Need a good handload for .308 for longrange hog shooting.

I like 45gr. of IMR 4064 with a 150gr Speer SPBT bullet. That is what has been working well for me for the past month anyhow. You really oughta pick up a reloading manual like the one that Hodgdon's puts out every year. It has loads nowdays for Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders. The Speer reloading manual is pretty useful for me too.

I shoot 44gr of Varget with 165gr Sierra gameking, but seriously considering changing powders. Varget seems to leave alot of powder residue in the barrel

BC I have used W748 43.5 with that same GMK bullet and it is very accurate..I thought Varget was clean burning powder.

I seem to spend forever cleaning out the powder residue when I shoot my 308. So I called the guys at Sierra, and one of them also agreed it can be dirty if its not high pressure. But goodness, I don't want go too much more than 45-46gr. I am hitting max at that.

Not only did Varget not shoot well in my 7-08, it was dirty too.

thanks guys for all the info.

150 grain Partitions and 46 grains of Varget. Shoots fine, and I've never noticed a dirty barrel.

If you can't get a .308 to shoot very good with IMR-4064 and a 165-168gr bullet, there's either something wrong with the shooter or the rifle.

Same bullet with Varget or IMR-4895 will give you similar results.