Loads for 2 308's

[04jeeper]

Looking for some direction for loads for a savage 10fp .308 and a custom stevens in 308 too. 1/10 twist the Stevens will have a 24" varnmit barrel.

Need some kind of starting place
Thanks

[Corprin]

What do you have to start with, and what are your goals?

[04jeeper]

In terms of tools I just git a lee breech lock kit today and a set o lf dies. My Stevens is waiting on the barrel and stock, it's currently a 7-08. The savage 10 is a heavy barrel I think 26" it's my brother in-laws we are looking for a good hunting round that's good from 50-300 yards if need be.

[Corprin]

Have you ever reloaded ammo before?

Why are you dumping the 7mm-08 for a .308 Win... seems like a step backwards IMHO.

[04jeeper]

No new to reloading.
Going to the 308 to save some money on ammo since we already shoot the same calibers on pistols, and ar's the 308 just means less dies and extras to buy.

[Corprin]

First thing to do is buy a good reloading manual and read up on the process and precautions, you should find most of your answers there. You are going to be very limited on your loads if you plan on using the same rounds for both the bolt rifles, and the AR's.

[GaCop]

+1 what Corprin said. Get a couple of recent manuals for reference and read, read, read. Your AR loads will be no where near what you can load in a bolt rifle.

[04jeeper]

Minor mis understanding guys. Ar15's are 223 not 308's. We are only loading for now the 308 later we will work up something for the ar's. I should have worded that a little differently.

[tammons]

For hunting deer out to 300 yards most any bullet will do and there are a myriad of good 308 bullets out there.

I like the 208 gr amax in 308 but I have one field I hunt hogs in that is 800 yards long. If you hunt hogs, you want a good bullet with a
SD of maybe .27 or more or a barnes bullet. If only deer then most any decent bullet will do. Lighter for less recoil, longer heavier for better
penetration and to carry more FPE at a longer distance.

If you have never reloaded before, as above you should read a lot, buy a load manual or go to the powder companies data on line, work with someone a bit that has done it before, be careful, double check everything, never keep more than the powder you are using on your load table especially if you load pistol, and always start 10% low and work your way up.

Wont post any loads here, but maybe start of with Varget or H4895 powder and you can go on the hodgdon site and look up loads for various bullets.

[Blue Avenger]

150gr soft point and a can of varget will get you started with practice loads. a box of 50 bullets wont last you very long. ;)

[scope eye]

My favorate loads are 110 vmax's and 110 sierra hp behind 50gr of varget which is a compressed load, and also there is less chance of screwing up when your new to reloading.
as allways re loaders beware.
Thanks Dean

[tammons]

The 110 grainers make great short range target rounds, but are varmint bullets so not so great for deer and hogs for body shots.
I have used the 110 gr Vmax for neck shots on deer at 100 yards and that bullet is superb for that.

For a better low recoil deer round a 125 gr pro hunter or a 130 grain Barnes tipped TTSX will do the trick.
130 TTSX would be better for hogs.

[04jeeper]

Wow awesome info guys. Keep it coming. I should also say I'm wanting to make a good load for a break open CVA single shot 308 that will primarily be my deer gun. The Stevens I have may be used for deer once in a while or mainly for hog hunts. The CVA has a 18" barrel I think and 1/10 twist. And it's a heavy barrel too.

[tammons]

There are a ton of different loads for 308 from soup to nuts, so its probably best to just figure out how much recoil you want to deal with and what and how far you will be hunting primarily and go from there.

For me for 100 yard Target and deer neck shots I like the 110 gr Vmax.
Reduced loads at about 2500 FPS using H4895 are great plinking rounds.

For a light recoil large deer or hog round I like the 130 gr TTSX.

For large hogs and long distance I like the 208 gr amax. Its a target bullet, but it has a SD of over .3

If you want a tougher heavy bullet then there are 200 gr gameking, nosler partition and accubond bullets.
For swamping I like the 220 gr round nose pro hunter.

The 7mm-08 is also superb with the 162 gr amax.
I shot a 250# boar hog at 300 yards and it blew through him like a freight train.

If you want to get the most out of heavy bullets in 308, use RL17 powder.
I am getting 2500 fps with the 208 gr amax out of a 19" barrel.
Enough to stay supersonic out to 1200 yards, and carry 850 FPS out to 800 yards.
I get 2400 out of the 220 gr round nose pro hunter.

You really need a 10 twist barrel for the heavy bullets.

Do a search at snipers hide. Lots of guy using RL17/208 amax in the 308 over there.

Then there are the standby bullet weights of 150/165/168.

[Senderofan]

As the other guys stated...get a reloading manual or two....read as much as you can about reloading and how to do it safely. Decide on a powder or two and the same for bullets. If you have to many choices in front of you...the variables will drive you crazy. I would also recommend getting a chronograph. Learn how to spot signs of pressure....start low and work up...Don't be in a hurry.

I've found the .308 to be very easy to work with. My latest one, BVSS with a 30" 1:10" twist tube...shoots amazingly well with Berger 185 gr. VLD / Hunting bullets with a charge of Varget. My velocity is a consistent 2760 to 2770 fps and very small groups.

Good Luck....Welcome to the addiction :)

Wayne

[Aircraftmech76]

I use Brad Suave's 47.5 Varget load under a Sierra 110 Varminter bullet. It's about 1/2 grain under STARTING. Mild load, shoots one hole groups out of my 308 Savage HB.

Kevin

[04jeeper]

Keeping with the tactical theme I'm looking to get a yhm can too. So anybody got advise for a good "quiet" load or would a heavy bullet with a standard load be gtg?

[ourway77]

I guess When you say 308 pistol and rife you mean a single shot pistol and a rifle. Like has been said get yourself some VG reloading books and start low and work up. You will find the pistol loads will be on the milder side than most rifles.I shoot both the 308 Encore and a Rem 700 rifle in 308. I have a loading manual for the 308 pistol and one for the 308 rifle. Varget is a good powder but there are others your guns may like better. I keep my 308 seperate in boxes so as not to get them mixed up but I also mark the primers with a black sharpie for the pistol or visa, versa which ever you elect. Another problem is when the cases become dirty and need to be tumbled it time to clean them, now is the time to clean one for the pistol by there self or the rifle to keep seperated it is some what of a pain in the arse. You don't want to get a case stuck because it was chanbered for one or the other and the round wont chamber. CONFUSED? i AM Good Luck Lou

[04jeeper]

Nope all of our 308's are rifles. Still good info tho.

[Slim Jim]

RL 15 is a versatile powder in many calibers, including your 223's. It shoots very well in my 308's. My Savage Tactical 308 will group anywhere from .200 to .600 regularly with 168 Sierra MK, 210M Fed. Primers, Lapua cases and 42.0 RL15. Bullet is 15 thou. off the lands at an OAL of 2.805".

Slim