Concern about 308 load

[N1YDP22]

i have reloader 15 powder hornady 150gr fmj/bt bullet.on the alliant web site it calls for 49grs of powder for a 150gr spitzer bullet.most other data i have seen says 44grs with a bt bullet is max load.the case is filled up to the neck and when i seat the bullet i think it's a compressed load.so i am not sure if i should use that load.
here is the other data i found
http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

[fgw_in_fla]

Mr. Lyman & his 49th Edition says:

RL-15 ------> 41.0 to 46.2

I have found most (95%+) of my accuracy loads have been between the low end to around the mid-point of the recipes in Lyman.

When in doubt, check another reference or reduce by 10%.

Especially if the case appears full to where you have to hammer the bullet in...

Be careful.

[N1YDP22]

i think i will pull the bullet and reload it to 41grs.thanks

[esquared]

If it is on the powder manufacturers website it is within a safe range as they never list a max load. I have several compressed loads I use and one is a 308 that is at 50 grains of 760 and it is one of my most accurate loads.

[esquared]

BTW remember most manufacturers pressure test and I also pressure test my loads. I would lonly worry if you are using a powder that is known to over pressure in hot climates and you live in one.

[Dennis]

RL15, I have never gone over 44.5grns with a 150grn bullet.

[bootsmcguire]

My Lee manual (which pulls all its data from the manufacturer's directly) lists a 150gr Jacketed Bullet with RL 15 43.1 to 49.0 compressed. I'd say start at 43.1to 44.0 range and work up.

[Dennis]

I start showing pressure signs with anything over 45.5 grns

[thermaler]

Hard to generalize across different bullets and rifles--but my policy is not to wander too far into compressed loads--meaning I generally won't go past 103%--but it depends on the cut. RL 15 is a longish cut which I think leaves a little space in the case for compression loads to settle in. Another poster made an excellent suggestion to check your loads after 24 hrs or so to see if there's any "pushback" in the bullet seating. I've experienced the same thing you have and stopped at around 46 because the pressure on the press became significant--though I have to say there were no indications of pressure problems after firing the cartridge. But I'm not an expert and these are only my self-imposed limitations.

[fgw_in_fla]

My Lee manual (which pulls all its data from the manufacturer's directly) lists a 150gr Jacketed Bullet with RL 15 43.1 to 49.0 compressed. I'd say start at 43.1to 44.0 range and work up.

Don't listen to him.
Him & another guy here talked me into putting a .223wssm together. Savage & reloading obsession is bad enough. Stay away from the 223wssm. It's not good for your mental well being.
Firing a piece of copper coated lead thru a fat shiny pipe at 4 times the speed of sound, while fun, can cause OCD behaviour...

[eddiesindian]

Ive been shooting that exact projectile and propellant for some time now thru my 24" 308 tube.

I tried the Hornady 150,s on a whim while doing my load development for my Savage and Im glad I did.

I loaded up some Horn. 150,s FMF-BT with 42.0gr of RL-15 and was "very" impressed with the accuracy. I bum,t it up to 43.0 and the POI was the same with exception to a slight change in elevation (obviously).

At the time the only 150,s I had laying around were the Horn. 150,s. So as time went on I took note of occasional flyers I was getting (which doesnt fit well with me), so i went with Sierra 150 SMK,s...flyer issues were resolved and on a good calm day I can get 1/4" patterns @ 100yds. with the SMK,s.


Ive since been only using SMK,s and have 2 seperate load charge,s......one @ 43.0grs and another @ 45.5grs...I have "NO" signs of over pressure and am getting 1/4-1/2 patterns on a good calm day.

Alls things usually arent equal...
My altitude is at 4200
and my barrel is a 24" in a 11:25 twist.
Hope this helps..................Good luck..............be safe

[N1YDP22]

i just loaded up some cases with 41grs of rl-15 and 150gr hornady fmj/bt oal 2.68.haveing a good snow storm right now so it will be a bit before i can test them out.

[bootsmcguire]

Don't listen to him.
Him & another guy here talked me into putting a .223wssm together. Savage & reloading obsession is bad enough. Stay away from the 223wssm. It's not good for your mental well being.
Firing a piece of copper coated lead thru a fat shiny pipe at 4 times the speed of sound, while fun, can cause OCD behaviour...

Hey c'mon now Frank. OCD is just adside effect of a process leading to an outstanding result: a bullet accuratly traveling at 4x's the speed of sound. I didn't find that the 223WSSM was any worse to my mental well being than any other of my rounds. At least the 30-06 barrel I sent your way has not given you any OCD. ;)


i just loaded up some cases with 41grs of rl-15 and 150gr hornady fmj/bt oal 2.68.haveing a good snow storm right now so it will be a bit before i can test them out.

Let us know how they do for you once the weather allows.

[fgw_in_fla]

Hey c'mon now Frank. OCD is just adside effect of a process leading to an outstanding result: a bullet accuratly traveling at 4x's the speed of sound. I didn't find that the 223WSSM was any worse to my mental well being than any other of my rounds. At least the 30-06 barrel I sent your way has not given you any OCD. ;)


----> I haven't let that '06 get too far away from my side. Ever.
And I still have 58 boxes of various assorted .224 bullets to use.



Let us know how they do for you once the weather allows.----> Once the weather allows?... I keep forgetting, it's not 76* & sunny everywhere.

By the way, I just ran a OCW on .308 / 168gr Hornady Match bullets with RL15. It did real well with 48.4 gr. Still needs a little fine tuning but I got a 5 shot .75 group at 100yds on Sunday. (That's a 30.06 by the way...)
Happy loading.

[squirrelsniper]

The load being compressed won't hurt a thing, and many (including myself) think it's best in terms of accuracy to use a load that is either compressed slightly or very nearly so. Unless the load is so compressed that the bullet begins to creep forward out of the case from the pressure, then there's no safety concern due solely to the powder charge being compressed.

Since I have no experience with the exact load you're reffering to, I have no idea whether the powder charge itself is safe, whether compressed or not.

[Pilgrim]

If it is on the powder manufacturers website it is within a safe range as they never list a max load. I have several compressed loads I use and one is a 308 that is at 50 grains of 760 and it is one of my most accurate loads.
That is true, BUT you must use EXACTLY their listed components. I have some Lapua 260 Rem brass that gives a compressed load, but, if loaded in R-P cases, is an easy fit. Obviously, the pressures would be vastly different.