.308 Sierra 150 gr Spitzer hunting load

[sbwaters]

Sierra’s manual suggests the best hunting load to be the max load at 2900 FPS.

Laddering up to that load, I found my Ruger American really likes the 2700 FPS load for accuracy -- about an inch difference at 100 yards.

What difference would 200 FPS make to a Whitetail?

I don’t consider the 5 rounds necessarily to be a fair test. I will try more, but I wondered if sheer impact makes it advisable to go max.

I will also try them at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yds to learn the trajectory.

Thnx.

 

[adcoch1]

I pulled out my one caliber book for 30-06 and it has 150grn Sierra energy at 2509 at 2700fps and 2895 at 2900 fps. Either is plenty for whitetails out as far as most people can hit one.

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[LoonWulf]

unless your shooting well over your 200yd mark that you seem to be using as max, youll be fine at that velocity.

Thats right around max the .300 savage launches its 150s, and significantly faster than the .30-30.

Performance should be excellent, and if your getting good accuracy go with it.

 

[horsey300]

I don't think they care much, with my sierras the deer never say ANYTHING if I keep impact velocities at or above 2000

 

[Sunray]

2900 FPS loads are what Sierra got the most accuracy with when they tested the loads. A great deal depends on what rifle or barrel, its twist and length(probably was a universal receiver vs a real rifle) was used for their tests. Your rifle is likely different. In any case, accuracy is far more important than velocity.
Laddering doesn't really tell you much about the accuracy of a particular load. Except where it shoots vs other loads. The powder you're using makes a huge difference too. A max load of IMR4064 runs about 2903 fps out of a 24" barrel. A max load of Varget, that's .7 grains less powder, gives about 2937 fps. And Bambi will neither know nor care how fast the bullet was going.
The 5 rounds is sufficient. Find the most accurate load and sight in about 4" high at 100 and you should be on target out to about 300. Then practice, off hand, at a 9" pie plate at 100 until you can hit it every time.

 

[VoodooMountain]

You'll be fine. I launch mine at 2600

 

[adcoch1]

Those accuracy loads are usually a scientific probability for accuracy due to case volume and powder volume, etc. Most manuals I've seen explain that somewhere... not always are they even tested in a group for impact, just velocity variations and pressure. So work up what works for YOUR gun, as mentioned above.

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[Bart B.]

If those reloading manual's accuracy loads are usually a scientific probability for accuracy due to case volume and powder volume, etc., please name 3 or 4 of them so I can verify your claim.

Here's what Sierra Bullets says about their accuracy loads for each cartridge; from their FAQ section:

How did you establish your accuracy load?

These are loads that have a proven history of working well in many rifles. They generally provide a high level of accuracy in many different barrels, not just our test barrel.

Sierra's current data for their 150-gr. 30 caliber bullet's best accuracy is 43.1 grains of Viht N140 shooting them out at 2700 fps from a 26" barrel. Their best hunting load is 43.8 grains of IMR-3031 shooting 150's out at 2900 fps.

'Tis my opinion that most people think each rifle has to have its most accurate load worked up is because they shoot one or two few-shot test groups with each one, then pick the load that shot the smallest one as most accurate.

Having tried different loads with a 5% spread in charge weights in several hunting rifles, they all shot sub MOA at a hundred yards easily. But I use test groups of at least 20 shots because they've got at least an 80% credibility to represent what all shots will do. 5-shot groups are about 40% credible; 30% for 3-shot ones.

Never worked up any load for my .308 Win, .30-06 or 30 caliber belted magnum loads for match rifles save one for a new bullet that no data existed for; they all shot as precise as anyone's. But its 155-gr. weight was close enough to 150's that .308 Win loads for 150's worked well. After a few of us had a load that did well in all our rifles, several thousand rounds were loaded and it shot 1/2 MOA in a few dozen rifles all with different chamber, bore and groove dimensions.

 

[sbwaters]

Thank you all. I learned a lot.

 

[adcoch1]

Bartb, hornadys 9 th and lyman 49. I only have the one caliber books for Sierra info from their manual. The Sierra manual is on my list, since they seem to have VERY good data...

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[jmr40]

You bought a 308; with 150's around 2800 fps is fairly standard and up to 3000 fps is certainly possible. If I couldn't find an accurate load that got at least 2800 fps I'd try another powder or bullet.

I don't believe in working above book loads, but there are lot of book loads that should get you sub MOA at around 2850-2900 fps.

 

[Bart B.]

When the .308 Win was first used in competition back in the middle 1960's, Sierra 150 SBT's were popular for use at short range. They had less recoil with reduced loads than 168's which is why they were popular in standing and rapid fire matches. Sierra's ballistic tech at the time told me that with 42 to 45 grains of IMR4895, they shot with virtually the same accuracy as their 168's through 200 yards and almost as as good at 300.

And Sierra's 180-gr. SBT bullet shot more accurate in .308's than arsenal 172-gr. FMJBT match bullet.

 

[RecoilRob]

Unless you're planning on really stretching it's legs, 2700 should work great for any moderate range shooting and the Sierra bullet should do the job. If you really crank those up (like 300WM or the like)...then happen to get a very close shot it might not go as well as you'd want with core separation a distinct possibility. But at that velocity you're good to go from point blank to about as far as you could hit a deer. Good choice.

 

[sbwaters]

So I took the Sierra Spitzer .308 150 grain with the 2900 FPS load of IMR 3031 to the range today to find trajectories at 50, 100, 150, and 200. Sighted to 100 yds.

Now, I know three rounds each is not representative, but it was all I had time for.

I think I’ve found my load: It shot .6" group at 200 yards. Expected bullet drop was 3.8". It was 3.8" bang on the center line.

.75" group at 50 yards. 1" group at 100. 150 was bigger but I shot quickly and it could have been me. I’ll do it again when I have more time for the Ruger American to cool.

I did shoot 2 2800FPS loads just to see. I like them, too.

I could have been lucky all the way around, but I like the Sierra Spitzer 150, the Ruger American, and IMR 3031.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Several years back, I had a Tikka 595 that was "supposedly" accurate.
I found it to be 2moa with usual suspect loads (i.e.: 42gr IMR4064 and 168gr Sierra MatchKing).
However, it gave its best groups (near moa) with 150gr Sierra or Nosier BT's and IMR3031 @43.0.

I sold it forthwith.