308 questions

Daleo8803

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I'm looking for input on loading 308 win for long range. Seems most use the SMK in 175gr. Any other bullet to try? What powder do you use( this rifle has a 24" barrel).

Also can you use 7.62x51 brass? I know you can shoot 7.62x51 and 308 in a 308 barrel but not the other way around.( At least that's what I've always been told).

What's the best way to trim the brass? All I have is the little Lee hand cutter.
 
I use 168gr Nosler Ballistic Tips or Sierra TMKs.

43.6gr Reloder 15
CCI 200 or BR2
2.835" OAL. (regular SMKs I load to 2.815")

I have a pretty detailed brass prep procedure from sizing, prepping the primer pockets, chamfering the case mouths etc

I use Federal GMM brass and Lake City 7.62 bras primarily, with some Nosler brass when I feel like it
 
Hornady 168 Amax, haven't run it to 1000 but I don't believe it suffers the transonic issues of the 168SMK that have the internet abuzz with 168s being terrible for 1k.
44gr of Varget with CCI or Reloder 15 with WLR
2.815
It may not be the best in your rifle, it's worked well for many.
Hornady or Nosler brass, I trim with Lee hand tools, one of these days I'll probably get a lathe type, but the Lee stuff works.

7.62x51 brass can be used in a .308, however it is thicker (I think the LC match may be an exception), and has a corresponding lower volume, must develop loads specifically for it, I believe the rule of thumb is a 2gr reduction in max loads.
 
I have very little time with them but Sierra is offering the TIPPED MatchKings in 175gr that offer better BCs and sectional density. They are kinda expensive and can be a little hard to gets your hands on but the initial loading I have tried show great promise.
 
I took the Nosler recommended load for RE15 (44gr) and kicked it down a grain, and loaded 43.0, 43.2, 43.4, 43.6, 43.8, and 44gr to test for pressure signs and accuracy and settled on 43.6gr
 
That little Lee trimmer is all I use anymore with most of my rifle chamberings. I use one of those universal chucks in an electric drill and can trim and chamfer very quickly.

edit: Be mindful that much of the military surplus once-fired 308 brass was shot through machine guns that may have fairly generous chambers. It might take a little more effort sizing those cases back to acceptable dimensions, and the cases may have stretched enough to reduce their lifespan by a few reloads.

I see Starline is making 308 cases. That might be worth a look even if the price is higher than other sources.
 
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I just got some Hornady A-Max 178 grn bullets. Always shot 150 to 168 grn but wanted to try something heavier. Loaded with 38.5 grns of RL7. Hornady manual says it should be around 2300 f/sec. All of the brass that I loaded was FC.
 
I just got some Hornady A-Max 178 grn bullets. Always shot 150 to 168 grn but wanted to try something heavier. Loaded with 38.5 grns of RL7. Hornady manual says it should be around 2300 f/sec. All of the brass that I loaded was FC.

Reloder SEVEN? Not 17?

Seems like a really fast powder suited for very light and possibly cast 308 loads
 
11B CIB I stand corrected......Thanks,.....started reloaded some 308 with Hornady 150 grn SP, 178 A-max and 45-70 with Hornady 350 grn sp. With the 178 A-Max I used IMR 4895. I pulled the RL7 (for the 45-70) and some Win 748 (for the 308) off the self but got called away before I started the 150 grn and 350 grn loads.
 
Two powders commonly used for long range in .308 are Varget and 4064. I used 43.4gr of 4064 for 175gr SMK's. I can't remember the length I had them seated at but it fit in an internal Savage mag and in an Armalite pattern mag. I could have tweaked it in the AR-10 and it was showing some extractor marks but it shot really good with federal brass and I had a bunch of it so I didn't play with it.
 
Always work up your loads, but you'll start to see a lot of similarities in other shooters accurate loads.
Berger 175gr OTM Tac
Varget 43.7
Peterson brass trimmed 2.005
Federal 210GM primers
2.865 OAL, with a .015 jump to the lands.
2650fps from my 20" Hawk Hill 1/9 barrel.
This is a seven round group at 100yrds.
6ec7e759f5e9ead3d223f135e727647c.jpg
 
Always work up your loads, but you'll start to see a lot of similarities in other shooters accurate loads.
Berger 175gr OTM Tac
Varget 43.7
Peterson brass trimmed 2.005
Federal 210GM primers
2.865 OAL, with a .015 jump to the lands.
2650fps from my 20" Hawk Hill 1/9 barrel.
This is a seven round group at 100yrds.
6ec7e759f5e9ead3d223f135e727647c.jpg

Nice group.

Interesting rifle.

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.”
Col. Townsend Whelen
 
I like the accubond 165gr in both .308 and .30-06, and I know Nosler makes a LR version of the AB but I haven't shot it yet.

Nosler has the E-tip with super high BC but I have yet to try that one also.

Berger VLD is a solid choice in a non-hunting style bullet.

I use H4895 since it isn't affected by temperature, and is easy to work up a load with.

I generally swage out the primer pocket in .mil brass and throw it in the same bin as .308, then sort brass by weight after resize and trimming. The lee cutter/lockstud/length gage will work fine for low production rifle work. Make sure you throw a little lube on it esp the tip that rides the shellholder base.

As far as shooting 7.62 in a .308, that's for loaded factory ammo. I treat the brass the exact same and I load in relationship to the lands. Pretty much a myth anyhow, just like 556 vs 223.
 
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