.308 Win Sierra 168 gr TMK load data

[mc1119]

I have searched and maybe not using the proper key word to find what I’m after, but does anyone have the Sierra manual showing load data for the 168gr TMK for .308 Winchester they could share?
Thanks!

 

[Team2]

I have searched and maybe not using the proper key word to find what I’m after, but does anyone have the Sierra manual showing load data for the 168gr TMK for .308 Winchester they could share?
Thanks!

i have used 2 powders that shoot exceptionally well in my .308 with 168 TMKs: H4895 - 42.4 grains: excellent velocities at about 2680 fps and good consistent low SDs with high precision in my 20" barrel and AR-COMP I found similar results from 42.1 to 43.2 grains with higher velocities at about 2830 fps on the top end, using Lapua brass only for all these loads (COL was 2.810), with some pressure signs starting to show up sporadically on the top end.

Note: H4895 ends up giving me about another 100 fps over what I would expect to get from reloading data. It is my go to powder for that caliber. Varget does have a smoother/lesser recoil pulse so if you are trying to get a quicker follow-up shots it will serve you better but at the expense of velocity.


Both H-4895 and AR-COMP are hard to get. AR-COMP is basically completely off the market for now, suspect it will come back as some point. It's probably getting used for military ammo only for now...
H4895 has resurfaced if you are willing to spend the money on the Hodgdon website you can buy it direct, I also saw it appear very briefly on Precision reloading: https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!q=h4895

Sierra lists the accuracy load for that bullet (168 Gr. TMK) as IMR 8208 XBR with 43.9 gr.
That seems like pretty hot load to me, Sierra list this load as the max load as well as the accuracy load at 2.800"; please work up all your loads!

Sierra list sTAC as the hunting load (50 fps more speed is attainable based on their published data) but I have not been able to get TAC to shoot in 308 no matter how hard I tried (although that powder works really well for me in 5.56). I have also tried CFE 223 in 308 but it did not group well. Both of TAC and CFE powders are NOT temperature stable, CFE-223 is the least temp. stable powder i know, with about 1.7 fps/degree. I use it for 5.56 55 gr. and 62 gr. bullets for shooting out to 300-400 meters it works fine.

Varget is listed between 40.9 to 45.0 but I have not tried it, I would think it will do well as well. I has done well for me, in my barrel/chamber with heavier bullets in 308.

N140 with listed minimum at 39.4 to 44.9. This powder is really close to Varget in burn speed, I have not tried it in 308.

One of my close friends, a former sniper uses IMR-4895 almost exclusively in 308 but Sierra doesn't list the load data for that powder, you may want to check the Hodgdon reloading data center and work up a load, almost guaranteed to shoot well in .308.

IRM 4064: a couple of guys I shoot long range with use it but with very different loads, 2-3 grains apart, so be careful this powder will blow primers in some cases well before you get to the max load. Sierra lists the minimum charge at 39.2 and max at 44.3. This is one of the only powders I would work up a load with at the minimum load because I have seen how it can pop primers even on good brass even 2-3 grains bellow max. One of my friends uses the minimum load for his 308.

Shooters World load data for Tactical Rifle: 168 gr Sierra HPBT COL: 2.810" Min.: 39.5gr. @ 2,500 & 43.0 gr. at 2,724fps/61,754 PSI; Probably not temperature stable, but I don't really know as I haven't tried it yet...

I would recommend sticking to the most Temp. stable powders to save yourself time, money and frustration over time especially if you are going to be shooting past 500 meters or pushing your loads on the upper end.

Hope this helps..

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

41.0grains of Benchmark. 168tmk or similar. Send it.

 

[Hondo64d]

I have searched and maybe not using the proper key word to find what I’m after, but does anyone have the Sierra manual showing load data for the 168gr TMK for .308 Winchester they could share?
Thanks!

I shot this five shot group with 5 different charges of StaBall Match pushing 168gr TMKs. I started at 44.4 and went up to 46gr in .4gr increments, one shot per charge, just to see where max was. 46gr showed some high pressure signs, but I bet you could find a fine load somewhere short of that.

John

 

[deerhunter628]