308 Shooters.

[James B]

I may have talked about this gun before. Its a Browning A Bolt light weight composite stalker with a 22 inch barrel. A friend adjusted the trigger for me and it a great shooter. So far I have shot at four mule deer with four drop in their tracks hits. My problem if I even have a problem is reaching 2800 fps with the 150 grain bullets. I am shooting Sierra pro-hunters and nosler ballistic tips. I can get about 2750 fps but regardless of the load I have tried I have only reached 2800 fps once. According to the manuals, even the 22 inch barrels are reaching as much as 2950 with a few loads. What loads or powders have any of you used and what kind of velocity do you get. When I shot silhouettes I used a 308 and loaded 40 grains of 4064 with the Hornady 190 grat BTSP and BTHP. At that time i didn't have a chronograph so I don't know just what I was getting but it worked well and those loads were lethal on Mulies as well. I can live with the 2750 but I know I should be able to get 2800 or better.

[Roskoe]

I have a .308, built on a Remington short action, with a 24" Shilen 1:12. The best powder I have used with the 150 and 155 grain bullets is RL12 - comfortably delivers 2950 to 2975 fps and shoots under 1/2". I would expect a 2" shorter barrel to produce maybe 60 fps or so less speed; but each barrel is its own little DNA molecule - 2800 is not all that bad, especially if the accuracy and consistency is good.

[johnch]

Some barrels produce slower FPS than other of the same brand and length.
IMO don't worry about the fact your load is slower than the book says.
At ethical ranges the deer will never know the differance.
With a 200 yd zero your "slow " load will only be 1.2" or less lower at 300 yds.
Whats the big differance ?? DEAD IS DEAD !!

Johnch

[James B]

I have not tried RE 12. I may have to give it a try. I know the 2750 load will do the job. I am just curious as to why the velocity is lower than normal. I only tried three or four powders so far as I just got it last fall before season. I got a tad over 2800 with one load but right now I can't find the data I used. I usually keep all that in my Chronograph box but it don't seem to be there. I quess the wife lost it. The deer I have used it on so far hit the deck with much speed. I load the 30-06 for deer to about 2800 fps too. Much more than that is overkill.

[Superpig]

Standard factory loads for the .308 with 150 gr. bullets is 2820 fps out of factory test barrels. Most of these barrels are 24" long as a standard. With a 22" barrel you are right were you should be. I've been reloading a long time and I understand what the books say and you can achieve a little more velocity with the 308. If you were to gain say 70 fps to 2820 fps you would never be able to tell the difference in energy levels or bullet drop. It seems your load works and that you shoot it very well, so don't mess with a good thing just keep droppin in there tracks. Good luck and Good Hunting!!!!

2800fps is hard to hit in a 22" barrel even with 150gr bullets. If you can't do it with 47gr of varget compressed, I don't think you are going to be able to do it period.

I have a A-Bolt medallion and I get 2750fps with 22" barrel and 45.5gr of Varget and 165gr gameking. Right on the money what the book says.

People, I got to ask, what does it help a feller to tell him to "stick with what he's got". He has a specific question. You can either help him by answering or don't reply.

[Pittsburghunter]

I have only been reloading for a handfull of years but the .308 is my main hunting rifle so that is what I have loaded and shot the most out of. I have no clue what the actual speeds for this round is but I find it to be very accurate.

46g varget with a 150g Hornaday Interlock sp. Winchester standard rifle primers and cases. This combo should be close to your magic number of 2800fps. The Speer reloading manual shows the max load to be 47g Varget for a 150g bullet with a speed of 2856

[Slamfire]

Well I sure wouldn't keep stuffin' powder in tryin' to pick up 50 fps. Back off to the lightest load that gits you 2750 and call yourself smart. Even 2700 fps is a decent load.

[HighDesertWolf]

ya might try a faster powder like RL 12 or maybe try varget. honestly i wouldnt worry about it aslong as its accurate, muleys and any animal for that matter dont know the difference of a 100 fps.

[James B]

Thanks a lot for the replies. If I could find my data, I got 2815 with one load with the 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. When I use the Nosler Ballistic tip I am vary happy with 2700 fps or a little more because the 150 Ballistic tip works perfect at those speeds. Yes the 2750 with the Sierra Pro Hunter also jerks the ground out from under the mulies. Both of the ones I used it on last fall just hit the ground with the loud Thump. One was about 125 yards the other about 200. 90% of my shots are 200 yards give or take 20 yards or so. Thats the range I set up my ambush spots where they come out of the river breaks in the evenings. I will play around a bit with some of the loads you guys listed here and see how the work.