light bullets for short barrel 308

[Blaw]

Hey all I am currently shooting 165 hornady interlocks out of a 18" barreled 308 tikka at 2633fps using 44.6gr of varget

Looking to get decent performance with a lighter bullet with aims of reducing felt recoil out of a light short barreled rifle.

anyone have any good experience running 150 gr or lighter bullets? I would like to see between 1000 and 1500lbs of energy out to 300-400yrds
things don't need to be exact as I primarily bow hunt and take only sure shots with it, as well as rifle..accuracy is key

 

[Huntr]

I have killed 5 elk with the 155gr. Lapua Scenar, will probably be the only bullet my GAP rifle will ever see.

 

[adkhunter]

Nosier ballistic tip 125’s or Barnes 130 tsx will work well. Been working on a load for the NBT 125’s for my son’s ‘06 for a reduced load.

I’ve never really worried about energy as most of my hunting is less than 200 yards so I don’t know how these stack up to your requirements.

Great thing about the 308 is there are many great bullets available in 30 caliber.

 

[Blaw]

hmm 130 might be an interesting one! ill have too look up some data! I just reloaded some 165 tsx a friend gave me, interesting looking bullet

 

[adkhunter]

Speed is your friend with the Barnes TSX so I would go 130’s in the 308. I tried 165’s in my model seven and it did not like them. Check barnes’ data I think you can push 3000 FPS with them. The TTSX can handle a little lower impact velocity due to the poly tip.

 

[tdot]

If accuracy is king, then consider dropping down to a lower node with your existing components. In my experience that will decrease your felt recoil more then decreasing bullet weight.

Also consider a switch to IMR8028XBR, I've seen a considerable increase in speed over Varget with light to regular for caliber weight bullets.

 

[robtattoo]

Also consider a switch to IMR8028XBR, I've seen a considerable increase in speed over Varget with light to regular for caliber weight bullets.

^^^^^
This. I found a significant velocity increase with both 8028XBR & CFE223
The XBR definitely wins out for velocity, but CFE gave me better accuracy & a solid 160fps advantage over Varget, shooting 150s in my little Savage.

 

[Brendan]

Expensive, but cutting edge bullets offers copper .308 bullets down to 100 grain. A bunch in the 125 - 150 grain range too.

 

[tdot]

^^^^^
This. I found a significant velocity increase with both 8028XBR & CFE223
The XBR definitely wins out for velocity, but CFE gave me better accuracy & a solid 160fps advantage over Varget, shooting 150s in my little Savage.

Did you do any temp stability tests? I try to stick to temp stable powders and couldnt find any hard data on the CFE223, so didnt bother testing it.



I've had success with the 152 Hammer Hunter bullet in 308, and I'm considering using their lighter 130 class Sledge Hammer Bullets. Should be pushing 3000fps with a light load out of a 20" barrel.

 

[robtattoo]

No, I really haven't actually. I was under the impression that all CFE powders we're pretty stable.

 

[FLS]

8208 is very temp stable. CFE 223 is not.
H4895 and Benchmark are excellent 308 powders as well. Both are temp stable.
130 TTSX over H4895 is a good load out of my 18.5” 308.

 

[CHWine]

I've goofed around with my M1A in .308 for a while now. I had good results shooting the 125 BT's with IMR 4064. They cycled well with the semi auto action too. Now I'm shooting 150 BT's with Varget.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

My R25 spits heavy bullets out to 800 yards consistently with little recoil. Maybe it's time for an AR?

 

[Blaw]

TAC is a great powder to use with lighter bullets in the 308. I can't remember the exact numbers but TAC and 130 TTSX worked very well.

That said I now use 168 ELDs and 2000-MR powder in my wife's 16" 308 and get very good velocity (north of 2700 fps) with that combo and the better BC means more velocity (and ft/lbs of energy if that matters to you).

whats the muzzle blast with those velocities and that short of barrel??

 

[Blaw]

TAC is a great powder to use with lighter bullets in the 308. I can't remember the exact numbers but TAC and 130 TTSX worked very well.

That said I now use 168 ELDs and 2000-MR powder in my wife's 16" 308 and get very good velocity (north of 2700 fps) with that combo and the better BC means more velocity (and ft/lbs of energy if that matters to you).

according to their info i could expect 130gr bullets going 3100fps out of a 24" barrel with 53gr of powder....minus 25fps for every inch im shorter 6" = 150fps means I might get around 2950fps ish

....interesting might give that a rip

 

[0uTkAsT]

I shoot 165s out of my little Model 7 because that's what it likes, but I did buy a box of Hornady Custom Lite 125gr. just to see how they did and was pretty impressed with how much softer it shot compared to my stout hunting loads.

Maybe give them a shot (pun intended) to see if they work for you before investing in a bunch of components.

 

[cubdriver84d]

I’ve been running the 152 hammers in my 18” 308 over a case full of varget. I get about 2800 fps at the end of my suppressor which is good to 500 yards.

 

[JimGa]

155 Scenars with 46+ of Varget should get you between 2700-2800. The Scenar is a great bullet.

 

[Newtosavage]

Hey all I am currently shooting 165 hornady interlocks out of a 18" barreled 308 tikka at 2633fps using 44.6gr of varget

Looking to get decent performance with a lighter bullet with aims of reducing felt recoil out of a light short barreled rifle.

anyone have any good experience running 150 gr or lighter bullets? I would like to see between 1000 and 1500lbs of energy out to 300-400yrds
things don't need to be exact as I primarily bow hunt and take only sure shots with it, as well as rifle..accuracy is key

When I had a Remington SPS .308, I chopped the barrel to 20" and loaded 125 Nosler Ballistic Tips in it over H4895 for my wife and daughter to shoot. It was incredibly accurate, they loved shooting it, and it had plenty of punch for any deer walking.

 

[Dos Perros]

OP, why not just put a brake on it?