.308 Winchester

[Highbrass]

42.5 IMR4064 seems to be the sweet spot. That’s what I run in my bolt rifle with 168 hybrids at 2690 and my AR10 with 175 SMK’s at 2630

I have never really had time to work out a good .308 load. I have a couple of pounds of 4064 and I thought I would give it a try with 168 ELDs . I tried 3 different loads and the 42.6 was magic. Shot 3 into a single hole @100yds....Man I have been missing out.....

 

[Phil McGrath]

Petersen case, Fed primer, 42.5 IMR-4064 dribbled up, 175SMK, 2.82 coal. Sorry no chrono data and for the poor/sloppy trigger control. I was getting baseline dope on the scope. These are the first 5rds, I think load development is done?

 

[BuLLet]

Just some 308 MagnetoSpeed testing, with one of my generic loads.


308 168 SMK, 41 Grains RL 15,
New Winchester Brass

Series,14, Shots:,10
Min,2528, Max,2545
Avg,2536 ,S-D, 5.7
ES , 17

Series,Shot,Speed
14, 1, 2540, ft/s
14, 2, 2532, ft/s
14, 3, 2545, ft/s
14, 4, 2537, ft/s
14, 5, 2533, ft/s
14, 6, 2530, ft/s
14, 7, 2541, ft/s
14, 8, 2535, ft/s
14, 9, 2528, ft/s
14,10, 2543, ft/s
----,----,----,----

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

Load development for the AI AE2, 155gr Palma SMK, 8208xbr, federal gold medal match primers, Lapua Palma brass

 

[straightshooter1]

Just some 308 MagnetoSpeed testing, with one of my generic loads.


308 168 SMK, 41 Grains RL 15,
New Winchester Brass

Series,14, Shots:,10
Min,2528, Max,2545
Avg,2536 ,S-D, 5.7
ES , 17

Series,Shot,Speed
14, 1, 2540, ft/s
14, 2, 2532, ft/s
14, 3, 2545, ft/s
14, 4, 2537, ft/s
14, 5, 2533, ft/s
14, 6, 2530, ft/s
14, 7, 2541, ft/s
14, 8, 2535, ft/s
14, 9, 2528, ft/s
14,10, 2543, ft/s
----,----,----,----

View attachment 7883979

What was your COAL?
Barrel length?

Hmmm??? Since the Winchester brass has ~1.5 gr more capacity that something like Federal's or Lapua brass, that's like ~40.5 grs of RL-15 in Federal or Lapua brass.

 

[BuLLet]

2.800

I think the barrel is 24 inches.... I'll have to check.

What was your COAL?
Barrel length?

 

[straightshooter1]

2.80

Thanks. I kinda thought so. Pretty much the same results with I use Federal brass with slightly less RL-15.

 

[Highbrass]

I had a little time to test my 4064 loading in my other .308 (Howa). The 42.6 load shot exceptional in my Savage so I just wanted to see how that load would hold up. 10 shots @100yds no fouling shot from a cold barrel.
These rounds were mixed range brass with 168 ELDs. 2640 FPS
Not what I would call exceptional and I pulled the last shot....but still not terrible

 

[Baddog 0302]

Load development for the AI AE2, 155gr Palma SMK, 8208xbr, federal gold medal match primers, Lapua Palma brass

What was your charge Wt. with XBR ?
Thank you

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

What was your charge Wt. with XBR ?
Thank you

44gr

 

[5RWill]

Anyone know what freebore to go with for a 168gr tmk? About to get the XM3 chambered.

 

[Phil McGrath]

whoops sorry, I need too read more.

 

[DJL2]

Anyone know what freebore to go with for a 168gr tmk? About to get the XM3 chambered.

Might consider asking Mike at Tac Ops if he’s willing to share any specs with you… my Delta-51 seems to shoot the Fed LE TRU 168 TMK every bit as well as the FGMM 168 SMK… would need to be a better shooter to spot a difference (or a much larger than 20 v. 20 sample). That was at 2625 fps from 20”, if that helps at all.

