GooseGestapo]

For best accuracy, either of 4895's, or better yet IMR-4064 and 165-168gr bullets. (Not real fast though). Best velocity- 748, and BL-C2.

You'll not be able to match the Lt-Mag. factory ballistic's without straining things. Hornady uses a proprietary process and unavailable powders to get those velocities.

Can't comment on Rl-15 as I've not tried it in .308 (don't and haven't recently owned one), and I can't get my brother to try it; Three shots and three dead Elk is hard to argue with. He used to use BL-C2, but now uses 46.5 gr of H4895 w/150 Nosler Part. He gets a chrono'd 2,885fps from 22" bbl pre-'64 Win Mod 70 FW. About all you really need for most No.Amer. species.

 

[greg531mi]

Try Accurate Arms 2520 and winchester 760, also I noticed in my reloading, the most accurate loads are just below max, work your way up, and don't start with a max load, be safe...