Most accurate 308 reloading hunting bullet?

[TimberHunter]

They are. For a reason.

View attachment 238955

Honest assessment, I worked up that load and another one at the same time. That was was, even with the higher cost per bullet, much cheaper because of how much less on the way of components I had to use. They are the easiest projectiles to load for I've ever used.

I may give their 15 count a try. To maximize the 15 bullets, should I follow documented powder charges for other copper bullets like the GMX?


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[hodgeman]

I'd try 150s and 180s... typically a .308 with a BT/AB is pretty easy to get a good load. Also, try a flat base bullet.

As bad as I hate to say it, I've never had a rifle I couldn't get a plain old FB Interlock to shoot well in. Not the best hunting bullet, but it's easy to tune them and they're cheap.

 

[OXN939]

I may give their 15 count a try. To maximize the 15 bullets, should I follow documented powder charges for other copper bullets like the GMX?


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Nope. GMX has a WAY larger bearing surface, so Hammers can (and like to be) pushed at a much higher velocity. They have a forum that gives load data for their projectiles.

 

[TimberHunter]

Picked up some Hornady 150 BTSP and will give those a try.

From my previous range trips, IMR 4064 was consistently getting groups around 1.25”-1.75” with 165 nosler BT and Hornady 180 SST. I tried a few loads of benchmark powder and nosler BT 165 and I got similar groups but the velocity ES was much smaller (about 30 FPS).

I also have H4895 on hand. Would you guys try a new powder or explore the benchmark powder more?

Frustration with my 308 is starting to increase... for example my new to me ruger predator 22-250 liked all 5 different loads I tried with 50 grain v max. All 5 different powder charges in the 22-250 grouped under 1” so I don’t think my reloading practices are what is keeping the 308 from shooting under 1”


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[hunting1]

If 4064 does not work (US sniper load, Federal match, my favorite with 175gr) RL15 should. I am a Varget fan but not in your list, but 15 is close.

 

[TimberHunter]

If 4064 does not work (US sniper load, Federal match, my favorite with 175gr) RL15 should. I am a Varget fan but not in your list, but 15 is close.

I do have about 1/2-3/4 can of varget but my concern is that if I find an accurate load, it will be near impossible to find more Varget.

I saw a temp sensitivity chart today and RL15 seems to fairly sensitive. Main purpose with this gun is hunting from Oct till December and long range practice the rest of the year (temps as high as 60 degrees during the summer morning shooting sessions, as cold as 0 degrees while hunting)


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[Rich M]

Sierra 150 gr Pro Hunter. This shoots an inch at 250 with my 3006 over 4350 and win 760.

The 100 gr version shoots an inch at same range over 760 in my .243.

Cheap bullet, shoots like a laser.

 

[MTSasquatch]

Following.

 

[ericwh]

...A flat base bullet is easier to manufacture consistently. BT bullets don’t do a thing for anyone but the marketing department for normal .308 Winchester hunting range. The base of the bullet is where the magic happens. I have personally tested one against the other with the same bullet weights and powder charges with no practical difference in trajectory out to 600 yards...

I’ve had good success with the Sierra Pro Hunter line and also Woodleigh bullets from down under. There are probably others.

For short - medium range, I have found flat base bullets will be the easiest to get to shoot well.

I was loading light, flat-based Sierra bullets in my wife's .30-06 (her grandfather's) and all the loads shot well. At the same time I was having a heck of a time developing any sort of a decent load for Nosler boat tails in my .30-06 and tried a 3-shot group of her light flat-based shells to confirm I didn't have a gun/optic issue and they shot like 1/2" I think. For that rifle I switched to Sierra Gameking SPBT and was able to get something around 1". Maybe slightly under. I don't think I ever got them to shoot as well as the flat-based bullets (at 100 yards).

I also found flat-based v-maxes to be more accurate (at 100 yards) than Berger and Hornady boat tails out of my fast-twist .223 and I attribute that to the flat base.


If you're going longer distance and want/need a boat tail to extend your range I would go Berger. If you don't like the cost or performance characteristics of Bergers I would look at Tipped Sierras. Either TMK or maybe the 165 Gamechanger.

The Gamechangers shoot very, very well for me in 6.5cm and the Berger OTM Hybrids did as well.

Just my opinion based on shooting most of the manufacturers, although not all out of the same rifle and not all in .30 cal.

 

[TimberHunter]

I ran out of light for my chronograph to pick up the speed so I stopped about half way through my teat but some promising results finally!