 

[jLorenzo]

Load development for the AI AE2, 155gr Palma SMK, 8208xbr, federal gold medal match primers, Lapua Palma brass

How long is your barrel? Ive been shooting the regular 155s, want to try the palmas.

 

[5RWill]

Might consider asking Mike at Tac Ops if he’s willing to share any specs with you… my Delta-51 seems to shoot the Fed LE TRU 168 TMK every bit as well as the FGMM 168 SMK… would need to be a better shooter to spot a difference (or a much larger than 20 v. 20 sample). That was at 2625 fps from 20”, if that helps at all.

I'll shoot him a PM. Thanks. I also asked David at PTG just waiting to hear back from him.

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

How long is your barrel? Ive been shooting the regular 155s, want to try the palmas.

The barrel is factory, think it is 24"

 

[jLorenzo]

What kind of velocity are you getting? Have you tried the regular 155 smks and if so how would you compare the two?

 

[Rhed]

Load development for the AI AE2, 155gr Palma SMK, 8208xbr, federal gold medal match primers, Lapua Palma brass

What’s the twist on your barrel? And what kind of mv your getting? I have a 26” 1:12 coming and wondering which bullet to launch with it. I have a box of 500 in 155 smk (#2156), 168 smk, and 175 smk. Will be taking it out to 1000+ yards

 

[Doom]

What’s the twist on your barrel? And what kind of mv your getting? I have a 26” 1:12 coming and wondering which bullet to launch with it. I have a box of 500 in 155 smk (#2156), 168 smk, and 175 smk. Will be taking it out to 1000+ yards

The 168 probably want make it unless you're at elevation, probably somewhere around 2000 ft or so. the 155 and 175 should make it. But if things open up and the BC is correct the 169SMK would probably be the ticket. Better BC and probably the optimum weight for a 1 in 12.

 

[Rhed]

Really want to try the 169. But been outta stock for some time now. So I’ll just work with what I have on hand. I’m shooting around elevation 900. If I can push the Palma’s to 2900, I should be good at the distance right? Got XBR, Varget, TAC, CFE 223, and RL15. I’m thinking the CFE?

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

What’s the twist on your barrel? And what kind of mv your getting? I have a 26” 1:12 coming and wondering which bullet to launch with it. I have a box of 500 in 155 smk (#2156), 168 smk, and 175 smk. Will be taking it out to 1000+ yards

The stock AI barrel is 1:12 the bullet is the 2156 the velocity is about 2840

 

[Rhed]

The stock AI barrel is 1:12 the bullet is the 2156 the velocity is about 2840

Great! I have new AX with a 26” bbl in .308 delivered tomorrow. Want to do some reloads this week. So I can get it out next weekend. I gotta measure for seating depth first. Does 2156 likes the jump or close to lands? Thanks..

 

[mitchellchandler_au]

Great! I have new AX with a 26” bbl in .308 delivered tomorrow. Want to do some reloads this week. So I can get it out next weekend. I gotta measure for seating depth first. Does 2156 likes the jump or close to lands? Thanks..

With the factory chamber I am jumping 0.060" to the lands, this keeps me just under AICS length

 

[Jcaplinger199]

Any loads for hornady 176 atip with varget or vv150

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Any loads for hornady 176 atip with varget or vv150

I’m not a home right now, but I’ve reloaded the 175 SMKs using both Varget and VV-150 and the starting points are common knowledge, so just load them up and see what you see?

All weapons behave differently.

Chris

 

[Bantam1]

Any loads for hornady 176 atip with varget or vv150

44.3 Varget in Lapua brass with a CCI BR primer is my load with the 176 A Tip.

2670 in my 22" GAP
SD 3.7
ES 10
.3-.4 MOA
Load confirmed to 1140 yards so far in 15-20 winds. I think it performs much better than the 175 Sierra. Slightly better than the 178 Hornady HPBT with less wind drift.

 

[Cowboy83]

With the factory chamber I am jumping 0.060" to the lands, this keeps me just under AICS length

 

[Mg427]

Started shooting my new Rifle, AX308 with Proof Carbon Fiber 26”
First target picture is 5 rounds of Sierra MatchKings 168gr HPBT, its a laser with this ammo. Second target is load I started working on; it's 3 shots, but showing a lots of Promise.

