308 Reloading

[Vern400]

NEW to reloading. I do not have any equipment or anything so I'm sure I will be asking about that later. Someone I know is going to let me come to their place and see their set up. I told them I would do my best to bring my own materials to load while I am there learning. Going to be loading a 308 Sierra tgk 165 grain , Barnes TTSX 165 grain, or Hornady Interbond 165 grain. What are some good powders to pair with these? I don't know what powders are good or which ones are bad quality wise. Like I said new to all of this. Also, what kind of primers need to be used? Thanks for any help.

Varget is easy to load with. Fed 210 primers
4064 works but not as accurate for me. Used Remington primers with that.
Reloder 15 is awesome with Fed 210s.
CFE 223 seems to wring the most velocity out of a 308 but I have not used it yet.
I use Sierra Spitzer boat tails 150 and 165. Both hit deer very hard regardless of velocity they work. No worries about min velocity at impact. But they are not tough and over maybe 350 pound game or boar hogs there are better bullets. But man do they shoot like match bullets and hit hard. Don't compare bullets with guys shooting faster cartridges. I've seen too many bullets pencil hole through that were too tough for the velocity. Check recommended impact velocity if you can find it. Or ask the question to the mfg. Good luck.

PS many 308s like very short bullet jump. Very long slender bullets can shoot great but won't fit the mag at the ideal accuracy length. Depends on your chamber and rifling start point. Get as close as you can to test, EVEN IF you must single feed. That's actually why the sierra 165 HPBT Gamekings exist - shorter ogive (308 dia) to bullet tip distance. They're a little tougher than the 165 SBT but they put deer down too. And they shoot good.

 

[MTtrout]

Varget is what I use, as well. You’ll have to pay hazmat but it’s easy to find online right now if you really want some.

 

[sdupontjr]

You have killed whitetail out to 300 yards with this? Even when taking them close the damage is there?

I personally have not, but there are tons of threads on this forum as well as others than have done it. If you search enough on goole, you can even find recovered bullets and they explain the distance and you can see the expansion at that distance. Like i mentioned though, I was 100% looking for 125 nosler accubonds but realized it was a unicorn during this reloading craze, so I decided to give the TTSX's a try and my Tikka loves them.

 

[theddguide]

I've used varget and imr 3031. Any large rifle primer you can get

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[Chesapeake173]

I’ve had good luck with RL 15 and 168 grain ttsx.

If you read the Barnes manual they suggest loading them shorter than standard OAL (think 2.735 vs 2.8). This was the first load that my Kimber would shoot well. Just got some 150s and hoping to find a load with them and Varget that’ll work.


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[MD97756]

Imr 4064 is good with 178’s and 208’s. I couldn’t get any varget til here recently. I’ll see what happens with it. I’m gonna try and find some 168’s and roll out the 4064 with em.

 

[Rambucsabillbul]

I don't fix what isn't broken so I stick with 47 gr. To 49grm Of IMR 4831 depending on Brass make, with large rifle primers sending Nosler 165 Gr. Partitions at Moose,, Elk, B Bear, Deer, Goats and Sheep.
All's well that ends well

 

[Reed104R]

I have used IMR 4064 with 168gr match bullets for years (Sierra accuracy load). IMR 4895 works well also, but is a little faster. I am thinking the old LC Match 173gr? was loaded with 4895. I use CCI BR primers.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I use 3031 for 150gr bullets and 4895 for 180 partitions. Mostly because I wad able to pick 8# jugs of both cheap.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Varget and h4350, imr 4350 is good too.

I havnt personally found any large rifle primer to work better than any other for my uses.

165g accubonds, 150g ttsx, 137g hammer hunters are what I like to load.

 

[Tx270WT]

TAC and 130-150 ttsx is a magic combo at least in my gun. I usually go varget then TAC in the 308 but they can flip depending on bullet choice. Also depends on what you’re planning to shoot at and how far.

 

[MD97756]

Loaded up some 178x behind 41.3gr of varget seated out to 2.160 cbto. Left me a .77-.78” group. Got a a few loaded up to 41.5 and 41.6. 41.8 didn’t shoot well, see what happens and get speeds.

 

[omt223]

Whatever primers you can find; 3031, 4064, 4895, 8208, Varget, RL15, ramshot Tac, Win 748. Hornady bullets are ususally cheaper than the others