20" barrel .308 WIN target load

[CZJedi]

I hav been reloading .45ACP for about a year or so, and just picked up a Browning BLR at the gun show Saturday, so I think it is time to try out rifle reloading.

I'm looking for a good, light, accurate target load for out to 100 yards; the gun has a 20" barrel and 1:12 rate of twist.

Since I have not reloaded for rifle before, I am not set on any particular brand of powder, primer, or brass, but in my .45 reloading, I tend to stick with Winchester.

 

[Guy Miner]

Welcome to this forum! You'll find there are shooters here with a wealth of handloading experience. The .308 Win is a very nice cartridge to load and shoot, with excellent accuracy potential.

Before starting in, I'd recommend you look over this article on handloading the .308 Win, published on line by our friends at 6mmBR.com: http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

It's the single best article on the .308 I've ever read, and I highly recommend the article. Your little 20" .308 rifle can likely produce excellent accuracy. The short barrel is no handicap at all.

Typically for accuracy loads I'll stick with bullets in the 155 - 175 grain weight class, from my 1:12 twist rifle. The lighter 125's can be just as accurate, and produce significantly less recoil, although the .308 certainly isn't what I'd consider a hard-kicking cartridge in the first place.

Best of luck, welcome to the site, and don't hesitate to ask if you've got specific questions. BTW, my oldest son shoots a .308 Browning BLR, it used to belong to my father, and the three of us have been using it for about 30 years I'd say. Pretty good general purpose hunting rifle. The only thing I don't like about it is the somewhat "mushy" trigger.

Guy

 

[CZJedi]

Thanks... not only did I read the article, but I printed it out, and put it in my reloading binder!

Does anybody have any specific recipies for the type of load I'm looking for, or perhaps a good powder choice (I know for pistol, some powders were softer shooting, some were meant for high velocity...)?

 

[onesonek]

Thanks... not only did I read the article, but I printed it out, and put it in my reloading binder!

Does anybody have any specific recipies for the type of load I'm looking for, or perhaps a good powder choice (I know for pistol, some powders were softer shooting, some were meant for high velocity...)?

Welcome to the board!
But to answer your question..."Does anybody have any specific recipies for the type of load I'm looking for",,,,No.
Nobody can,at best they could give you what works best in their rifle.
If we knew what bullet type/weight you had in mind, we could tell what works best for us, but there are no absolutes that it work in yours!

All firearms are a law unto themselves. Even blanks cut from the same billet, done up the same way can have different harmonics, likes, dislikes and so on.

My best suggestion, is to get a powder that gives you close to what you hope in performance with the bullet you wish to use. Then load up a ramp in .5 gr intervals. If it shows promise, then you can tweak it some in the charge weight, and seating depth. If it don't, then you have no choice but to try another powder. I tend to start with the slower powders first. But some in the middle and or faster can be good as well,,,,,you just never know until try it.
Here Again, each rilfe or firearm is it's own boss.

 

[SJB358]

I like 47grs of Varget, 150gr BT, CCI BR2 in a WW case. Makes great speed and good accuracy. Anything like RL15 or Varget will work well in the 308. Good luck, I have a BLR in 358. Great rifle. Scotty

 

[Woodycreek]

+1 for the 308 Win with Varget and the 150 BT.

 

[FOTIS]

Welcome to the forum. Glad you're aboard.

As far as the 308 goes any decent bullet and Varget or RL 15 should get you there.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I had a short barreled .308 some years ago and had good success with IMR 4064, getting both good accuracy and high velocity. I kept my handloading to 150 and 165 grain bullets too. I still use IMR 4064 in my .338 Federal, same case, slightly different expansion ratio (lower).

 

[CZJedi]

Thanks for all the replies! I will be trying VARGET for the powder, but for the bullet, I was at the Berger web page, and they list what rate of twist works best with what bullet. Most people here mention a 150 BT, but none of them show up with a 1:12. They have a 155 Match Hybrid Target, though. None of the other bullet companies even list what rate of twist works best; so is this recommendation really that important?

 

[Guy Miner]

Rate of twist can be important for properly stabilizing the bullet.

It's generally very forgiving. My 1:12 twist .308 Win has been accurate with everything from stubby little 110 gr Sierras to longish 180 grain boat tails, and even 190 grain Sierra HPBT match bullets. Mostly I shoot 155 & 168 gr Nosler competition bullets from it - as they've proven very accurate out to 600 yards in matches. I've also shot them out at 800 and beyond, with good results.

Berger lists the twist rate because their bullets tend to be longer for a given weight, and a bit more twist than normal might be required to stabilize them. I don't recall trying any of the longer Bergers from my 1:12 twist .308 Win, but it shoots the 155 and 168 VLD Bergers just fine.

Your rifle should handle a wide variety of bullets well. Our Browning BLR is mostly used with 150, 165 and 180 gr bullets - all of which have shot with reasonable accuracy.

Over the years I've come to shoot the 165/168 grain bullets most often from my .308's - they just seem like a very good, middle of the road bullet weight for the .308, for either target or hunting. The lighter 150 and 155 gr bullets have also shot very well for me, particularly the 155 gr Nosler custom competition bullet. I can load it up to about 2850 fps using Varget, and it shoots very well.

Regards, Guy

 

[onesonek]

I too use Varget ans RL-15 the most, and beyond that I can't add much to what Guy just posted.
Only to add just a little,,,don't over think it. Unless, you intend to get into long range match shooting. Then you may want to cutomize twist to a specific bullet.

 

[onesonek]

Then too, somebody just reminded me of another thought,,,,,,,
Half if not more, of the fun is just plain shooting and reloading to find the load that works best!! High expectations are a good thing, just don't expect it always to come easy, or on the first attempt.

 

[CZJedi]

Thanks, again! I think I will take a drive either to Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop over Thanksgiving weekend and do some shopping!

 

[CZJedi]

Forgot to mention what I was getting! :grin:

VARGET powder, Sierrra 150 gr. MatchKing, and Federal Primers (unless I can find RWS). Not decided on which brass to pick up, yet.

 

[onesonek]

And just so you know,,,boattail match bullet styles aren't always needed for 100 yd accuracy. Mostly the BT concept, came about for extreme range shooting. Their biggest advantage comes, when the bullet velocity has decelerated down near 1400 fps and beyond. And yet, I have seen some flat base's do extremely well at 1000 yds.
The point I'm getting at, is never lock yourself into one way of thinking, but again don't over think it,,,other than safety first. It may take more than 1 powder/bullet combination, not forgetting the other componets. Safety is the only rule, the rest is only a guide. So start low and work up, the rifle will tell you the rest of the story.

 

[Guy Miner]

CZJedi - Am looking forward to your range report!

I do hope though, that you've got realistic accuracy expectations.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Varget, RL15, and BLC(2) are 3 proven powders in the .308.
The new kid on the block, RL17 could be fun to play with in the .308 as well.

 

[martineta]

I bought some Varget last week to try in my new Lapua Brass but have been so busy worrying the deer I haven't had time to load. Hopefully during the Thanksgiving weekend.