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.308 Handgun loads.

7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
I am looking for anyone who may have some insight on a few good loads for a .308 load in a 14" barrelled handgun? I am planning to use 130grn SSP or 155grn A-Max bullets and will use them for Hogs and Aoudad.

Comments

  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've never shot .308's in a pistol but I know there are loads for it in the "Complete Contender Reloading Book" (I think that's the name of the book). I have it out in the shop but I don't have time to go get it right now. (I'm home for lunch.) If you don't have any responses by this evening I'll bring it in & post some loads for the bullet weights you're interested in.

    <edit> Btw, this is a very good book. I recommend it. I paid $21 for it at Sportsman's Warehouse.
  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    A friend has a TC 308, but he generally shoots heavier bullets, 150-165 gr. He has found the best performance from H335 and W748, but I don't know the loads.
  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The name of the book is "The Complete Reloading Manual for the T/C Contender". There are no loads for the specific bullets you asked about, however there are loads for 130 gr Speer HP & 155 gr Sierra HPBT. The book says H4895, Varget, BL-C(2) & H-380 are good powders for the .308 in a 14" barrel, although there are no loads given for H-380.

    130 gr bullet- VARGET min. 47.0 gr-2706fps max 50 gr-2847fps
    BL-C(2) min. 48.0 gr-2575fps max 51.5 gr-2820fps
    H4895 min.45.0 gr.-2599fps max 49.0(comp)-2831fps


    155 gr bullet- VARGET min.44.0 gr.-2502fps max. 47.0gr.(comp) 2680fps
    BL-C(2) min.45.0 gr.- 2398fps max. 48.0 gr. 2614fps
    H4895 min.43.0 gr.-2476fps max. 46.0 gr. 2668

    There are a lot more loads than these, but these should give you a place to start. Good luck hunting.
  • 7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Oregunner, what does your manual say about anything such as a 165 Nosler B.T. ? I just bought a box of them last night to try to fly and see what I need to get them started.
  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    Any good 308 load in a rifle will be about as good in a pistol length barrel.
    The 165 Nosler BT will do a very good job for you.
    Check out Varget and RL-15..........
  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    With the shorter barrels, the main difference that my friend has found is in muzzle flash. I forget exactly which way it went, but seems to me the single base faster powders had less flash than the double base, but I could have it backwards, and since I think both H335 and W748 are double base, and those are the ones he likes, I probably do.
  • 7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    RayB, I am also somewhat concerned about the muzzleflash/blast. My pistol comes with a removeable muzzlebrake and I do find some loads to contribute to the excessive muzzleflash/blast and try to shy away from them. The others around me also notice the excessive blast to their dismay and dislike!!!! The guys here have given me a great deal of help towards this matter and I am going to try out these recommendations first and go from there. Thanks a ton guys. ( gals as well if there are some reading this!)
  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7mmbr
    Hey Oregunner, what does your manual say about anything such as a 165 Nosler B.T. ? I just bought a box of them last night to try to fly and see what I need to get them started.


    It says RL 15 was the most accurate powder tested. The min. load was most accurate & is 40.0gr @2230fps. Max. 44gr 2454fps

    IMR 4064 is another. Same max & min loads, 40-44gr, slightly higher velocity at the lower end load at 2346fps, max 2474.

    IMR 4895 39.0 up to 43.0

    H 322 36.0 to 40.0

    IMR 4350 46.0 to 50.0

    N 150 42.0 to 46.0

    The most accurate loads for all these powders are the lightest ones listed. The three that look best to me in the bar charts are RL 15, IMR 4064 & N 150.

    This really is a great book.
  • 7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Oregunner, just dropping a note to say thanks!! I shot 18 groups of those loads you sent to me in varying differences and the results were incredible to say the least!!! I saved the groups and loads. Out of 18,3-shot, groups at 100yds, off sand bags, 54 degr.
    3-7mph qtr l-r wind, I had only 5 that went over 1 MOA!!!!!!!!!!!! Most hovered in the 0.6 - 0.9 with one turning an impressive .245 C/C!!! That is out of a 14" pistol (factory, no trick parts except trigger slick-n-up) with a Burris LER 3x9x32 Posi-Loc. Not to shabby with a hunting .308!!!
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7mmbr
    Hey Oregunner, just dropping a note to say thanks!! I shot 18 groups of those loads you sent to me in varying differences and the results were incredible to say the least!!! I saved the groups and loads. Out of 18,3-shot, groups at 100yds, off sand bags, 54 degr.
    3-7mph qtr l-r wind, I had only 5 that went over 1 MOA!!!!!!!!!!!! Most hovered in the 0.6 - 0.9 with one turning an impressive .245 C/C!!! That is out of a 14" pistol (factory, no trick parts except trigger slick-n-up) with a Burris LER 3x9x32 Posi-Loc. Not to shabby with a hunting .308!!!


