.308 winchester loads

[ken22250]

i am looking for .308 winchester loads (hunting and accuracy loads) for a ruger M77MKII, i bought it for $700, its sst, laminate stock, 3 boxes for win. supreme ammo, a leupold VARI-X III 6.5-20 scope, sling, bob allen guncase, i figured out the tatol value (new) at over 1500, the gun is only 2 years old and would pass as new. so any loads would be appriciated.
ken

 

[Slamfire]

I would imagine any 165 gr hunting bullet would do fine over 41.5 grains IMR 4895 or 42.5 grs IMR 4064. Because both of those charges are absolute tack drivers with a 168 Sierra Match king.

In your rifle, start with 40.5 grs IMR 4895 and work your way up. My OAL is LT 2.800, I have used any headstamp, Fed, Win, CCI 200, CCI #34 primers with these charges and they all shoot well.

 

[MutinousDoug]

44 gr of Varget and a 168 gr Hornady HPBT shoots 5 shots under 2.12" ctc at 200 yds in my .308.
AS Slamfire1 mentions; an appropriate load of IMR 4895 would perform similarly.
HTH

 

[BornAgainBullseye]

+1 with the varget. I shoot 165 Nosler ballistic tip for hunting using 45grains of Varget. It clocks at 2830's. Do not use this load as all rifles are different. Use Published data from hodgdon and work your way up to what you and your rifle like. What twist is rate in your barrel?? 1:10" If that is the case the Sierra Matchking 175grain will be the most accurate bullet you will find. Id go with a 168grain Matchking if you have a slower twist. IMR 4895 I have not had too much luck with. I really like Varget as it works well with what I have, and Other calibers as well. A good Do almost everything rifle powder. I Shoot cheap Federal Power Shock $12 a box ammo for brass. Use Federal primers, and Fireform the brass and neck size only. I use the Lee Collet Neck Sizer. You will have to experiment with C.O.L. to find out what your rifle likes best. The matchkings in my gun like to just touch the rifling, and the Noslers like to jump a small bit.

 

[Envisaged]

SlamFire1 - Sierra Match Kings are not designed as hunting rounds - says it right on the box - FYI.

 

[bdorrman]

Ken: I have a Ruger 77MKIIVT in .308 Win. I've had it probably 10 years and haven't shot it for the last 2-3. I'm an OTR truck driver and can't get to my notes right now but as I recall, my best loads for accuracy were with Varget and 150 gr. bullets. Maybe it was just me, or maybe I never found the right 168 gr load but I could never get the best accuracy with the heavier bullets. The difference in accuracy would make no difference in hunting applications, however, except at insane distances.

 

[db_tanker]

The two bullets I would use for hunting would be either a Hornady InterBond at 165 gr. or a Sierra GameKing in 165 gr.

These two are in my opinion some of the best hunting bullets you can use for most game ranging from white tail up to elk.


Match/accuracy loads?

168gr/175gr Sierra MatchKing and the Berger 155gr and 168gr VLD bullets work out great for making small holes in paper.

Powders...well...

Varget, RL-15, BLC2, AA2520, IMR4895, IMR4064, Win748, Win760, H335...those are just some of the powders that can make your rifle sing in a sweet tune.

My favorites are RL-15 for a stick (extruded) powder and AA2520 for a ball (Spherical) powder. Stick is easier to meter than ball in some cases, but once you get used to it there isn't too much issue. Some say stick for hunting and ball for target...but the one thing it boils down to is the platform...each rifle has its own appetite...one will always show preferences.

One suggestion...target loads? neck size, and seat out to the lands minus a hair or two. this will give top accuracy in most cases. Hunting loads? load them all to the SAAMI OAL and put a uniform crimp on them. And keep all these loads logged and separated. Sounds a bit anal, but trust me...you want your hunting loads to feed reliably...your bench-rest loads are easy to deal with...ON THE BENCH...some times that round thats a bit longer than SAAMI might not want to feed proper out of the mag and mess up a follow up shot on Da Thirty Point Buck.

Hope this helps!
D

 

[Leanwolf]

As far as accuracy goes, every rifle barrel is different, so it is incumbent on you to try various components until you find the combination your rifle loves.

My three .308s shoot different loadings accurately because I tuned each load for each individual barrel.

That said, there isn't a deer in Pennsylvania that won't fall dead right quick with a .308 bullet in the 150/165 grains range... so long as you shoot accurately. Same with a Black bear.

Coming out West to hunt elk? 165 grains Nosler Partition in your .308 Win. will do you just fine on elk.

Good luck.

L.W.

 

[USSR]

SlamFire1 - Sierra Match Kings are not designed as hunting rounds - says it right on the box - FYI.

SlamFire1 wasn't saying to use 168gr MatchKings for hunting; he was merely suggesting a similar weight (165gr) hunting bullet using the same powder charge as is typically used with the 168SMK.

Don

 

[ken22250]

i have done some western hunting, mainly p. dogs, been to wyoming, montana, the dakotas, hunted in michigan, been all over the place, i have a .30-06 or a .300 Wby Mag i would most likley use for elk, i just bought the .308 because it was far to much of a good deal to pass up.
ken