Improving the 308 Win performance

[Wachsmann]

I wanted to get out this week here in Idaho and do some shooting but my wife just had a hernia operation and my mother-in-law was going to come up but the southwest air line has been so screwed up it's canceled 3 of her flights. She may make it Sunday and I might get out for one day but it's not looking good. I had plans to test some of the 178ELDX but not sure if I will get to. I burned though a pound of CF223 and it burns dirty. Was looking at other powders to try and get some speed out of some heavy's but just not coming together. So now I was going to drop back to the 178 and 195. Tonight thought I was resizing some 7Rum to 30 caliber so I could use them in my RUM. But I'll keep trying on the 308.

 

[nralifer]

I wanted to get out this week here in Idaho and do some shooting but my wife just had a hernia operation and my mother-in-law was going to come up but the southwest air line has been so screwed up it's canceled 3 of her flights. She may make it Sunday and I might get out for one day but it's not looking good. I had plans to test some of the 178ELDX but not sure if I will get to. I burned though a pound of CF223 and it burns dirty. Was looking at other powders to try and get some speed out of some heavy's but just not coming together. So now I was going to drop back to the 178 and 195. Tonight thought I was resizing some 7Rum to 30 caliber so I could use them in my RUM. But I'll keep trying on the 308.

If you can, try Leverevolution. Burns a lot cleaner than CFE223, seems reasonably temp stable, is a "high energy" ball powder packs well in the 308 Win and gives reasonable speeds for the 308Win. Nice part is that it burns slightly slower than CFE223 so you can use CFE223 load data since there is little to no load data listed for LVR in the 308Win per say. I have used it for years precisely because CFE223 burns "dirty".

 

[VLD Pilot]

No advocating for anybody but here is some 2900+FPS 308 load data. Its also a 24 inch barrel, I guess you did say a 175 now that I read you post. But anyways now that you posted what you are using....thank you for your results and we probably all stand corrected; its going to give me something to try since I have all those powders also but i never seen Hodgens list data for them. I know you can use any powder, its just what make it go boom, and I often wonder if RL26 would work pushing a really heavy bullet. It does amazing thing in my RUM with heavies. Way over the published data. Its been like 150fps faster than published.

I've seen 3000 with 155s. The 150s are not hot at 2900

 

[nralifer]

I've seen 3000 with 155s. The 150s are not hot at 2900

 

[nralifer]

2920-2950 from 20" is at least warm because that translates to 3050 in 24". Hot is not always safe. In my view at least warm and safe is desirable and with newer higher energy temp stable powders and stronger brass design we may see warm and safe more often.

 

[VLD Pilot]

2920-2950 from 20" is at least warm because that translates to 3050 in 24". Hot is not always safe. In my view at least warm and safe is desirable and with newer higher energy temp stable powders and stronger brass design we may see warm and safe more often.

Never tried this in a 20" tube. Mine have all been from 26-30" barrels.

 

[Danehunter]

I'm improving the performance of my .308 SAVAGE 99 lever action rifle BY CONVERTING IT TO 6.5 CREEDMOR!

 

[VLD Pilot]

I'm improving the performance of my .308 SAVAGE 99 lever action rifle BY CONVERTING IT TO 6.5 CREEDMOR!

Not as much of an improvement as much as adjustment.

 

[Wachsmann]

I'm improving the performance of my .308 SAVAGE 99 lever action rifle BY CONVERTING IT TO 6.5 CREEDMOR!

 

[Danehunter]

VLD,
I shoot a 6.5 CM RUGER Precision Rifle in long range competition and I KNOW the trajectory advantage of the slimmer 6.5 bullet over a .30 caliber bullet of similar weight in a relatively short-necked .308 Win. case.
So in trajectory the 6.5 CM beats the .308 Win. And it is about equal in energy (similar bullet weights with less for the 6.5) at medium ranges and exceeds it at over 400 yards due to greater velocity.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I've seen 3000 with 155s. The 150s are not hot at 2900

I've pushed 150 class bullets well past 3000fps in a 20" 308. Example below:

 

[Mike D Texas]

VLD,
I shoot a 6.5 CM RUGER Precision Rifle in long range competition and I KNOW the trajectory advantage of the slimmer 6.5 bullet over a .30 caliber bullet of similar weight in a relatively short-necked .308 Win. case.
So in trajectory the 6.5 CM beats the .308 Win. And it is about equal in energy (similar bullet weights with less for the 6.5) at medium ranges and exceeds it at over 400 yards due to greater velocity.

This can be easily overcome with a lighter or comparable weigh bullet in the .308.

There's been a post on here several times demonstrating this.

 

[VLD Pilot]

VLD,
I shoot a 6.5 CM RUGER Precision Rifle in long range competition and I KNOW the trajectory advantage of the slimmer 6.5 bullet over a .30 caliber bullet of similar weight in a relatively short-necked .308 Win. case.
So in trajectory the 6.5 CM beats the .308 Win. And it is about equal in energy (similar bullet weights with less for the 6.5) at medium ranges and exceeds it at over 400 yards due to greater velocity.

Oh I'm certain there are ballistic advantages but not everyone feels that's an advantage where killing bigger animals counts. Some guys prefer 180+ grain bullets and you can't replace weight with much else in many situations. Personally I'd prefer the best ballistics (faster/flatter/ higher BC) for what I do mostly. There is a time where bullet weight does Trump speed and BC. It was what I meant.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I've pushed 150 class bullets well past 3000fps in a 20" 308. Example below:

View attachment 423146

Yep I'm sure it can be done but I've never run them that fast. I use that weight for deer at close range and usually prefer 2900 from the muzzle.