2900 Fps .308?

[shooter981]

Im currently shooting 51 grains of H380 with a 168 Berger VLD out of my Savage 12 F/TR with no signs of excessive pressure and I'm getting 2950 fps. Thats with a 30" barrel, also. I got that load out of a Sierra handloading manual. It was listed under compition loads for the 168 SMK. And that wasnt even the max load listed! Oh yeah, the gun shoots under a half-inch groups, too!

 

[snowpro440]

Im currently shooting 51 grains of H380 with a 168 Berger VLD out of my Savage 12 F/TR with no signs of excessive pressure and I'm getting 2950 fps. Thats with a 30" barrel, also. I got that load out of a Sierra handloading manual. It was listed under compition loads for the 168 SMK. And that wasnt even the max load listed! Oh yeah, the gun shoots under a half-inch groups, too!

whats the C.O.A.L. and are you using a chronograph....?

 

[shooter981]

OAL is 2.915 and yes on the Chrono. The Bergers are a longer bullet than the Seirra Matchkings and have a much better BC.

 

[rdsii64]

My thunderstick likes 42.5 grains of IMR 4064 topped with a 168 grain sierra match king. not sure how fast its going but it can print sub inch groups if the shooter does his part.

 

[esorensen]

I am doing an experiment on the same. I have a barrel purchased from this forum, a broughton that will end up as a tight neck .308 using the Kiff hand throater. I plan on using 208 amax and 210 Berger. Both will be loaded to 3.1+ col. I'll try H4350 and Varget and post results. Barrel length will be determined(26" or so.) If I can get an accurate 2600 fps, I'll scream like a school girl!

 

[Michael Eichele]

When I first saw this thread I rolled my eyes and thought yeah right.

After working with the 26" Hart barrel my eyes are a bit more opened up. Now I didnt run very many 168's but using factory federal gold medal match ammo the reading were just under 2800 FPS and the brass and primers looked good. Extraction was easy as well.

Now like I said, I didnt really work much with the 168's but I was able to run the 178's at just over 2800 FPS with no loose primer pockets, no no primer cratering and no ejection marks as well as easy extraction. The same was true of the 190 VLD's at 2750. So it would be logical to conclude that it if I can run over 2800 with the 178's, one could run 2900 with the 168's. I am also not talking about running extra powder either, I am talking about published loads. It just seems as if the barrel delivers more velocity.

Now for the catch. I have not been able to run the high velocities with any real accuracy and certainly no repeatable accuracy. Maybe its my barrel or maybe it is that the 308 is happiest at traditional 308 velocities so that is where I have ended up. If I want 300WSM velocities, I will break out the 300WSM.

 

[eddybo]

Let me hear your results, especially if you try some rl17.

I am doing an experiment on the same. I have a barrel purchased from this forum, a broughton that will end up as a tight neck .308 using the Kiff hand throater. I plan on using 208 amax and 210 Berger. Both will be loaded to 3.1+ col. I'll try H4350 and Varget and post results. Barrel length will be determined(26" or so.) If I can get an accurate 2600 fps, I'll scream like a school girl!

 

[Michael Eichele]

It wasnt 2600 but it was close. Saturday i was testing the 208 AMAX over VARGET and yielded 2565 FPS. Accuracy was only 1 MOA at 300 yards. Pressure seemed mild. OACL was 2.965"

 

[The_Savage]

I'm not sure this posting is accurate. Federal has reloading data for their 165 grain trophy bonded tip bullet, and with an OAL of 2.700", they got a little over 2900 fps with a max load of Alliant Power Pro 2000MR. This is all from a 24" .308 barrel, and mine is 26", so I don't think exceeding 2900 fps with a 165 grain .308 win bullet is unheard of at all.

 

[Nomosendero]

I would love to get that velocity with my 24" 5R, but it may be a misprint, seems very high.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

This thread is pretty old, but CFE 223 has given some pretty good velocities in my 20" 308 win.

 

[benchracer]

I can run the 155 SMK Palma bullets over 2900 from my 26" Remington 700 VS, though the accuracy node shows up around 2850. The F Classs guys with 30" barrels run them around 3000, no problem.

Using H100V, I am able to safely run Berger 185 Juggernauts in an accuracy node that shows up around 2750 and 175 TMK's around 2800.

Planning to test the 185's and 175's with RL-16.

Not sure there would be enough room in the case to take full advantage of H100V or RL-16 with a 168. RL-17 might be dense enough to work, if you can live with its temp sensitivity.

I like and use RL-17 in several of my hunting rifles. I generally go a different direction with my match rifles and loads.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I get 2828 using CFE with 152 Hammers in my 20' barrel.

 

[Nomosendero]

I can run the 155 SMK Palma bullets over 2900 from my 26" Remington 700 VS, though the accuracy node shows up around 2850. The F Classs guys with 30" barrels run them around 3000, no problem.

Using H100V, I am able to safely run Berger 185 Juggernauts in an accuracy node that shows up around 2750 and 175 TMK's around 2800.

Planning to test the 185's and 175's with RL-16.

Not sure there would be enough room in the case to take full advantage of H100V or RL-16 with a 168. RL-17 might be dense enough to work, if you can live with its temp sensitivity.

I like and use RL-17 in several of my hunting rifles. I generally go a different direction with my match rifles and loads.

Yes, I can see the 155's getting 2900 as they are 10 grains lighter.
I haven't tried H100V, I get about 2725 with 178 Hor. & Varget.

I hope you get good vel. with RL16, I just picked some up but won't be able to load for a month or 2. It might be the real deal for 175-185 grain bullets & I like the temp stable part.