Question on favored 308 powders

[BsChoy]

I have something similar posted to another forum and of course opinions are like you know whats, everyone has one!! LOL I have a Remmy LTR in 308. For those not familiar with the model it is a 20" heavy barrel in 308. I Have been playing with it a bit with IMR 4064 and Varget. But alot of people at the other forum are saying Reloader 15 is the new king of 308 powder. So I figure maybe I can improve on my 150 grain SST and 45.5 4064 load I have that is pretty much .25-.50 100 yards!! The gun tends to like 4064 more than varget so far. I now have a pound of Re15 in the closet ready to load up when the guys at the other forum start saying it really shines with 165 and up bullet wieghts. Anyone got advise? I have just ordered 100 168 Amaxes (I love hornady bullets now) and 165 Nosler Btips. I have ruled out 150 Btips and since the gun will be used for hunting and judicious targets out to 300 yards or so I wanted to get a consensus. Thanks guys!

Chris

 

[Clark]

H322, IMR4895, H335. Re15, Varget, IMR4064

 

[Jim Watson]

If you are shooting half inch and under at 100 yards, it is time to quit wasting barrel life on different components and get on with whatever you mean the rifle to do.

 

[BsChoy]

Jim I couldn't agree more but, new barrels grow on trees and if I shoot it out I will replace it...testing loads is so much darn fun!!

 

[jmorris]

What are you hunting? a 139gr out of a 7-08 works fine on hogs and white tail out to 300. I'm sure a 150 would do the job just fine.

 

[GaryL]

I hunt with a 30-06, and recently loaded up some 180gr BT in front of some IMR 4895. Cut my groups to less than half of what they were using Federal Premium 165gr BT (they don't make a 180gr BT load). I won't brag about the groups, since that is what got me started reloading 30-06 for it in the first place, but I bagged a nice doe at about 100 yds, and it's the first deer I've hit that dropped within 5' of being shot, vs. 50yds - 120yds for all the rest, and I blew the hearts out of them all.

 

[MCgunner]

I only have two bullets I use for hunting in a .308 Winchester and one of 'ems the 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. I've shot completely through a deer once, stem to stern, in the butt, out the neck. It penetrates, yet it also works at 2100 fps in my Contender in .30-30.

My other bullet is the Barnes 140 grain X bullet. I use that one on hog. It's guaranteed to penetrate. But, since shooting through that deer, a good sized 8 point, I am beginning to wonder why I pay twice a much for Barnes bullets. The Noslers are impressive.

Oh, powder, I use WW748 in my M7.

 

[db_tanker]

I will say that RL-15 is my stick powder of choice for the 308...but it isn't my most accurate load...

Every rifle will have a diffrent preference...just like a person...



My tightest load to date with my 308 bolt gun is a 39 gr. charge of AA2520 under a 168 gr SMK moly bullet....Winchester brass and a WLRM primer...I actually got my groups more consistent when I got my Redding profile crimp die...just contacted the shoulder then give a hair less than a 1/16th turn. I also keep my brass at a true 2.015 length...I haven't needed or wanted one of the VLD chamfer tools...YET...I have the barrel length (26") and twist (1-10) to shoot anything up to 200 gr. and with it being an unmodified mauser mag-well, I can seat my bullets WAY OUT so they don't intrude on usable powder space....my next test bullet will be some of the Barnes variety...mebbe Berger...thats still in the future.


D

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

4895 and Varget are hard to beat.