110gr V-Max and...

Anybody used these Hornady's in a .308, and if so what kind of powders did you have good luck with? Trying to get a good coyote load to alternate with the 168 SMK's and ordered a box of these today. A little more info, my gun is 28" heavy barrel 10 twist. I am very new to reloading and just did my first batch of 168's with Varget last night. The hornady manual I says RL-7 as one of the powders for the 110 grainers, and I've heard good things about RL-15 for the heavier rounds, so I've been leaning towards that (plus it's available locally in several shops). Any info/suggestions would be great! I also have a reloading mentor that has a closet of almost every powder from Hodgon, IMR and Alliant, so I should be able to try out many different options before buying a full pound, just looking for some tried and trued starting points. Thanks,
Luke

26" mcgowen 308 1 in 10, 48.5 varget, winnie case, cci200, 2.7 OAL, Lee FC shoots well for me. never chronyed it though

that sounds like a hot load!

I've never used that light of a bullet in my 308s, but ran a Quickload simulation.

Highest velocity on down, with max load, at 2.700" COAL, with 28" barrel. You don't need a max load to have a screaming bullet.
Win 748, 52.7gr, 3541 fps
H335, 50.8gr, 3480 fps
Ramshot TAC, 51.8gr, 3477 fps
Ramshot X-Terminator, 48.7gr, 3468 fps
H322, 47.5gr, 3453 fps
Reloder 10X, 45.5gr, 3447 fps
Accurate 2460, 51.8gr, 3447 fps
Accurate 2320, 50.7gr, 3429 fps
Reloder 12, 49.9gr, 3424 fps
IMR 4198, 42.8gr, 3393 fps
Reloder 7, 43.6 gr, 3376 fps
H4227, 39.6gr, 3328 fps
...
Varget, 47.4gr, 3124 fps

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Originally Posted by lwink

that sounds like a hot load!

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data ive got shows 48-50g of varget w a 110 bullet. plently of jump to the lands w that short bullet in my bbl, pressure hasnt been a problem. ive loaded 47g of varget behind a 155 scenar, but settled on 46.5.

ymmv

I have been looking at developing this load as well, the amount of powder needed between different kinds is amazing, my loading manual uses from 52.3 grns of RL-12 to get to 3200FPS to just 42.8 grns of H 4198 to get to the same speed, I was gonna try and just use IMR 4895 (what im loading 168 Amax loads with) but I can run 10 grains less powder with H4198 and get the same velocities out of it.

Anyone know what the difference between H 4198 and IMR 4198 is? My manual says IMR 4198 is only safe to 39.7 grns @ 3100 fps while H 4198 is safe to 42.8grn @ 3200 FPS.

I worked a pretty accurate load out with the 110s in a factory Savage barrel once, it took crows out to over 450 yards. and Groundhogs at all distances in between.

I used RE-7, Lapua Cases, CCI primers and Hornady 110gr V-Maxes. If memory serves though they were running about 3250fps.

I think something like RE-10X would be a better burn rate for that combination though.

Just shot some reduced loads today. loaded for plinking, maybe a deer neck shot, for my dad who is 88YO and my bro in law who has a bad shoulder.

Reduced load H4895, 45.5 gr, chrono at around 2900 fps. Basically shot one ragged hole.

With 130 gr tipped barnes bullets running at 3150, 2" high at 100 yards, the 110 gr vmax reduced load
is dead on at 100 yards.

bump it up as reloading for these should start within the week. Thinking of some RL-10X and maybe some IMR-4198. Any other ideas/experience out there?

Are you looking for max FPS ??

not necessarily, just trying to see some loads that people have used that produced good accuracy. I don't expect to shoot this bullet over 400 yards, but as I am just getting into reloading I want to pick up some proven powders that can be used for these bullets rather than randomly picking powder out of all those listed in the reloading manuals.

The 30BR accuracy powder is H4198.

H322 is an accurate powder.
If you want to down load use H4895.

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26" mcgowen 308 1 in 10, 48.5 varget, winnie case, cci200, 2.7 OAL, Lee FC shoots well for me. never chronyed it though

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48.5 ???? Must only be with a 110gr. bullet

That's what I thought too, but then someone said you've got such a long jump to your lands in most chambers the pressure doesn't build up like it would with the longer heavier bullets (smk, amax).

I run 48.5 of H4895 under a 130 gr tipped TSX. Varget is very close to H4895, like 1000 psi over.
That is supposed to be running at around 57k. I get 3150 out of that load.

I actually tested loads up to 49.6 gr and felt comfortable with loads up to around 49gr, I just backed off a bit for more of a safety margin.