Highest MV for 180 gr. 308 Win Load?

[haskins02]

I recently purchased a Loadbooks manual for .308 Win. Inside it publishes loads from various manuals, all for .308 Win. In the Nosler section, I was surprised to see the maximum load listed for IMR-4064, using a 180 grain bullet as: 44 grains, MV = 2,718 fps. Is this correct and not a misprint? Would this be a safe load to work up to (assuming no signs of excessive pressure) in, say, a Browning X-bolt?

I had previously thought the only way to safely get a 180 grain bullet to move at 30-06 velocities (2,700 fps) in a standard bolt action .308 hunting rifle was to buy Federal high energy Nosler Partition cartridges, advertised at 2,740 fps. Is this untrue? Can a reloader safely achieve such velocities with a bolt action hunting rifle (not just a heavy single-shot target rifle), if carefully working up to this maximum load without signs of excessive pressure? If so, is IMR-4064 the best powder available to handloaders that can do this?

Thanks for any input.

Greg

 

[rcmodel]

Hodgdon shows a 24" barrel, 180 Speer over a compressed charge of 45.2 grains IMR-4064 giving 2,683 at 58,200 PSI.

Lyman #49 shows a 24" barrel, 180 Nosler Ballistic-Tip over 43.0 grains (MAX) giving 2,550 at 57,500 PSI.

Speer #13 shows 22" barrel, 43.0 grains Compressed giving 2,521.

Maybe in a 26" or 28" barrel.
Don't think you can safely do it in a normal sporter length barrel.

rc

 

[kelbro]

I clock right at 2550 with 42.5 gr 4064 in a 22" Savage 308 factory barrel with 175gr SMK and 178gr AMaxes and 2600 with a 25" heavy barrel shooting the same loads. Those are darn near max in my rifles. I wouldn't try 44gr. in either of mine. I have a 30-06 if I want to run 180s a little faster.

165s are (IMHO) the best heavy hunting bullet in a 308. Fast enough. Smacks hard enough. Why hobble a great cartridge with a too heavy (again, IMHO) bullet?

 

[haskins02]

Thanks for all your responses. rcmodel, if you put 45.2 gr. of IMR-4064 behind a 180 gr. Speer in a 24-inch barrel and got "only" 2,683 fps, then the manual I am reading from that claims 2,718 fps from 44 grains does not seem correct (or is based on a very long barrel). So I guess the max MV for a .308 Win though reloading is in the 2600's. It makes me wonder though what Federal is up to when they claim 2,718 for their 180 grain load.

- Greg

 

[USSR]

2700fps with a 180gr bullet in a .308 is no problem with the right powder. I get 2700fps with a 190SMK in my FN SPR with N550 powder. I would suggest either N550 or RL17 powder, although IMR4064, Varget or RL15 should work.

Don

 

[rcmodel]

It makes me wonder though what Federal is up to when they claim 2,718 for their 180 grain load.

Federal is using a non-canister powder that is not available to reloaders.

They are doing it, but not with what you & I can buy over the counter.

rc

 

[haskins02]

Thanks again. I was unaware of loads using N550 and RL17.

- Greg