308 Load Data

[highoctane]

I was at my local Wally World yesterday and they had a Ruger American 308 on "clearance" for 340 dollars. I really didn't need it but need is sometimes not the deciding factor. I was wondering if any of you all had any shareable load data? I really like 165 gr bullets in a 308, however, 150's would be ok as well.

 

[xphunter]

308's are pretty easy to load for.
I would start with Varget or H4895 and consult online loading are hard-copy reloading manuals for the appropriate bullet weight(s).
I have three 308 Winchester rigs.
Two of them are specialty pistols and one is a F-TR rifle.
I use Varget with the 200.20X 200 grain Berger's in my TR rifle (long-throated) and I use H-4895 with 155 grain A-Max's in my center grip XP-100 (15.75" barrel) and in my rear-grip 14" Blaser pistol.

 

[GregoryB.]

I run the 168gr NBT in my rifle with a book max load of Varget . Prints right at 3/4 inch. It was the first load I tried and didn’t go any further with load development since season was already in. Varget is always a good choice for the 308.

 

[PJGunner]

After a two year battle with a very stubborn rifle, a Ruger M77 RSI I found a load that would at least give usable hunting accuracy,. First off, I bought some long discontinued Speer Nitrex ammo at a gun show. That load shot accurately in the RSI. Powder was 49.0 gr. of a ball type powder and the bullet was the165 gr. Grand Slam. The load did 1.5" at 2550 FPS. A bit of tweaking on the rifle brought groups down to 1.25"
I looked through a bunch of load manuals and found in a One Book/One Caliber for the .308 that Winchester at the time of publishing reached 49.0 gr. W760 with 165 gr. bullets for 2640 FPS at 50,000C.U.P. CAUTION as that is a maximum load. I carefully worked up to that 49.0 gr. load in theRSI which only has an 18.5" barrel for that 2550 FPS. I also ran that load through the 22"barrel of a Winchester M70 Youth Ranger and the velocity was 2610 FPS with average accuracy running in the .75" range and sometimes a tad smaller.
This has been my go to load for quite a few years now and has taken quite a few deer from about 35 feet to 250 yards.

When I look at the average distance I've shot elk, I think that load in the RSI would be more than adequate out to at least200 yards. Not quite sure I'd trust it past 200 but would be OK if using the M70.
Paul B.
Edited to add: I should have mentioned that much of the load work up was done during our summers. The temperature could run from about 90 to 115 degrees. Best guess for an average temperature would be right around105* Brass and primer were Winchester and WLR.
PB

 

[ReloadKy]

I have a lot of luck with TAC, BL-C2 and H4895 in the 308. My favorite load is BLC2 or TAC with 130 gr Barnes TTSX.

 

[JD338]

Varget is my go to powder in the 308 Win with 150, 165 and 168 gr bullets.

JD338

 

[Nannyhammer]

I've had good luck with RE15 for 150/165 garin and 748 for the 125's.

 

[KinleyWater]

For 150s I use Reloader 15, typically, but I've also used 748; that's across a few different rifles. I've not loaded 165s in 308 (odd, I know) but I don't see why it wouldn't work as it does for 180s.

I suppose it all boils down to what your priorities are for the load, since you might find a different powder that gets you better velocity, groups, or whatever.

 

[Wolfshead]

My rifle loves the 150 grain Nosler Accubonds and 46 grains of Varget.
It also shoots the 130 grain Barnes ttsx’s with 50.4 grains of TAC.
Of course you’re going to work up to your loads on these with caution, but these have done very well for me and my .308.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

With 150gr IMR4895 44-45grs Varget 46grs have used RL15 and Tac also. IMR 4064 is another old standby if you can find it. Varget is available and have used it more than the others with 165-168gr bullets.

 

[RL338]

308 Win is an easy one to load for. There are many good powders but for me Varget and BL-C2 are the top 2.
Lots of good load data out there in a search

 

[TackDriver284]

My .308 loves Varget, RL-15 and H4895, those are the only powders I ever tried in this rifle. I use different flavors of bullets, 150, 165, 168 Ballistic Tips, 178 ELD-X and M. They all shoot great and textbook performance in deer and hog sized game. There are other powders that others have mentioned that do work, don't forget the IMR4064 as well. Most of my 165 -178 grain bullet loads are in the 2720-2800 fps range with the 26 inch barrel. The 150 grain bullet from 2950-3000 fps range.

 

[clearwater]

If you want to experiment with subsonic, Titegroup and Trail boss work well per the Hodgdon website.