    You sure you didn't shoot all 54 rounds at the same target...and then go down and look for groups of 3???[;)][:D][:0] That's some damn fine shooting with a handgun.
  • surekillsurekill Member Posts: 1,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you want a SWEET load use the 150 SST,,,45.5 grs of Reloader 15.
    Work great outa my 15" encore
  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7mmbr
    Hey Oregunner, just dropping a note to say thanks!! I shot 18 groups of those loads you sent to me in varying differences and the results were incredible to say the least!!! I saved the groups and loads. Out of 18,3-shot, groups at 100yds, off sand bags, 54 degr.
    3-7mph qtr l-r wind, I had only 5 that went over 1 MOA!!!!!!!!!!!! Most hovered in the 0.6 - 0.9 with one turning an impressive .245 C/C!!! That is out of a 14" pistol (factory, no trick parts except trigger slick-n-up) with a Burris LER 3x9x32 Posi-Loc. Not to shabby with a hunting .308!!!



    That is some pretty impressive shootin' by golly! Which powder/bullet combo's worked best for you?

    You're welcome for the info, I'm glad it worked out for you. I enjoy looking through my loading books trying to pick loads that will work for this & that cartridge. Like I said, I never shot any of them, I was only picking loading info that appeared to be the most consistent according to the bullet weights you wanted to use vs. the vel./press stats in the book. there are also notes in the book from the various sources. I threw in some semi-educated personal eyeballing of the charts to boot. :)

    Btw, my boss bought his fist Contender Saturday from Sportsman's Warehouse in Bend. While he was there he got the other copy of that same book. It was the last one they had.
  • 7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oregunner, I used the following powders; Varget, 4064, Rel.15, and 4895. The bullets were; Nosler 165grn Bal.Tip, Horn. 155grn BTSP, Horn. 155grn A-Max.

    The results were as follows; 155 A-Max,
    Varget 44.0, .895 c/c.
    45.0, .545 c/c.
    46.0, .245 c/c!!!!!!!!!! (SMOKIN'!!!) 2.800" C.O.L.

    4895, 43.0, .710 c/c.
    45.0, .380 c/c.
    46.0, .865 c/c. 2.800" C.O.L.


    165grn Nosler Bal. Tip;
    Rel.15, 40.0, .815 c/c.
    41.0, .835 c/c.
    43.0, .805 c/c. 2.780" C.O.L.

    IMR-4064, 40.0, 1,190 c/c.
    41.0, .585 c/c.
    43.0, .795 c/c. 2.780" C.O.L.


    Horn. 155grn BTSP
    Varget, 44.0, 1.165 c/c.
    45.0, .750 c/c.
    46.0, 1.050 c/c. 2.780" C.O.L.

    IMR-4895, 43.0, 1.145 c/c.
    45.0, 1.045 c/c.
    46.0, .990 c/c. 2.780" C.O.L.

    Thats the story!! I am planning to run a few more groups to really narrow down the loads (+ or - ) 1/4 - 1/2grn of the accurate loads to pin point the real tack drivers. Keep ya updated.
    _____________________________________________________________________
    Seen the least, feared the most!!
  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow! Good shootin'! Every combo had one a sub MOA group. That 155 A-Max & 46.0 of Varget is going to be difficult to improve on! The 4064 & 4895 seemed to work pretty well for some bullets too.

    Some day my 24" EIBCO 7-30 Waters barrel will show up so I can use my rifle stocked frame. Some day before rock chuck season is over I hope. If I can get that kind of performance I'm going to be a very happy guy. Thanks for the progress report.
  • earlwellmanearlwellman Member Posts: 645 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There was mention of the contender load book. I have the 1997 edition and a contender pistol/rifle. Has there been a change to the fact that a contender cannot hold the pressure of a .308? I have never seen contender load data or a .308 barell for a contender. Am I mistaken or are we talking about an encore or maybe a Rem. or Savage pistol?

    Earl[?]
  • OregunnerOregunner Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was wondering the same thing. Please see my thread about G-2 pressure rating below.
  • gunzforevergunzforever Member Posts: 619 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    try this

    40.0 grains of IMR 3031 with a 130 grain soft-piont hornady bullet
  • surekillsurekill Member Posts: 1,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by earlwellman
    There was mention of the contender load book. I have the 1997 edition and a contender pistol/rifle. Has there been a change to the fact that a contender cannot hold the pressure of a .308? I have never seen contender load data or a .308 barell for a contender. Am I mistaken or are we talking about an encore or maybe a Rem. or Savage pistol?

    Earl[?]


    It would be for the ENCORE not the contender!!!
  • 7mmbr7mmbr Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The pistol listed in this article is a Magnum Research industries, Lone Eagle with a 14" barrel with a muzzle brake. The load of Varget and the Horn. 155 A-Max will be OK for coyotes and paper. I will not use it for anything bigger for I called Hornady direct and they advised against it. It is a paper bullet at best. The weight is at the rear of the bullet and will create a large splash upon impact and not enough penetration for reliable game harvesting even with rib shot whitetails.
  • encoremanencoreman Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey 7, I have a .308 15" Encore pistol. I use IMR-4895 and I shoot 125 or 130 grain bullets. I will get the info and put it on here. I shot a nice 6point whitetail 2 years ago and it did the trick. I shot 150 grain.factory ammo to start with and it was a handful, plus lots of muzzle flash. The lighter bullets and less powder are much more manageable to shoot. I'll try to post details by 4-9. Thanks Mac
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