308 Winchester Loading Tips

Powder - Varget or IMR 4064 is the most popular. Other usable powders that work extremely well are AA 2460, BLC-2, IMR 4895, Reloader 15, Ramshot TAC, Viht N150, Viht N540.

* Varget is probably the most popular powedr.

* Use close to 100% load density

 

Primers - Federal 210m, and CCI BR2s

 

Neck Sizing - After 4-5 firings extraction will becomes difficult with the 308. Resize the case just enough so that it feeds and extracts easily.

 

Example Competition Load - Slower velocities can produced good accuracy.

Lapua cases and Russian primers, 43.0 grains Varget, 175grn SMK seated 0.018" off the lands. Produces 2610 fps.

A classic 308 load is 168gr SMKs, IMR 4064 with Federal primers.

 

Lee Collet Dies works by squeezing the neck around a metal mandrel that extends down into the case. Collet dies can produce very low run-out and are cheap to purchase.

 

Factory Ammunition - The best is probably 168gr Federal Gold Medal Match. Lapua make very good 308 match ammunition with 155gr, 167gr, 185gr Scenar bullets

 

Military Ammunition - By far the best military ammunition is the Lake City M118 LR (Long Range) boxer-primed and loaded with Sierra 175gr.

 

Barrel Twist - 10 twist is the most common and allows you to shoot the popular medium and heavy bullets up to the 210grn provided you delivers enough velocity for the heavy bullets. Competition shooters using Sierra & Lapua 155grn favour a 12 or 13 twist.

A 13 twist is fine for deer hunters who prefer a 150grn bullet moving 2850-2900 fps

 

308cal TRG 22 = 11 twist

 

308 Winchester Load Data

Hodgdon Varget 47.5 F210m Sierra 110 Varmint Win 3200 fps Very Accurate Varmint Load, 2.650" COAL
Reloader 15 47.0 F210m Hornady 110 V-Max Win 3200 fps Accurate, hard-hitting Varmint Load. Try .010" into lands.
Hodgdon H335 47.0 F210m Sierra 125 SP Fed 3100 fps Sierra's Hunting Load, 26" bbl, 2.700" COAL
IMR 4064 45.2 F210m Nosler 150 B-Tip Win 2843 fps Hunting Load, 26" bbl, 2.850" COAL
Alliant Reloader 15 46.2 CCI BR2 Lapua 155 Lapua 2920 fps Very Accurate in 25" 5R bbl, .3 MOA at 300m, 2.800" COAL
Hodgdon Varget 45.2 F210m Lapua 155 Lapua 2830 fps Z. Smith Tactical Match Load in 24" Accuracy Int'l, 2.850" COAL
Hodgdon Benchmark 44.0 F210m Lapua 155 Lapua 2895 fps Jason Baney 100-400m Load
Hodgdon Varget 45.5+ CCI BR2 155 SMK Lapua 2950+ fps Jerry Tierney Palma Load
Hodgdon Varget 47.0 CCI BR2 Berger 155 Lapua 2900+ fps John Whidden Palma Load
Alliant Reloader 15 44.0 CCI BR2 Hornady 168 A-Max Lapua 2700 fps Very Accurate, 1/4 moa to 400 yards. 2.875" COAL.
Alliant Reloader 15 42.0 F210m 168 SMK Fed 2600 fps Sierra's Accuracy Load Savage 12VSS
IMR 4064 43.5 F210m 168 SMK Win 2600+ fps Very Accurate in 24" bbl, 2.800" COAL.
Vihtavuori N150 43.5 F210m 168 SMK Win 2640 fps J. Gottfredson's Short-Range Match Load
Alliant Reloader 15 45.0 F210m 175 SMK Win 2750 fps Very Accurate from 24" 5R bbl.
IMR 4895 43.0 Win 175 SMK IMI Match 2753 fps Very Accurate, No Pressure Signs, 2.787" COAL, .018" jump
Hodgdon Varget 43.0 Russian 175 SMK Lapua 2610 fps Brad Sauve F-TR Match Load, .018" Jump
Hodgdon Varget 43.0 CCI BR2 175 SMK IMI Match 2685 fps Very Accurate, under 1/2-MOA, 2.787" COAL, .018" jump, 26" bbl
Hodgdon Varget 44.6 F210m 175 SMK LC na AR10 load for magazine, 2.807" COAL
Ramshot TAC 42.0 CCI BR2 175 SMK IMI Match 2705 fps Very Consistent under 1/2-MOA, 2.800" COAL, .005" jump
Vihtavuori N540 41.0 F210m 175 SMK Fed 2400 fps Sierra's Accuracy Load Savage 12VSS
Alliant Reloader 15 46.0 F210m Hornady 178 A-Max Horn Match na Hornady brass has more capacity than Lapua. 2.845" OAL
IMR 4064 40.5 F210m 190 SMK Fed 2500 fps Sierra's Accuracy Load Savage 12VSS

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Peter King uses Viht 140 (42gr to 45gr) 44gr appears best

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