Three years ago when I started my romance with everything 6.5, I took the optic of my FCP-SR (24" w/ box mag) and put it away. Now my son is ready to start shooting and I'm mounting a scope this afternoon and I'm going to place a Midway order for bullets. This will be a plinker/hunter. My last pet load was nothing fancy but shot real well - either a 168 Sierra Match king or a 165 Sierra Gameking on 42 grains on IMR 4895, each 20 thou off. It pushed 'em at 2,745. Its got a lot of life left in it with only 300 rounds down the pipe. So I'm thinking of developing something around a 168 or 178 ELD-M. Is this a good choice? How bout a more "modern" cleaner powder? I have a variety on hand, Alliants; Varget, etc. The Midway order awaits - What do you opine?
Resurrection of the .308 & upping the game
- Thread starter YZ-80
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Orange Dust
Well-Known Member
I really like the same Matchkings with Varget in mine.
Savage 12BVSS
Well-Known Member
Varget and RL15 both do well in the 308, my best load is 45.8gr RL15 in lapua brass with CCI BR-2 primers and 150 gr SMK or Nosler accubonds. Both bullets shoot real good groups and the RL15 is a clean burning powder. My son has taken it over and I moved to 165 gr partition's, he's had four DRT deer in a row so he won't shoot any other bullet. I really liked that gun, it was a tactical build with heavy barrel and timney trigger and a snow camo stockade stock. Looks great with white background but sticks out early season 
Gonna miss that gun.. now he wants my 4200 elite scope with low light crosshair, 3-9 didn't impress him that was on it..... Ahh family....Dave
Gonna miss that gun.. now he wants my 4200 elite scope with low light crosshair, 3-9 didn't impress him that was on it..... Ahh family....Dave
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JJMoody
Well-Known Member
Just fell in love with the simplicity of the .308. I know it's practically Anathema, but the Federal GMM 168s factory ammo was pretty stellar to as far as I was able to shoot it. I've been seeing where Varget and the 4350s do well.
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bigngreen
Well-Known Member
The 308 is a favorite, I like Varget and 215 Bergers but will switch over to the 200.20X Berger bullet next 308 I do.
LongWalker
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Revisiting my Howa 20" HB .308 too. Shot Berger 185 Juggernauts silly accurate with VV-540 and Hornady 165 BTSPs almost as good with IMR 8208 XBR. Going to try 190 ABLRs and Speer 165 BTSPs (Got them on the cheap) and run Alliant 2000MR to see if I can pick up some velocity. Loaded the ABLR OCW and will do the same for the Speers today. Hopefully this crazy cold middle TN weather will break and I can get them shot in the next week or so.
Thanks all. I have plenty of Varget and RL-15 on hand, even some IMR-4350 that I use a lot in the .243s. I too, know folks that love the FGMM factory stuff and shoot it religiously. No doubt, the .308 is very forgiving to reload for and always loves you back. Now I feel bad about my fling with the 6.5s. I think I'm going to give the ELD-Ms a try or maybe a Berger hybrid. I just bore sighted the Vortex and will get her on paper.
My factory 20" Rem700 308win loves IMR 4895 and 168gr Amax. Sub 1/2 MOA never looked so good, and with a can on the end, it's quite easy to shoot all day long.
well, I guess not quite factory. I moved it into a Magpul hunter700 stock and gave it a Jewel trigger
well, I guess not quite factory. I moved it into a Magpul hunter700 stock and gave it a Jewel trigger
Yeah, I had a lot of IMR 4895 on hand because I use a pile of the stuff in my M1 Garand. I'm going to apply for my suppressor stamp this month and luckily, the Savage is threaded so that's all the better.My factory 20" Rem700 308win loves IMR 4895 and 168gr Amax. Sub 1/2 MOA never looked so good, and with a can on the end, it's quite easy to shoot all day long.
well, I guess not quite factory. I moved it into a Magpul hunter700 stock and gave it a Jewel trigger
Cheers!
jjmp
Well-Known Member
The 308 is Still Stellar, since you mentioned your son shooting her it's a great time to load up some lighter weight bullets ,Speers 125 TNT is fun and accurate it's even used in some Benchrest matchs 200,/300yards ,Hornady makes their 130 also and their both flat based , your above powders should work fine also . This way you could ease your Son into shooting while keeping it fun ,heavier bullets will recoil more and that's another learning curve in it's self ,my 308's 10.5 lbs and a kitten to play with Cheers !!!
Good points for sure. He moved up to a 12 ga. last year in trap, and has bagged a couple whitetail with a 6.5 Crdm and .25-06 so he's familiar with a few foot pounds of recoil. Like yours, this one's a kitten too, even with the the 168 grain match. It's a Pretty heavy rig with a great recoil pad. For a lot of my rifles, I'll develop one deer load and one groundhog load, but if a bullet shoots particularly well and the cost is right, I figure, What the heck, if it's good for deer, I'll bust chucks with it too. I found this with the 85 grain BTHP in the .243. Cheap, great on deer at reasonable ranges and a good Varmint bullet too, so it's a twofer for me!
hunter67wa
Well-Known Member
I use Varget and 180 AB also 180 Hotcore for plinking
elk wallow
Well-Known Member
I load 130gr TTSX with Ramshot TAC with great results in my daughters rifle. She's killed deer, antelope and bear with this load. Never recovered a bullet.
Kevin
Kevin