This is very similar to my 22-250 that put each group under 1” and the POI were all similar.

Below are groups of 41, 41.5 and 42 of H4895. No pressure signs so I’m sure I will have no issue getting up to around 44/45 grains and hopefully pushing this 150 Hornady BTSP near 2800 FPS

42 grains average was 2610fps out of 20” barrel with harvester suppressor which doesn’t do me too much good for hunting at long range but at least I finally have groups under 1.25”!

42.5= 7/8”
42 grain = .5”
41.5=3/4”

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[83cj-7]

Although I do not currently own a .308, I have owned several and worked up loads for quite a few. Load up any 165-168 class lead core bullet in federal or Winchester case at book length. Use a standard rifle primer and 43.5, 44 and 44.5 grains of RL15. If one of those is not accurate, the rifle needs to be worked, not the load.
My first .308 was a factory barrel R700 and 44.4 grains of RL15 under a 168 Amax would consistently shoot 2-2.5” groups at 500 yards.

 

[TimberHunter]

Although I do not currently own a .308, I have owned several and worked up loads for quite a few. Load up any 165-168 class lead core bullet in federal or Winchester case at book length. Use a standard rifle primer and 43.5, 44 and 44.5 grains of RL15. If one of those is not accurate, the rifle needs to be worked, not the load.
My first .308 was a factory barrel R700 and 44.4 grains of RL15 under a 168 Amax would consistently shoot 2-2.5” groups at 500 yards.

Thanks, I have a lb of RL 15 so I will give those a try with some SPBT 165 grain Hornady bullets.

I just order some 155 Scenars to try as well with H4895


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[83cj-7]

If those 165 Hornadys don’t work for you, let me know. They are my favorite bullet in my .300 savage.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

Another vote for Lapua's. I have a variety of .308 rifles & have had good luck with them. For punching paper I've had good luck with Sierra 168s.

 

[Quin]

Don't be afraid of bullet jump. I've sometimes found my best accuracy with significant amounts of jump (I want to say 0.090 with 165 BTs in an -06). The Berger website has a bullet jump test that I think is worth running before you give up on the ballistic tips.

Basically you load a series of rounds at 4 significantly different seating depths (0.010, 0.040, 0.090, 0.130 from the lands) but keeping everything else the same: powder charge, primer, case, etc. (obviously don't use a max charge). Shoot for groups and one group (in theory) will be noticeably better than the others and you continue load development from there. I've done this test a few times when I've been having trouble and it has helped immensely.

 

[TimberHunter]

Following up on this...

Got some Scenar 155s and some once fired nosler brass from my chamber

I loaded benchmark 39 grains to 43.5 in .5 grain increments. 1 round at each powder charge. Book max is 43 grains

I didn’t not see any pressure signs with the nosler brass. I saw predictable velocities between the powder charges and the bullets grouped in 2 distinct groups.

Charges 39.39.5 and 40 in the yellow circle. Charges 41,41.5,42,42.5,43.0 and 43.2 grain all fell within the red circle within approx 1” group. Those velocities started at 2648 and ended at 2792). Very happy about the red circle grouping! Shot 9, 43.5 grains hit the target as it fell so it hit high but I’d think it would’ve impacted within the red circle.

I then shot 3 rounds of 42 grains and got about .5” group which is very good for me.

Lessons learned:
1.Hornady brass is very soft and will show high pressure signs very early
2. Loading 1 round at .5 increments can show you if your gun likes a certain powder (consistent/predictable velocities vs sporadic velocities) and if there is a powder charge accuracy node (different powder charges grouping together)
3. Quality brass/components can make a large difference. Turned a 1.5 moa rifle into .5-.75 moa rifle


Targets are at 100 yards

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[TimberHunter]

Next step will be to load 3 round groups of 43 grains and shoot them at 100 and 200 yards


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[TimberHunter]

High powder charge weights below the red sticker, low powder charges on the top row in this pic. I can’t see any high pressure signs and bolt lifts were all normal


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[robtattoo]

My go to load for every .308 I've ever loaded for has been a 165 sierra gameking over 42gn on IMR4895. COAL 2.80"
I've never owned or shot a rifle that didn't put this load into an inch at worst. Both of my Hog Hunters, my LWH, AR10, rem 700 & an oddball H&R single shot all put them comfortably into a tiny group.

 

[missinglink]

Great post!!! Getting ready to start loading my 308 soon and I think this gave me a great place to start.

Appreciate the info!