308 Winchester Loads?

[BarnesX.308]

I picked up some Hornady 130 grains and was going to load some reduced loads for my boy to try. I was thinking of somewhere in the 2300fps range. Out of all my reloading manuals, there is not much data for this. I found one load with AA3100 (which I don't have).

I have IMR4350, IMR4895, IMR4227, RL22 and RL19.

Does anyone know of any loads using these powders?

Thanks.

[IMR]

Lighter recoil issues-
Berger 150 HPBT
42.0- IMR 4064- Fed 210M or Win std primer- LCM case
works very well in Rem VS try Fed/Win case

Sierra 150 gr. #2125 SPBT 44-4064-210m/210/ or Win std- Win/Fed case

130 gr. Speer FBHP the same very light recoil
125 gr. Sierra 41.0- 4895- Fed/Win- primers+cases as above

sometimes these sporters are like smallbores- you may have to try, then adjust the recipe. these worked for me in Rem 700's Varmit and Sporter. My Win. 70 pre-64 likes the Sierra 2125. Check the Sierra loading manual.

[maine_sport]

I picked up some Hornady 130 grains and was going to load some reduced loads for my boy to try. I was thinking of somewhere in the 2300fps range. Out of all my reloading manuals, there is not much data for this. I found one load with AA3100 (which I don't have).

I have IMR4350, IMR4895, IMR4227, RL22 and RL19.

Does anyone know of any loads using these powders?

Thanks.


308 Win. Light Hunting Load for Deer
Powder - 40.0 gr of IMR 4895
Bullet - 130 gr Spire Point
Primer - Regular Large Rifle Primer
Velocity - About 2450 fps from 18.5 in bbl
Notes - This load has very little recoil, but may not cycle in a semi-auto. It can be used by a recoil conscious person or a small person just starting to hunt. Obviously a well aimed, broadside chest shot is preferred. Ballistics are similar to a 30-30 Win. Stay within 150 yds

Source:
www.dwave.net/~phred/reloadng.html (http://www.dwave.net/~phred/reloadng.html)

[BarnesX.308]

Powder - 40.0 gr of IMR 4895
Bullet - 130 gr Spire Point
Primer - Regular Large Rifle Primer
Velocity - About 2450 fps from 18.5 in bbl


I like that. I think the barrel on this gun is 20" so we might get around 2500. Plenty to kill a deer.

Where is this data from? It's not that I don't trust you, I just have a habit of double-checking reloading data posted in internet message boards. :D:D:D

Actually, I'm seeing 44-46 grains if IMR4895 in one reloading manual, 44-48 in another and 41.5-45.5 in another. Looks like the 40 grain charge is definitely within reasonable limits.

[BarnesX.308]

Never mind. I just saw the source link on the bottom of your post :D.



130 gr. Speer FBHP the same very light recoil
125 gr. Sierra 41.0- 4895- Fed/Win- primers+cases as above

Thanks. This is right around the other load. I may give them a try this weekend. :shoot: I have a couple more reloading manuals at the cabin as well. I'll take a look and see what they have. I seem to remember not much, though. :confused:

[maine_sport]

Have fun in camp!

Sam

[BarnesX.308]

That's a given. Going up Thursday evening. I'll load some up Thursday night and we'll try some Friday before our guests come up.

[IMR]

With all loads I like to "pick the point" so to speak. Then start off maybe a grain less and work uo in half - grain steps to find the "best range" as a scan. From there work below and/or up in .3's if I feel I need refinement.
Some people don't do this- but I deburr the inside of primer flasj hole and uniform the pockets. This works. Keep us posted.

Ideas from the net and guys like me who have reloaded for 35 years are good but no load should go unchecked by a manual. Also, when you're at the bench- be solid. Dry fire 6x or so and watch the reticle the whole way through. Don't waste your labot on a jumping reticle. Wait till you can drop the pin and it stays still.

