I am getting ready to start reloading for my 308 and was looking for some advice on what rounds I should avoid and what rounds I should consider when trying to find something my rifle likes. I am shooting a Savage Arms 11/111 Hog Hunter with a 1:10 twist and a 20" barrel and will be shooting at paper, steel, and will also be hunting with the round. So far I have on my list to try are the 168gr Nosler Competition HPBT and the 168gr Sierra Match King HPBT. What others should I consider or avoid because I would like to get a sizable cross section to make my selection from.
Option for 308 load development
- Thread starter ABader
- Start date
There are as many bullets as women in this world. Just like women, bullets will be liked by some and hated by others. For all three things that you are doing with it; an AMAX bullet would be a good starting point. There will be others mentioned that are probably just as good but the AMAXs are starting to become available. 178 gr would be good in a 20 in 10 twist barrel.
Amen to that. Find a bullet your rifle will shoot decently and tune your load to it. Buy lots of one kind (when you can find it) and don't have a bunch of little lots of different kinds laying around (like I do).... I like the matchkings, but don't want to hunt with them.
Unfortunately my rifle hates the 178 Amax with a passion....but loves the 175SMK. The woman analogy above is spot on! 
Unfortunately my rifle hates the 178 Amax with a passion....but loves the 175SMK. The woman analogy above is spot on!
So far it really hasn't seemed to like anything I have put through it. I have tried 165gr Ballistic Tip from Nosler which grouped at .85" at 100. I have also tried 155gr Match from Hornady it didn't seem to like much, grouped at 1.15" at 100. Granted I'm new to this style of shooting so I don't want to fully discredit the miss match rifle to round either when it come to groupings. At the same time I don't want to call it quits after just two tests either. Thanks for the input again everyone.
ABader,
How are you working up your loads? For just starting out .85" at 100 yards is pretty good. Many have had good results using the OCW method.
OFG
How are you working up your loads? For just starting out .85" at 100 yards is pretty good. Many have had good results using the OCW method.
OFG
Actually I found a in El Paso That sold the actual preloaded Nosler and Hornady rounds and bought a couple boxes of each because I knew I was getting ready to deploy and didn't want to try to do a full custom load set up and have to leave right after I started and try to pick it all back up once I got home. What do you mean by the OCW method?
Dan Newberry's Optimum Charge Weight method is a way to find the "optimum" powder charge weight for a specific set of components. A search will turn up lots of good information. You might try some more factory loads, but .85" really is a pretty good group, especially for hunting.
OFG
OFG
I know it's not bad for just stating, but I'm s but if a perfectionist when it comes to shooting. It's mainly going to be a precision set up but also used for hunting from time to time since the El Paso area isn't really the greatest for hunting. Maybe one day once I PCS to s duty station with some good hunting, I'll be more focused on that end, but for now I'd like to more focus on learning the precision at distance skill. I'll do some research on the method you are talking about and see what I come up with there. since I'm new I don't want to leave a rock unturned so to speak.
if you will not be satisfied with anything other than close to perfection you are setting yourself up for expense and disappointment - a couple of options:
use what you have, lighten up, accept reasonable results and enjoy the sport while learning loading etc
get a high end rifle/ optic package that already has a tuned load ( that you can recreate ) with the performance you will accept - AND VERIFY THIS IN PERSON - the 6 groups of 5 rds each at 300yds is an excellent bullshit filter for any setup, but again witness it yourself
I use 208 Amax, 210 Berger would work a bit more recoil tho. Still I agree modern VLD esp the Berger put a hurting on animals and paper just the same.
i would work up your loads slow starting out,, mind likes 42.0gr of varget with 175 smks, 2600fps,,,but what ever your gun likes,, stick with that. the bergers bullets r great,,,,,setting bullet oal makes a big differences too in accuratey,, need to find oal and where that is and sit bullets to that lenght.
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