308 Winchester Favorite Loads

[JD338]

Looks like I'll be shooting a 308 Winchester this fall. I wanted to run the 165/168 gr BT but availability is a problem so I'm going with the 150 gr PT. I've got a couple pounds of RL15 to get me started.
What are you fellas loading for the 308 Win?
Thanks for your help.

JD338

 

[Horsethief]

My M-1A and Bergara Ridge rifles like 44 grains of W-748 with the 168 grain hollow points from Hornady and Sierra. Winchester cases and primers, but HORNADY cases are fine too. I weigh the cases empty (no primers either) and shoot in order from lightest to heaviest.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

150gr 47.0 grs RL15 44-45.0 grs IMR4895 165-168 45-46 grs Varget these work for me. Dan.

 

[PJGunner]

My pet load for the .308 is 49.0 gr. of W760, Winchester brass and standard, no magnum primer and the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core. Velocity is 2640 FPSat 50,000 C.U.P. according to the one load/one caliber book I have. Caution: It is a maximum load.
Actual chronographed numbers are 2550 FPS from a Ruger M77 RST, 18.5" barrel and 2610 FPS from the 22" barrel of a Winchester M70 Youth Ranger restocked to fit me.
It's one hell of a deer killing load.
Paul B.

 

[Guy Miner]

JD - I rarely used 150's from my 308 Win, but loaded a gob of 308's with 155 grain Nosler match bullets.

They shot really well with a stout charge of Varget, several different types of brass, and the Federal 210 match primers or the CCI BR primers. I was at 47 grains of Varget with the 155's and shot them from both my 24" and 30" Krieger barrels.

MV was up around 2900 - 3000 fps and I usually shot "high master" scores in competition with that load.

I'd swap a 150 ish grain hunting bullet into that recipe happily. Working up towards that max level load of course.

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

Thank you fellas, I appreciate your help and knowledge.

JD338

 

[RL338]

43.3 gr of Varget behind 150gr SP shoot lights out in my 308s. Not the fastest load out there but consistent , now to find affordable Varget.

 

[Guy Miner]

43.3 gr of Varget behind 150gr SP shoot lights out in my 308s. Not the fastest load out there but consistent , now to find affordable Varget.

I've got about 15 pounds. Not for sale though. :mrgreen:

Guy

 

[345 kv]

I've burned a lot of RL 15 in some 308s. but never with a 150 gr bullet. But I think you should be able to work up a good load in a short time using your RL 15.

 

[Guy Miner]

RL-15 is a great powder for the 308 Winchester.

 

[lhsako]

IMR 4064 if RL15 doesnt suit you. Also a buddy used 3031 with great results in the Rem. Mohawk M600 and it's 18.5" tube.

 

[FOTIS]

44 gr varget. Work up

 

[clearwater]

Rem 600 likes W760 for 150 accubonds and BT's, WW Primers

Kimber likes IMR 4895 for 168 BT's and rx17 for 178 ELD X, Federal LR primers

 

[JD338]

Thank you fellas. I secured a pound of Varget so I am in good shape for starters. The 150 gr PT's arrived from SPS a couple days ago. I have a line on 150 gr BT's too.
Now I'm just waiting on the rifle. Looking like I'll get it in December. I've got a VX-6 3-18x44mm laying around that I'll mount.
Hopefully timing works for a late season hunt.

JD338

 

[HodgemanAK]

I had excellent results with Varget and IMR4166 with 150s up near the max charges in the Hodgdon manual.

I mainly shoot 150s in my 308.

 

[Rednek rampager]

My .308 is based off a Mauser receiver & has a 26” Douglas barrel.

Varget was/is my powder of choice for it for it is finicky. I use either the Nosler 150 gn BT or the Hornady 150 gn SST bullet. Using either the Winchester or Federal primers provides the best accuracy in this rifle.

I did play with the 125 gn Nosler BT bullets at one time & with a healthy dose of Varget, it was very accurate as well. I remember using this load to drop a big boar hog with a 112 yard head shot.

But now since Varget is all but unobtanium in my neck of the woods I stopped messing with my .308. I do have a pound of IMR4166 so I may dig it out & see if it’ll work.


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[joshputman]

The most accurate load I've found so far with my .308 is 46.5 grains of IMR 4064 under a 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. My rifle has a slower twist rate from what I've been able to determine.

Oh, Remington brass if I remember correctly, and CCI primers.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[lhsako]

Those 125 tips are like bombs on smaller deer. lights out !!

 

[Joec7651]

This isn’t an old load but it shoots very well in both my Remington 308’s. 51 grains of CFE223 lit with CCI 200 primers. A bonded 150gr Speer Gold Dot, in Federal GMM brass gives half inch or smaller groups and 2980 fps from a 22” barrel. Nice rounded primers, accuracy, and long brass life. 150gr Partitions group .5-1” as well with this charge.

 

[JD338]

Thank you fellas. Just waiting on the rifle.

JD338