[BarnesX.308]

Ideas from the net and guys like me who have reloaded for 35 years are good but no load should go unchecked by a manual.

That's sound advice. I will be referencing with manual. I have already checked three manuals and made sure this load is not above any recommended loads. It is below all my published minimums. Next step is too make sure it is not to light a charge that would result in a hang fire.

Don't worry, the load inquiry on the net is just a curiousity to see what's out there. I will double check the published data before firing a shot. :thup:

[IMR]

I find it interesting that the various manuals have such disparity. They just may not list a load reference for your fav powder or bullet, depending on the manual. I do have a few but my main source has been Sierra. Lightest load I ever used was 37.5-4895-168 Sierra-LCM case for National Match Comp. at 200 and 300 yds. Very accurate in match rifles with a 10-twist. M1A service rifles was 40.5. Even these are enough punch for deer. I don't use match bullets for hunting but I have friend who does (not always though) without BAD results. Aside, lighter bullets may prefer a 12 twist and maybe not. ( Ask your rifle ).
PS- I was NOT bein a wise guy

[BarnesX.308]

I found a load in one of my manuals up at the cabin. It's a 130 grain bullet over IMR4227. 19 grains, I think. 2300 fps. My 6 year old was able to shoot it no problem. Recoil was similar to a 410 shotgun.

[Rickhem]

Hi Scott, I don't have the specific combination of components in a load for you but I can give you something to work with. If you remember, I had some pretty good luck with the Speer 125 grain TNT bullet from a box-stock Remington 700 sporter in 30-06. The load gave me the group shown here:

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/Rickhem/Shooting/125TNTGroup.jpg

Yeah, I think that's pretty impressive for a stock rifle and a 10 shot group. Anyway, I loaded up those same 125 TNT bullets for a .308 that I have with a Hart barrel. It's a sporter weight barrel (well, maybe just a tad heavier, but nowhere near varmint profile) and the action is bedded in a Bell & Carlson Carbelite stock. Really not a high-dollar rig by any means. I shot in an informal 3x300 match a couple weeks ago and shot this .308 prone off of a front rest and rear bag, kind of like F-class for one of the stages. Just wanted to see what it could do. The rifle held the X-ring for vertical, but the group spread out to the right a bit with the wind. Still, the target scored 200-11, and I think that the group was about 1.5 MOA. Yeah, it's a custom barrel, but these are light, varmint bullets and we're talking about a 20 shot group this time. Can't say enough about those 125 TNTs, and they are cheap too. I'll see if I can get a picture of the 200-11 target up here so you can see what I'm talking about.

[BarnesX.308]

Thanks Rick. My dad was stopping at Cabela's and asked me if I needed anything. I told him to get some 125-130 grain bullets. Just plain-jane bullets, nothing fancy, I told him. He got TWO 100 count boxes of Hornady 130s. I'm kind of stuck with this bullet for a long time. :D

My boy was able to hit a 14" tall metal groundhog at 75 yards with the load I made last weekend. That should do for now. When we blast off these 200 rounds, I'll try the 125 TNTs. :thup:

[Rickhem]

Those Hornady's should serve you well Scott. I shoot Hornady's occasionally in my AR, and they make good bullets.

As I promised, here's that target I fired using the 125 TNT bullets. I'm just about finished with a 500 bullet bulk pack, and I think I'll be buing another one. :D

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/Rickhem/Shooting/S7300012.jpg

[WoodsHunter]

Hey guy's
I ain't the best shot in the world, but if your using the orange as a target shound't the group be in the orange. It's a great group but it looks like 3" low & 2" to the left. If that was at 100yds. I would refrain shooting out pass 200yds. might be a miss. Also the second target, once again it looks more like a shotgun pattern, should the group be a little tighter ? ?
Once again only my opinion. I like to group about 1" high from center, in my 30.06 good for 50yds. out to 200yds. holding dead on, no guess work.
Anything beyond that I have to get into hold over. I see a lot of shooting articles where there are great groups, some you can cover with a dime, but there 4" from the center of the target. I'm not sure if that's what I be looking for. :huh: Just a opinion ! !

