More speed out of 308

[Trogon]

Im running +/- 44gr of varget for a few different 308 loads (win brass, fed primers, 165gr TTSX, SMK, SGK) and speeds are all in the 2600 fps range out of a 21" bartlein.

Anyone have a powder suggestion to get a bit more speed out of this rifle? RL15? IMR 4166? N140?

 

[wildwilderness]

RL 15 has been a bit faster, but less accurate for me.

two easy options-
1- lighter bullet- I like the 150gr class or smaller for 308 win.
2- bigger case!!

what are you trying to do? Hunt? Target? Distance?

 

[Trogon]

RL 15 has been a bit faster, but less accurate for me.

two easy options-
1- lighter bullet- I like the 150gr class or smaller for 308 win.
2- bigger case!!

what are you trying to do? Hunt? Target? Distance?

I don't like either of those options, lol. Of those 2, dropping to 150gr might be the way I go but Ive got 300 168gr ABLR bullets sitting around. Since varget is just as hard to find as any powder thought I would try something new.

What am I trying to do? Make 308 less Rainbow-like! And screw around with the supplies I have till I use it all up then rebarrel to something else....

 

[Rob5589]

2000mr would push a 175 from a stock 20" Rem 700 at 2650. That was with a book max load. R15 was about the same but with less accuracy. You'd be able to hit 2700+ most likely with the lighter bullet but nothing significant.

 

[wildwilderness]

I don't like either of those options, lol. Of those 2, dropping to 150gr might be the way I go but Ive got 300 168gr ABLR bullets sitting around. Since varget is just as hard to find as any powder thought I would try something new.

What am I trying to do? Make 308 less Rainbow-like! And screw around with the supplies I have till I use it all up then rebarrel to something else....

Well you could turn it into a 308-AI and use up the supplies but I don’t think you would gain much at all. You could shoot off half the bullets to fireform then the other half slightly faster .

 

[grifmXC]

I was getting just over 2800 with CFE223/168TTSX out of a model 70 featherweight with a 22 in barrel. PP2000MR’s burn rate is close to CFE223 so it should get you in the same ballpark as well.


150TTSX and CFE223 is close to 2950.

-Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[30338]

I'd save the monos for something faster. The ABLR should work well with a low starting speed. Take what you get and run your drop chart.

 

[orelkaddict]

Can you not bump up your charge with varget? Are you getting pressure signs already?

 

[JakeSCH]

What is the make COAL that you can fit in your magazine? In my tikka I swapped out the bolt stop and was able to seat the 175 gr LRX far out with CFE223...I never hit pressure but stopped my ladder test near 2800 FPS.

 

[Trogon]

Thanks all for the input. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some 2000mr. I have 223CFE, so may try that.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks all for the input. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some 2000mr. I have 223CFE, so may try that.

I think you'll find the CFE 223 to give you the best speeds you can get.

 

[MThuntr]

Some rifles inherently print lower numbers. My 300WSM is basically a spicy 30-06 and when I reload I don't get anywhere near max.

You could change bullets...Hammer bullets seem to gain a couple hundred fps over similar bullets. I see guys getting right around 3000fps with the 152gr Hammer Hunter. Steve from Hammer thinks a person could get close to 3200fps with the 151 absolute hunter and faster burning powder like Ramshot Tac

 

[N2TRKYS]

The 130 grain ttsx would flatten the curve for you.

 

[Newtosavage]

Some rifles inherently print lower numbers. My 300WSM is basically a spicy 30-06 and when I reload I don't get anywhere near max.

You could change bullets...Hammer bullets seem to gain a couple hundred fps over similar bullets. I see guys getting right around 3000fps with the 152gr Hammer Hunter. Steve from Hammer thinks a person could get close to 3200fps with the 151 absolute hunter and faster burning powder like Ramshot Tac

I saw this in my 7mm-08. The 131 Hammers were leaving at close to 3k fps which was about 100 fps. faster than the 130 Speers I used to load for whitetails. No signs of pressure either.

 

[jharrell12]

I tried RL-17 with some heavier bullets with decent speeds, but that was in a 24in barrel

 

[wind gypsy]

CFE223 for velocity but it’s not very temp stable.

Your numbers will look better with a 155 lapua scenar.

 

[Trogon]

CFE223 for velocity but it’s not very temp stable.

Your numbers will look better with a 155 lapua scenar.

Oh man. Thats a good idea. Im shooting 69gr scenars in my 223 and they are awesome.

 

[wind gypsy]

Oh man. Thats a good idea. Im shooting 69gr scenars in my 223 and they are awesome.

Google 308 155 scenar. You’ll find a lot of stuff has been killed with that combo.

 

[Trogon]

Google 308 155 scenar. You’ll find a lot of stuff has been killed with that combo.

Just need to find the bullets in stock now....

 

[JFK]

If you want to shoot copper I’d drop down to 130gr bullet. You’ll get the speed you are looking for, flatten out the trajectory and inside of 400 yards nothing you hit will know it was a lighter bullet.