Favorite projectiles and powders for 308 win?

[Ace Quackhunter]

Been reloading a bunch for my 308. It really does shoot everything, particularly 168 ELDMs and IMR 3031. Curious to hear what everyone else loves as far as projectiles, powders, and loads for smacking steel or hunting.

I have had great results with N-550, pushing 155 Palma out a Remington 700.

 

[emp1953]

Welcome to 308. It's my favorite cartridge and if you do it right, you won't need anything else.

I've played around a lot in the last couple years. So far, the most accurate powder has been benchmark, but it's too fast for anything and pressures out before you get good velocity. IMR 8208 XBR is also very accurate and you can get reasonable velocity, but ultimately it's still too fast for anything but lighter bullets. AR-Comp has been amazing for wringing velocity out of the cartridge--I mean better than varget or anything else I've tried, and for every projectile I've tried so far. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found the accuracy for the AR-COMP that I found with benchmark and 8208 XBR.

For projectiles, the 137 gr hammer hunters that everyone on this forum is obsessed with have been good. Easy to reload and consistently accurate. 165 gr Partitions are amazing and I trust them to kill more than the hammer hunters, but I don't trust them for accuracy as much as the hammer hunters. I'm experimenting with the new tipped hammer hunters (HHT, 138 gr) right now and so far so good. I'll probably switch over to them for whitetail this season. The most accurate projectile I've shot has been a 178 grain ELDX, surprisingly, which makes me think my barrel just likes heavier bullets. Unfortunately, my main 308 is 16 inches and I haven't figured out how to get enough velocity with those heavy bullets to really dedicate them for hunting.

For brass I use Lapua. I tried the alpha brass and while it is super uniform and seems to be a bit better in quality than the Lapua, I get more pressure signs with it. Might be because it's softer and just shows the swipes more, or I'm actually getting more pressure with it, I don't know. In either event, I don't like thinking too much about it so I stick with Lapua now.

My best load has been 137 gr hammer hunters with IMR 8202 XBR. Start low and work up

In my 30-06 165gr Partitions over 47.2 gr 3031 has been very accurate. I've shot 3 whitetails walking straight at me at 180+yds. It's not a real fast load but it gets there and always gets the job done.

 

[JK737]

I have always had good success with BL-C2…

 

[AverageJoe90]

43 gr RL 15 with 168 Berger vld. Not the fastest, but boy it shoots!

 

[Eric H]

What's everyone's COAL?

 

[Critter Picker]

I use H4895 with a 165 Nosler BT in my 14" Encore I don't want to put exact load of any that I use because they might not be safe in all firearms. It will shoot MOA to 600,then run out of scope.

Run 2000 MR with my Ruger hunting rifle with a 165 Sierria GK. performs well. Never had any complaints from anything I've shot at.

Use 2000 MR in my 26" Howa with a 168 Sierria MK for ringing steel. I've gotten several 3" five shot groups at 500 yards. That's the farthest that I've shot it so far.

 

[C-130 Dude]

How much benchmark and what brass? I've been pressuring out early with benchmark, but it sure is accurate

Benchmark is my go to for .223. If you use it on 308, you have to keep the bullet weight down. It's a little fast burning for much heavier than 130 or so.

 

[C-130 Dude]

46.4gr and work up to it. COAL 2.761 and using Lapua SRP brass. That's my deer rifle this season with a can. Edit; 12 twist barrel.

What bullet?

 

[Eric H]

What bullet?

.308 138Gr Tipped Hammer Hunter

 

[hpmag308]

Use 125gr sierra and nosler BT. IMR 4320. 3000 fps. Great hunting load, never saw the need to shoot heavier bullets

 

[AkleyFan]

I run the 130gr TTSX over 47gr of RL15, and the 150gr TSX over 45gr of RL15 - both loads are sub-moa in my two Winchester Model 100's. Nosler brass.

I run the 130gr TTSX over 50.5gr of Shooters World Match Rifle in my light weight, short barreled Mauser that I built for hunting off my quad in California - it's a finicky beast but loves this load, and only this load. It's moving along at 3107fps out of a 19" barrel, so I'm happy to feed it this combo for the rest of its (barrel) life. Nosler brass as well. I was using Hornady brass but donated them to my friends who just love them - I had no issues with either brands whatsoever.

I have a bunch of other powders and bullets that I haven't made time for yet, hoping for some inspiration in this thread. I'd like to switch to Varget or N140 for better temp stability.

Keep the info come'n.

 

[JAYgs8163]

130 TTSX with AA2460 runs at 3133 out of a 18" bolt gun and is sub half moa. Info below. Start low and work up. 5 shot group.

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

What's everyone's COAL?

I am lazy so I jamb the lands and back off .005 thousand and see what that gets me.

 

[AverageJoe90]

I am lazy so I jamb the lands and back off .005 thousand and see what that gets me.

That's the exact same thing I did with mine. Guess I got lucky with the seating depth.