[Rickhem]

Hey guy's
I ain't the best shot in the world, but if your using the orange as a target shound't the group be in the orange. It's a great group but it looks like 3" low & 2" to the left. If that was at 100yds. I would refrain shooting out pass 200yds. might be a miss. Also the second target, once again it looks more like a shotgun pattern, should the group be a little tighter ? ?
Once again only my opinion. I like to group about 1" high from center, in my 30.06 good for 50yds. out to 200yds. holding dead on, no guess work.
Anything beyond that I have to get into hold over. I see a lot of shooting articles where there are great groups, some you can cover with a dime, but there 4" from the center of the target. I'm not sure if that's what I be looking for. :huh: Just a opinion ! !

No actually, they shouldn't, not for load development anyway. As for centering up the group, that's what the knobs on the sights are for my friend. When you are evaluating just how reproducible a specific load is, you need to fire all the shots without touching the sights. I agree that a couple clicks up and a couple right would have practically obliterated the orange dot, but then what would I bisect with the crosshairs? Having a consistant aiming point is also important in load development, and you let the group form nearby so you can see just how tight it is. Then, when you find the one load that you like, you adjust your sights for that load, and you're all set.

BTW, that "shotgun pattern" target was fired at a measured 300 yards. The X-ring is 2.85 inches in diameter, and the overall group for 20 shots was roughly 4.5 inches. That works out to a 1.5MOA group. Now your magazines show tighter groups, but usually for only three, or sometimes five shots.....that group is 20 shots, and the elevation is easily sub-MOA. From a hunter's perspective, that means that any groundhog that is missed, isn't missed because of the rifle/ammo part of the deal.

I'm guessing that you have never fired more than a few shots at distance like this, which isn't a knock on you, but there is a lot more to it than most realize until they try it.

[BarnesX.308]

No sense moving the point of impact around until you have your favorite load perfected. Then you can move the point of impact to the bullseye.

I, for one, love my bullets all hitting the bull. But I'll shoot a group before I make any adjustments to the scope.

[WoodsHunter]

Your right I don't usually take shots at 300yds. sitting behind a bench. But I do shoot what more real type hunting when I practice. I use a shooting ranch upstate Pa. Sitting down at a bench shoot at a steel plate out to 500yds. the plate is 12" x 12" a good accurate rifle/load will hit this. But one of there targets that they have is a car tire with a target in the center, you pick the distance, 50yds., 75yds., 100yds. or more if you think your that good. They have little mole hills they release the tire from left to right or right to left(they pick) now you have a bouncing tire with a target in the center which is as close as a deer running as you can get. They give you a generous amount of target to shoot at (you'll need it) then after three shots see how many (if any) shots hit the target.
I agree that sitting at a bench you can get a rifle to print single holes at 100yds., now take that same rifle and try to hit a moving target at that range, completly different. It all depends on what your into. I try to practice my shooting as if I was hunting, not shooting at Camp Perry.
By the way, that tire target, I do best with a good old 30-30 150gr. bullet open sights. It's fun watching guy's coming there for the first time with there super accurate bolt action whatevers, they get a whole new idea in target practice. But to answer your question yea I shot out to 300yds. it's O.K. now try the tire.:thup:

[WoodsHunter]

My Friend...
Thank's for that info, I always wonder what those little knobs on the side of the tube on top of my rifle were for,:huh: now if I can only figure out what the + when I look thru the tube means. After forty years of hunting someone has solved the question "What are those little knobs for" can hardly wait to get back to camp in November and let the rest of the group in on our secret...:thup:

[IMR]

OK guys, help me out a bit. Are those pictures in the X-boxes sent as PM's ? I test for groups like everybody, so I'm naturally curious. Thanks.