.308 handloads
 

Hi peeps,

As i am just about to start handloading, can someone give me a way to work up a hunting load for my remington 700. using 150gr .308?

Cheers,

Vic;)

RE: .308 handloads
 

I like Varget and IMR4064. Depends on what bullet you be shooting.

I know you asked for 150gr, but I shoot 165 with excellent results in 3 rifles.

45gr Varget 165gr Gameking loaded to 2.78" COL. with 210 primer. Federal brass.

RE: .308 handloads
 

748, I4064, I4350, H380 would all do well. You really can't go off someone else's charge weight, you'll have to work the load to see what your gun likes. I personally like Hornady bullets, others like Noslers, Sierras, etc. again you'll need to see what your gun likes.

RE: .308 handloads
 

Thanks guys.

I am starting with 150gr reminton core-lokt. My 700 remington is rebarrelled with a ss 1:14T so i guess that limits my bullet weights. but will start at the beinging and work up a good load from there.

Cheers.

V.
:)

RE: .308 handloads
 

I hear people say you can't go off somebodies elses load all the time. I disagree. I think it is another useful piece of information. Thats the reason pages like load your own is very popular. Like my pet load for my 308. I go to load your own dot com, and guess what, it performs well in several other peoples 308. A few months ago, I was really down about RL25 in my 300RUM. I was getting ready to quit using. I go and see alot of people really love that powder, and it likes to be fired at near max pressures. But I never reached those pressures, cause the velocity was way up there (compared to H1000, and 7878), and I didn't want to load up any further. I now have the most accurate load I have found, with RL25.

So yes, other peoples loads is very helpful.

RE: .308 handloads
 

Vic,

I've had good results with the Hornady 150 grain Interbond and H-4895 and H-Varget. I use the CCI BR-2 primer in my .308 Win. With H-4895 the suggested starting load is 43.0 grains and the book max is 45.5 grains. With Varget, the starting load is 44.0 grains and the book max is 47.0 grains. Accuracy has been excellent with both powders.

Varget.
The 47.0 book max is a compressed load in my Lapua cases. In a 22" barrel velocities rreached 2780 fps.

H-4895.
In my rifle, Varget gave smaller five shot groups. H4895's groups run about 3/16" larger, but are still only 5/8". Velocities are right at 100 fps faster with H-4895. While the loads are not compressed, density is very close to 100%. This load makes me very happy.

I suggest that you start at the suggested starting load, and increase powder weight in half grain increments to the max load. I like to load three rounds per load and fire for group size. Once I've found the tightest grouping load, I'll load five rounds to a load and reload the tightest group load, and one step up and down and retry them. This will usually get you a very good hunting load. Good luck and God Bless.

RE: .308 handloads
 

I agree with everything that Bigcountry said. Some loads DO tend to work universally well in most guns. Federal match loads are hard to beat with handloads, in fact most people end up copying them.

My particular .308 likes 165-168 gr bullets with 4064 behind it. Ifound that it works best with the maximum listed load which is around 43 gr. (can't remember offhand) and at 41 gr. powder charge for a lighter load.