.308W
168 Hornady AMAX
RL-15 -41 grains
Lapua Case
FM 205 Primer

 

[howe0001]

Question about powder: IMR 4320 was discontinued some time back. Whether it's the best choice or worst choice is not my question. It worked for me quite well. I've written to Hodgdon(IMR) and asked this question, but have not heard back. What is the closest replacement powder to IMR 4320 (if it's just burn chart, then I guess varget or Win 748 but I think that doesn't tell the whole story)? Does anyone know for sure if there is or is not a direct replacement?

Thanks

 

[Phil McGrath]

Question about powder: IMR 4320 was discontinued some time back. Whether it's the best choice or worst choice is not my question. It worked for me quite well. I've written to Hodgdon(IMR) and asked this question, but have not heard back. What is the closest replacement powder to IMR 4320 (if it's just burn chart, then I guess varget or Win 748 but I think that doesn't tell the whole story)? Does anyone know for sure if there is or is not a direct replacement?

Thanks

I’m in the same boat, I’ve got two rifle that love it under 185’s. Maybe PPMR2000?

 

[FuhQ]

New video is up with the R700 5R .308 Win showing supersonic and subsonics suppressed...

 

[Rhed]

Bartlein 26” 1-10 .308
155 gr smk Palma (#2156)
.308 SRP Peterson case
46.4 gr Varget
#cci 450 srp
2860 fps ave
(Fire form load only)

 

[Jcaplinger199]

Anybody using Peterson SRP brass for 308? Just got some. Woundering if there’s significant difference in charges weight. My plan was to back off 0.5gr and work back up.

 

[straightshooter1]

Anybody using Peterson SRP brass for 308? Just got some. Woundering if there’s significant difference in charges weight. My plan was to back off 0.5gr and work back up.

My 308 Peterson SRP brass has the same volume as my LRP's (well, .1 gr less H2O on average actually) and I use the same charge with good results. You should be able to do the same and use the same load as with your LRP's.

 

[Manning5R]

Looking to load up some relatively inexpensive PRS practice ammo. Would be used for barricade type positional practice. Just 100-200 yards.

Any opinions on the Barnes match burner 155's? If they suck, I'll spend the extra 10 cents for Bergers.

Also, a buddy has a few pounds of H335 that he can't remember why he got it. I could get it for super cheap. The hodgdon website shows it being acceptable for 155 grain bullets.

Or would this combo just irritate me like cheap rimfire ammo does?

 

[JMGlasgow]

Have you looked at the Hornady 155 BTHP bulk bullets? I think I remember them being around $500 for 2000.

 

[Mainer]

Looking to load up some relatively inexpensive PRS practice ammo. Would be used for barricade type positional practice. Just 100-200 yards.

Any opinions on the Barnes match burner 155's? If they suck, I'll spend the extra 10 cents for Bergers.

Also, a buddy has a few pounds of H335 that he can't remember why he got it. I could get it for super cheap. The hodgdon website shows it being acceptable for 155 grain bullets.

Or would this combo just irritate me like cheap rimfire ammo does?

I can't comment on the Barnes 155's, but I just got 500 of the .264 145 match burners and found them to be very consistent in weight. Varied from 144.8 to 145.1 gns. That is more consistent than I have found Hornady's ELD-M's.

 

[xsn10s]

My old PSS 1-12" twist Nosler 2nd's brass without annealing, 168 ELDM, IMR4895 and FED 210M. Shot off the hood my my Jeep Harris bipod with no rear bag.

 

[xsn10s]

My PSS again with 168 ELDM, TAC 43.8 gr, Rem 9 1/2 primers and Nosler 2nd's brass on their sixth firing and first annealing. No pictures of the groups but they were under 0.5 moa. Rats at around 240 yards and Tide jug at about 1108 yards. Missed the first two shots because of a wind call.

