Load Workup for .308: Seeking Advice
- Thread starter RangeHot
- Start date
Beavis1971
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2025
- Messages
- 5
What are you loading for? Match shooting or hunting? What ranges?
choprzrul
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2025
- Messages
- 16
308 Win + 137gr Hammer Hunters + H322 powder + Lapua brass + Fed 210 match primers.
Started at 43.2gr and went up firing 1 shot at 1% powder increase increments until I found signs of pressure. Backed off 1/2 grain and fired 2 more into a group that went .33" and an SD of 5.20. 20" barrel is giving me 3053 fps average. Compact Ruger M77. Expect at least 25 fps per 1" of barrel length if you have a barrel over 20".
Started at 43.2gr and went up firing 1 shot at 1% powder increase increments until I found signs of pressure. Backed off 1/2 grain and fired 2 more into a group that went .33" and an SD of 5.20. 20" barrel is giving me 3053 fps average. Compact Ruger M77. Expect at least 25 fps per 1" of barrel length if you have a barrel over 20".
waveslayer
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2025
- Messages
- 36
Ladder tests are old school and are not productive. Do a good OCW test.
Depends on a lot. Barrel twist for bullet you want to run. What powder do you have on hand, brass and primers.
175 are the go to. Under Varget. Lots of data. Are you target shooting or hunting
Depends on a lot. Barrel twist for bullet you want to run. What powder do you have on hand, brass and primers.
175 are the go to. Under Varget. Lots of data. Are you target shooting or hunting
I agree Varget is a safe bet on powder, but I also found that IMR 8208 XBR to be a good substitute, and it meters much better than Varget. Neither of these powders are cheap these days, but I'm lucky to have about 6-8 lbs. of each.
I wanted to mention that 175s are not the goto for all rifles. I have a 308 that likes the 168s better. These days I shoot 6.5 Creedmoor over 308, so it's kind of moot. The 150s and 168s shoot fine in 300 WM or 300 WSM.
Don't get me wrong, 308 is a great round, easy to load for, and a lot of powder that works well. I was just getting bored with it...
I have some Cutting Edge 165 grainers that I may try in 308...
Most of what I was reloading for 308 previously was SMKs, the 168s shoot better in my rifle. Now, I've switched to copper as I can't use lead for hunting, and that is my primary focus these days.
waveslayer
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2025
- Messages
- 36
4064 is good, XBR, H4895, BLC2, the list is so long
@RangeHot
Did we lose you? I agree with @waveslayer on those powders, I've had good luck with XBR and Varget in 308. I've also loaded H335 and have loaded a lb. of 4064 in the past.
I was going to explain dies a bit, but wanted to make sure you were following us still.
Did we lose you? I agree with @waveslayer on those powders, I've had good luck with XBR and Varget in 308. I've also loaded H335 and have loaded a lb. of 4064 in the past.
I was going to explain dies a bit, but wanted to make sure you were following us still.
I think we lost the OP, but I was curious if anyone else is interested in reloading that has never done it before, or that could use some tips.
I don't claim to be the best reloader, but I had planned on explaining how it's done so that the OP would have some idea of what to do.
Is anyone interested in reloading? Someone that has a press and dies already, would be preferable, but if you would like to learn how to reload and don't have any equipment yet, I could give you some pointers on what to buy, that would fit your budget.
I don't claim to be the best reloader, but I had planned on explaining how it's done so that the OP would have some idea of what to do.
Is anyone interested in reloading? Someone that has a press and dies already, would be preferable, but if you would like to learn how to reload and don't have any equipment yet, I could give you some pointers on what to buy, that would fit your budget.
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Is anyone interested in reloading, but would like some help?
- Latest: KonoctisWigwam