150gr E-tip load data for the 30-06
 

On a recent trip to Nosler I picked up a pile of .308cal 150gr E-Tips and am going to start loading them. I can find next to nothing as far as load data goes for them, anybody suggest a place to start with say H4350? From their shape they seem simmilar in size to my 165gr Accubonds or BT. I was thinking about starting with 165gr load data and working up...any thoughs or experiences?

Nosler recommends using the same starting load as the other 150 grain Nosler bullets but they say to limit the max charges for the E Tip to the mid point between min and max. The E Tips do run higher pressures with the same powder charges compared to most traditional lead bullets.

I shot several loads today with H4350 and H4831SC and I am less than impressed with the 150gr Etip. I saw the pressure signs with similarly loaded 165gr accubonds and BT and the velocities were similar as well. Pressure signs occurred around 2800-2850fps which is less than I have seen with other 150gr bullets in this rifle. Accuracy was not all that great printing an average (5) shot group around 2"-3" with all loads, the best load was right at 2". I will be loading some other powders for the next range visit but with these results I may have a couple hundred Etips for sale in the near future. For less than half the price I can shoot 165gr Innerlock into MOA groups and they have killed just fine for me the past 20 years....some times I should not tinker.

You may want to try seating the bullets further from the lands. Like 50 thousands off. Over on Noslers forum several guys that tried the Etips said that seems to be the key to getting them to shoot. You may also want to try a slower powder like RL22 since the E-tips build pressure quickley. This may improve your velocity a bit.

Ya, I am playing with the seating depth now but I don't hold high hopes for these bullets. It seems counter productive to create a tough 150gr bullet that can only be shot at 180gr velocities.