 

[FisherT&C]

.308 Win SAAMI chamber
Barrel: McGowan #3, 10 twist, 20", chrome-moly.
Action: Tikka T3x
Scope: Vortex Razor Gen1 5-20x50
Muzzle Device: Coastal Guns LRT-30
Bullet: 180 grain Sierra Pro Hunter
Case: Nosler
Primer: Wolf Large Rifle
Full Length Sized RCBS
Mandrel Die: 21st Century Innovation
Neck Tension: .002"
BTO: 2.235
OAL: approx. 2.830"
Jump: don't know, don't care.
Powder: IMR 4064
Range: 100 yards

Charges 1 thru 5

Charges 6 thru 10

10 Shot Ladder Test:
1) 42.8 / 2548 fps
2) 43.1 / 2599
3) 43.4 / 2621
4) 43.7 / 2610
5) 44 / 2640
6) 44.3 / 2634
7) 44.6 / 2676
8) 44.9 / 2689
9) 45.2 / 2697 ( primer flattening)
10) 45.5 / 2712 ( hard bolt lift)

I'm going to reload at 44.8 and try it out to longer ranges.

 

[Echo.shooter]

Any recommendations for reloading?

1.25” straight contour, 28” at the brake, 1-10 twist

I was thinking 4064 or CFE 223 with a 155gr or a 175gr.

 

[Rob01]

Any recommendations for reloading?

1.25” straight contour, 28” at the brake, 1-10 twist

I was thinking 4064 or CFE 223 with a 155gr or a 175gr.
View attachment 7958147

For what use? And the bullets mentioned SMKs?

 

[toxic]

I vote 185 juggernauts. Especially with the long barrel.

 

[Rhed]

Any recommendations for reloading?

1.25” straight contour, 28” at the brake, 1-10 twist

I was thinking 4064 or CFE 223 with a 155gr or a 175gr.
View attachment 7958147

With a 28” barrel 1-10? I’d do 155 gr smk #2156 (not 2155) And definitely with CFE223. You can get that going 3000 fps+ with the slower burning CFE. And if you do, that bullet likes to jump. Being that said, that would be easily 1300+ yards all day.

5 shot
AXSA 26” 1-10 .308
155 gr Palma #2156
47 gr Varget
Peterson .308 srp case
CCI #450 srp
3 thou neck tension
8 thou from lands

 

[straightshooter1]

Any recommendations for reloading?

1.25” straight contour, 28” at the brake, 1-10 twist

I was thinking 4064 or CFE 223 with a 155gr or a 175gr.
View attachment 7958147

For 175 SMK's @ COAL:2.869, 42.5 gr IMR-4064 has worked very well for me .

For 155 SMK's @ COAL: 2.863", 45.0 gr IMR-4064 has also worked well for me.

IMHO, forget the CFE223. It can work, but it can be a bit of a hassle and there as many other powders that work better (e.g. AR-Comp, H-4895, Varget and some others).

 

[357Max]

Anyone tried Lever with 169SMK?

 

[Echo.shooter]

For what use? And the bullets mentioned SMKs?

Training for PRS, I’m attempting to reduce the barrel wear on the 6GTs. Open to anything, I’ve got plenty of SMKs. I have mixed feeling on the 168gr when shooting past 700.

 

[straightshooter1]

Training for PRS, I’m attempting to reduce the barrel wear on the 6GTs. Open to anything, I’ve got plenty of SMKs. I have mixed feeling on the 168gr when shooting past 700.

Right, 168 SMK's are not a good choice for that. If you can find them, you might want to take a close look at the 169 SMK's, which is a whole new design for the SMK's; better than the 175 SMKs IMHO.

 

[straightshooter1]

Anyone tried Lever with 169SMK?

I like them a lot!

I've been shooting them since I developed this load of 43.0 gr IMR-4064, also works well for me with 41.1 gr AR-Comp with COAL: 2.928" @ 2732 fps.

 

[Echo.shooter]

I have a couple thousand of the 169s, I got bored waiting for the barrel to be spun up. I will give them a try. The "JAM" point of the barrel is at 2.9016", tomorrow I am going to break it in and then do some testing.