20” 308 Hunting Reloading Recipes

[TimberHunter]

Recently purchased a CA Ridgeline 308 with a 20” barrel to be ran with my suppressor. My tax stamp was just submitted to ATF so it’s gonna be a while.

In the mean time I’d like to begin reloading for the 308. Because it will used for mid range deer and elk (500/600yards), I’d like to shoot a 160 ish or 180 bullet.

Anyone have some good recipes they’d be willing to share? Or at least what powder I should start with?


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[TimberHunter]

I have new bottles of reloader 15 and H4350. And half used bottle of Varget. Looking for a powder that will give me the best velocities


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[MidGAHunter]

Your rifle will choose powder/bullet combo. Varget is a known entity in .308 (among others) and seems to be a little more temp stable compared to RL 15 in my experience. Break your barrel in then start working up with a ladder test with your powder(s) and bullet(s) of choice. Chrono them too if you can. I've got a CA Traverse that will be here this week and I will be looking for a load myself (gonna try Varget with Sierra Gamechangers out of Alpha brass).

 

[JimGa]

46.7 Varget with a 155 Scenar got me 2750 in a 20" barrel. I get over 2850 in a 24" barrel with the same load. That is in Winchester brass and a 210M primer.

 

[Newtosavage]

165 SST's and Interbonds were always super accurate from every .308 I loaded them in. I've tried 180 Accubonds, but the juice isn't worth the squeeze IMO. Stick with 165's if your gun likes them. Varget and RL-15 are always solid powders for the .308.

46 grains of Varget gave me 2700 fps with the 165 SST's and excellent groups.

 

[FLS]

165 Sierra Gamechangers over 8208 gives me the best velocities and accuracy out of my Remington Model 7. Winchester brass and Federal match primer. Start at 42.5 and work up. The higher I went the better it got. Sierras max load gave me 2670 and single digit SD and ES out of 18.5” barrel.

 

[TimberHunter]

165 Sierra Gamechangers over 8208 gives me the best velocities and accuracy out of my Remington Model 7. Winchester brass and Federal match primer. Start at 42.5 and work up. The higher I went the better it got. Sierras max load gave me 2670 and single digit SD and ES out of 18.5” barrel.

Hodgdon says max load of 8208 with a 165 Horn SP is 42.8. Shouldn’t I start lower than 42.5?

How temp stable is the 8208? I practice early morning during the summer shooting in 65-80 degrees weather and then my hunts range from 40 degrees to near 0.


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[FLS]

Look at Sierras 308 data for 8208. Load is safe in my rifle. YMMV.
8208 is as temp stable as they get, but it does build pressure quickly once you start approaching max loads. Sierras ballistician recommended that specific powder for my application. He’s never given me bad advice.

 

[Newtosavage]

Hodgdon says max load of 8208 with a 165 Horn SP is 42.8. Shouldn’t I start lower than 42.5?

How temp stable is the 8208? I practice early morning during the summer shooting in 65-80 degrees weather and then my hunts range from 40 degrees to near 0.


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I love 8208. I bought an 8 lb. jug of it a while back because it pushed my 162's out of my 7mm-08 faster and more accurately, with better temp stability, than anything else I tried. And I tried them all.

I've shot it over 100 degrees and under 10 degrees and have noticed no change in POI.

But I especially love how it meters. So consistent that I only check every 5th or 8th case anymore.

 

[FLS]

Hodgdon says max load of 8208 with a 165 Horn SP is 42.8. Shouldn’t I start lower than 42.5?

How temp stable is the 8208? I practice early morning during the summer shooting in 65-80 degrees weather and then my hunts range from 40 degrees to near 0.


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If you are using the Hornady bullet, use their data. It must have different pressure characteristics than the Sierra.

 

[TimberHunter]

If you are using the Hornady bullet, use their data. It must have different pressure characteristics than the Sierra.

Any chance you could post Sierras 308 load data? Best I found was the Sierra load app and max load is 43.5 of 8208 at 2730 FPS for the 165 grain TMK


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[FLS]

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/forms/308_winchester_sierra_gamechanger_load_data.pdf

 

[Big.Jav]

I’d steer clear of 180gr bullets with a 308 especially with a 20” barrel because it likely has a 1:12 twist and often times rifles with that twist rate struggle to stabilize heavier bullets

 

[TimberHunter]

I’d steer clear of 180gr bullets with a 308 especially with a 20” barrel because it likely has a 1:12 twist and often times rifles with that twist rate struggle to stabilize heavier bullets

My 20” rifle had a 1:10 twist so I think I’ll be good, thanks


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[260madman]

45-46gr of Varget and a 165-168. Works well for me.

 

[marshland_max]

150-165-168 Nosler Accubonds, BT,or PT.
IMR 3031, H 4895, and Varget.

 

[bruceleroy]

I shoot an 18" barrel in 308 and use Hornady Match brass.

Mine likes...
42.5 of RL15 Same load with 178 ELD-X and 180 Speer BTSP
43.5 of Varget - Same bullets
43 of 8208XBR - Same bullets

Velocities for all three loads are within 25fps of each other, same goes for the bullets