That 130 TTSX really shines in the 308. I've loaded that round for numerous friends all with superb accuracy and it's wicked deadly also. Couple of Cow Elk and a few Coues Deer have all been DRT 1 shot kills. They like to be load with a short COAL.
Favorite projectiles and powders for 308 win?
- Thread starter itsthemann
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I took note of the 2.770" COAL in the photo you posted, that was an eye opener for me. I load mine .054" off the lands which puts me at 2.924 COAL - they work very well. I wish they would make a light weight LRX in .308, I'd buy 'em by the truck load.
How far out have you take game with them? I limit my shots to 300y max.
At the velocity I get I would it hesitate out to 600 in deer sized game as they keeps it above 1800 FPS. We killed a Cow Elk at 310 last year. That velocity I'm getting is from a Custom 18" Bolt gun with a 10twist. I also run it suppressed. Just ordered 200 more bullets today. AA2460 works great for me. I think Barnes even loads there factory ammo for the 130 in a similar coal. They like to jump in every rifle I've loaded them and that's where I've gotten best accuracy.
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
For me I swing to the heavy high BC side. So far the best loads have been the 180 game changer. 1/10 26 inch 308 heavy barrel howa with a muzzle break. I was trying the 212eldx but just never got consistency out to distance. The load was running at 2480fps. My 180s run 2630ish. I have some 178eldx that I have not tested. Powder for the 180s was IMR 4895. I've had really good luck with that. I'll run the same load with 178 and see how they fly but that going to be an after hunting season thing. I did find out looking on Sierra's website that the 180 game changers are more so for 300 win with higher velocity. They make a separate bullet with a different part number for the 308 and 3006 that is also a 180. I've seen reports that the 180 game changer act more like a bonded bullet.
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Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
I wish Nosler made a ABLR in a 175 to 180 range. After season is done I plan on finding some 168s to try also. If I cannot find them then maybe some 190s. My biggest issues is I think its getting my extreme spread and SD lower. Also looking at the whole mandrel thing maybe adding in that step into my loading process.
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Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
What you load on the 210vld. I was trying the 212eldx and got good sub MOA at 100 but my ED was high. They fell apart at distance with the high ES and SD. I was trying accurate 4064. It was producing right at 2470 to 2500 for velocity. The 30 fps wasn't cutting it at or around 800 yards. Maybe the 4895 will do better. I would like to find something in the 200 to 212 range. High BC makes up for a lot of velocity.
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
I see that I guess you are running 8208 with the 210's. I could probably try the IMR 4895 since it's close to the same burn speed. IMR4895 has been much easier to tune than H4895 and it gives better velocity's from what I have loaded. I think I'm about 30 to 50 fps faster with IMR.
DLJ6
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure the old 308 Win was designed to push 200grn + boolits to distance.
I agree, 185gr is my Max. Than you go to a 3-06 . IMO
For me, I'd consider use of a 210 or so inside 300 yds. Further would require another discussion. That rainbow shot would kinda freek me out a bit. In 50 years or so I can't think of a time when I've ever used heavier than 185, come to think about it. Maybe a 30.06 or some such for beyond 300 yds. But that's just me.
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
My wife tells me I have bullet ADD. I am always trying some different bullet out. I've went through a lot of 200 or 205 hybrid Berger's and could not get them to shoot as well as the 212 ELDX and the 210 Berger. I also have some 195Eldx and the 180 game changers. The 180s have been the most consistent at long range like 800yatds. I was getting a much larger dispersion with the 212 and 210's. It could be the powder I was using for that load. Accurate 4064. It gives great velocity but my ES was high. Might just need to try another powder. In the 180s I'm using IMR4895. I did load some staball match that did have a better ES but that was only for about 8 loads and it hit max pressure sooner. Might even go back to that and retest. I think I'll loose about 40fps on the staball match.
LRNut
Well-Known Member
45 grains Varget and a 180 SST. I will be shooting this today at 500 yards.
I use that same charge of powder with the 178 Amax with fantastic results.
Wachsmann
Well-Known Member
What velocity do you get with your 45 grain load and those 178s? I used to have a marlin bolt gun that really liked the 178 and 168s but I sold it to a buddy that wanted to get into hunting. I believe it was a 1/11 twist or 1/12. I currently have a howa that is a 1/10 twist.
