Reloading for a short barrel .308 WIN

[skippertwo]

I have a 20 inch Christensen carbon classic, Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip, Win 748 - 50 grains will shoot cloverleafs all day.

 

[tnek13]

Close to max load of Varget (43 to 45.5gr) with Berger 168 Classic Hunter or Siera 165 Gr Gameking, never have seen a 308 that did not like the load - have shot it in Remington 1in 12, Tikka 1in 11, and Ruger 1 in 10 - all 0f these rifles had 20 to 22-inch barrels. They are all hunting loads.

 

[redleg1013]

I've got a POF Revolt with a 18.5 " barrel and I've taken to using CFE223 with 175 smk and still getting 2600 fps. 150 TTSX gets up to about 2750. I'm on the road away from my books otherwise I'd have better numbers.

But yeah, running a shorter barrel, you'll want a slightly faster powder to push the heavier bullets, or step down in bullet weight.

 

[jpndave]

These may be of interest showing different potentials based on barrel length. These are extremes based on a generic base profile with the 308 Win. You can see what the powders do as the barrel length (and therefore distance/length of time the powder can burn) varies. This for sure effects speed and likely accuracy too.

28" barrel

16" barrel

 

[jpndave]

And here is a 20" with the same parameters:

 

[Roy39A]

I have the same rifle 20" 700 SPS my go to load is the 150 grain Sierra pro hunter over R-15, Fed 210 M and Nosler brass. Shoots very well with this combination.

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

Try using 165 gr hunting bullet, SGK, Nos ABLR or Barnes TTSX or LRX. Good powders are Varget, H4895, RL-15 & RL 16. I'm loving the RL series of powder and getting abut 80 fps in everything I shoot compared to H & I series powders.

 

[Rflshootr]

Many people overlook IMR-3031 for the 308. It does very well with bullets up to 150 grains and also well for short barrels. Also get an ogive measurement from the 150 Core-lokts that shot pretty well and start your seating depth there and work it in both directions.

 

[mnshortdraw]

My 16" 1:7 twist likes 178 smk's over 4064

 

[XSIVSPD]

I had a factory savage 10T in 308. 20" barrel 1:10 twist.

It really loved the hornady TAP 155gr factory load. Sub 1/2moa all day. I never loaded bullets less than 185gr, but berger 185 and 190, as well as 208 amax all shot really well over RL-17. Many 1/2moa or less and all under 3/4moa if I didn't mess them up lol

 

[Kaptoe]

I have a 20 inch Christensen carbon classic, Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip, Win 748 - 50 grains will shoot cloverleafs all day.

And that combo absolutely hammers deer sized game. Wounding is amazing

 

[wjarrell]

Close to max load of Varget (43 to 45.5gr) with Berger 168 Classic Hunter or Siera 165 Gr Gameking, never have seen a 308 that did not like the load - have shot it in Remington 1in 12, Tikka 1in 11, and Ruger 1 in 10 - all 0f these rifles had 20 to 22-inch barrels. They are all hunting loads.

What primer?

 

[Laguna Freak]

Loving this thread...

 

[LRNut]

I have a 20 in Rem 7 .308 and shoot 45 grains Varget under a 180 Hornady SST.