308 load help

bperdue21

I have been trying 165 gr hornady btsp's out of my Savage 10 Tactical. It has a 20" heavy barrel. I would say I am getting acceptable accuracy using Varget, IMR 4320, and IMR 4064 all are just over an inch at 100. I am trying to stay away from a match bullet, as i may want to smack a deer with it. Would there be any powder suggestions that may help out in the 20" barrel? Am I expecting too much to get better groups with this bullet?

laylandad

I use Varget and have not had any trouble shooting MOA. You could try Reloader 15, as I have good results with it as well. Try different seating depths, or even primers. Just because the bullets have a cannelure doesn't mean you have to seat it that deep or even crimp. Hope this helps.

nononsense

bperdue21,

I suggest looking to the bedding and the torque on the action screws first. Then look at the crown under magnification. Measure the OAL of the chamber with the proper tool to establish the baseline length for loading.

"Am I expecting too much to get better groups with this bullet?"

You know as well as we do that the bullet is one of the variables that come into play when trying to develop an accurate load. The leade and throat help determine which bullet and OAL work best in a particular rifle. Some bullets have a different center of gravity in relationship to their length, ogive and contact surface of the shank.

While I applaud your desire to be prepared to harvest a deer on that off occurrence, I will suggest that you try another bullet while working on your powder selection.

Berger Hunting VLD Bullets

30 CALIBER

30 cal 155 Grain Match Hunting VLD #30508

30 cal 168 Grain Match Hunting VLD #30510

http://www.bergerbullets.com/Products/Hunting%20Bullets.html

I have found that IMR-3031 and AA-2495 work great in the .308 Win case. Ramshot TAC and Big Game both will perform in the .308 Win. case as well.

From the Ramshot Load Guide:

TAC 165 HDY SP 39.9 2,417 44.3 2,685 56,370 2.750
TAC 165 NOS B-TIP 40.1 2,436 44.5 2,707 57,080 2.800
TAC 165 SIE HPBT 40.1 2,449 44.5 2,721 57,100 2.770
TAC 175 SIE HPBT 39.2 2,403 43.5 2,650 58,900 2.800
TAC 180 HDY SST 38.5 2,325 42.8 2,585 61,500 2.740
TAC 190 SIE HPBT 37.4 2,295 41.5 2,525 61,200 2.800
Big Game 168 SIE SBT 46.0 2,640 49.0 2,790 57,000 2.800

Best.

Rocky Raab

Your groups are more than good enough as is, IMO. A one-inch group means no bullet hits farther than a half-inch from where it is aimed. If that isn't enough for a deer with a basketball-sized kill area, I don't know what is.

buddyb

All of my 308s have shot Sierra 150 grain ProHunter bullets and IMR 4064 powder best.I tried every brand bullet I could find and nothing beat Sierras in my rifles.

oneoldsap

If you are going to try different powders put W-748 on your list . I have had excellent results with it over the years !

wsfiredude

quote:Originally posted by bperdue21
I have been trying 165 gr hornady btsp's out of my Savage 10 Tactical. It has a 20" heavy barrel. I would say I am getting acceptable accuracy using Varget, IMR 4320, and IMR 4064 all are just over an inch at 100. I am trying to stay away from a match bullet, as i may want to smack a deer with it. Would there be any powder suggestions that may help out in the 20" barrel? Am I expecting too much to get better groups with this bullet?


I use 38.5gr of 4064. I use that same charge on both 168gr SMKs and 168gr Nosler BTs.

Both shoot pretty damn close to the same.

bperdue21

I have had luck with the sierra bullets, but it seems that hornady has been what has been in stock. rocky, i agree that 1" is plenty for deer hunting, but you know as well as I do you want the best out of your rifle you can get. I may try a different primer first with some of the loads it shot well, then i will change the bullet. After I go over what nononsense has said to do of course.

sandwarrior

bpurdue21,

I use 42.5 gr. of H4895X for just over 2650 in a 24" barrel behind a Sierra 168 gr. bullet.

Also, about 45 gr. of RE-17 if you're interested in that load.

FWIW, hitting a deer with a hollow-point match bullet in the right place will kill him just as dead as any premium bullet. I've hit 'em with a lot lighter and it did the job right quick.

FWIW, if that's what that rifle will give with hunting bullets that's all you'll get. But, if it does better with match than hunting, I would definitely fiddle around with what worked for your match bullets.

Wulfmann

What most bullet makers don't want you to know is their match bullets are so close to performing as their hunting bullets you really do not need to use both particularly if you use your rifle to target shoot or want to take that target shooter out to hunt on occasion and believe you need to work up a "hunting" bullet load.

If a match bullet works well in your gun just take it along for a hunt as your greater familiarity with that load will mean greater confidence when pulling the trigger and the HP will expand just fine.

IMO

Wulfmann

deadeye46

i agree with oneoldsap,i use WW748 for almost all of my 308's

JustC

try the a-max, flies like a match bullet, kills like a balistic tip.