308 loads for Varmits

[PALongbow]

I plan on hunting ground hogs and coyotes with my 308. What bullet selection would you recomend for varmits in a .30 caliber? I currently use IMR 4064 powder and a 165 gr. Hornady Interloc bullet for deer, but would like to use a much lighter bullet for varmit hunting. Any suggestions on bullets and bullet weights???

Ron

 

[ms1200]

hornady makes a 110 gr. vmax in 30 cal.
they list loads up to 3200fps in the latest hornady manual for the .308

if it shot good in your rifle i think it would make a very good varmit load for the .308.

 

[Art Eatman]

Most any 110-grain bullet; I've used the old Hornady Spire Points...I'd recommend a bit faster powder; 3031 or 4895...

Art

 

[Jim Watson]

I shoot .30-06, not .308, but I have found a little heavier bullet to be more accurate. I like the 130 gr Speer HP and will try some 125 gr Sierra the next time around. Appropriate load of IMR 4895.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Remington cases, Winchester LR primers, 51grs of WC846 (or Ball(C)2) and bulk packaged Remington core-lokt 125gr PSPs. Runs about 1-1.5" @100yds from my Ruger M77MKII. MV is about 3100fps from my rifle. Start with around 47grs and work up from there, messing around with seating as applicable. It may shoot .25" more than 100pk bullets, but when you're paying about $.09 per bullet, you get a lot of practice with that load.
I took a turkey with this load, but have yet to use it on a groundhog. Results were "explosive". Completely severed the windpipe and spine.
(WARNING-CONFIRM ALL LOADS THAT I PROVIDE WITH EXISTING DATA MANUALS-DO NOT USE MY LOADS IN YOUR GUN AND PRESUME THEM TO BE SAFE!!!!)

 

[Bottom Gun]

I've used the Sierra 110 gr HP's in my 30-06 for a long time. They work very well.
A couple of years ago, I discovered the Speer 125 gr TNT HP's. They are quite accurate and very devastating.
I use IMR4064 with both.

 

[Delmar]

125-130 grain Sierra/Hornady or Ballistic tips work well.

 

[Robert inOregon]

PALongbow,

Unless you tell us what the rifle twist and barrel length of your rifle, none of these loads that everyone is feeding you is going to mean Jack. Some will work and most won't.

 

[sasnofear]

how you know when a certian powder it too much. apart from split cases

 

[Robert inOregon]

I usually fire form cases with a start or medium loading and then neck size the case only. When building loads to maximum, if the case base expands .002" or more from the original fire formed case measurement, you are generally to hot. Some guys use primer flow as the answer, but I have seen primer flow in medium loadings and no flow in extreme loads. I think at the end of the day, you have to use a variety of things and make the call. Is the bolt hard to open after firing, look at the primer for flow, how much the case stretched, case damage and measure the case base.

Although most of your accurate loads are going to be close to their peak, it is very seldom that you have to go over maximum to find accuracy. If its about bragging rights, wrong hobby to get into.

 

[Nero Steptoe]

Best varmint load in .308 is called a .243.

 

[Zak Smith]

If you want to maintain a relatively high ballistic coefficient (BC), look at some of the 125gr offerings. Nosler has a 125gr Ballistic Tip if I remember correctly.

-z

 

[Freedom in theSkies]

110 gr Speer hollowponts are promising. It's too bad you can't buy Remington sabots, so that you could load .22 cal for your .30.

 

[Poodleshooter]

You can buy .22/.308 sabots. Check shotgun news. The reason no one uses them, AFAIK, is due to the crappy (as in 4" @100yds or worse) accuracy obtained. I have yet to run into someone who was able to get decent accuracy with handloaded sabots. The actual accelerator loads are decent in some rifles, but those are getting hard to find.
I prefer the 125's as they are easier to stabilize, and I can get almost the same velocity as a 110 can handle.

 

[Dave P]

Another vote for 125 TNT by Speer. Accurate (in most of my guns) and fairly cheap.