.308 Loads

[[email protected]]

What is your favorite .308 handload? What's your preference for powder, bullet brand, bullet size, primers, etc... I plan on loading hunting rounds that will initially be used on deer. I'd also like to load smaller bullets for varmints and larger ones for bear and hopefully someday elk.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Deer round...

JKM--I use a 165 grain Sierra Game King over H380 powder. Usually use CCI Large Rifle primers, but others will do. This works great on deer. Accurate as well. H380 has the added advantage of metering beautifully.

Check a published manual for powder amounts--NEVER use anonymous load recipes off the I'net unless they jibe with what a manual or a manufacturers' website recommends. Any anonymous yahoo can put anything they want on the 'Net, and you and your beloved Old Betsy are the guinea pig.

The exact amount of powder that each different rifle "likes" will vary, anyhow. When you use a published load, you start with the recommended "starting load" and work up until the accuracy is acceptable. Stop at the "maximum load" for safety. If you're still not happy with the load, switch to a different powder or bullet, and start over.

My go-to manual is the Lyman's 48th edition, but now they have the 49th out. There are several good manuals available--2 or more, and cross-checking, are even better than one.

 

[Grumulkin]

My favorite 308 Winchester load uses:

1. IMR 4064 powder.
2. I have used Federal 210M primers but am starting to think CCI 250 primers may be a bit better.
3. I use various 165 and 168 gr. bullets. For varmints it doesn't matter what you use. For target, I use Sierra, Berger or Nosler match bullets. If I'm hunting bigger stuff, I would probably use Speer, Hornady or Sierra bullets. For really big stuff, it would be Barnes.

It used to be that I wanted to use light bullets as well in my 308 but they never shot as well as the heavier ones. Also, having to change sight settings every time you change the load you're shooting gets a bit old. I would get one load you like and use it for everything from varmints to big game.