308 Nosler BT for TIKKA T3 advice ar2208

[Mossa]

Hi,

I am new to reloading my own loads. I have often used other people's guides. I am currently shooting a 308 Tikka t3 with hand loads of 125 grain nosler bts. I want to go heavier to a 150gr. The idea is is to get a bit more killing power on larger game like red deer. I have often read that the 125 is a smaller grain for the 308 for deer, 150 and up is better suited.

I have handed load some 308 Nosler BTs at 44grain of ar2208. I tried up to 46 grain. I was going to start with 46 grain as it shot OK at 100 metres. The issue is I didn't seat the bullet far enough down to fit into the Tikka t3 magazine. When I seated the bullet down further, it really compressed the gun powder. 44 and 45 grain gives a bit more space. At 100 metres I am happy with the 44 grain.

What is my solution to reduce the drop at 200metres? Can I compress the powder and try 46 grain safely? Or should I change powder? Or is this drop normal for 150 grain bullets?

This is all for hunting, I am not a bench shooting.

Cheers,

[TassieTiger]

Increasing velocity or lighter projectiles are options for countering drop - or scope adjustment. Bullets travel in an arc and start dropping as soon as they leave muzzle.

I think from memory (which isn’t great), you would be shooting at approx 2750fps with 44gns on 150’s.
This naturally results in about a 3,8 inch drop between 100 and 200.

But you can hold over at that or use your scope adjustment to dial in the exact distance that your shooting at - one reason range finders are so handy.

Are you happy with 200 results as they are? If so, work out your scope adjustment to shoot dead on at that distance.

[Wm.Traynor]

Mossa
You say that 46 grains of 2208 "shot OK" at 100 yards.
Did you work up to that charge? What weight of bullet were you using with that charge?

[sungazer]

A little bit of compression with 2208 in a 308 win case is ok. You dont want to over do it though as the bullet may move forward depending on your neck tension. Really though you wont gain much at all by loading a compressed load. You could try 2206H that will give a little bit more velocity works very well for 150 grn loads.

[Ziege]

My advice is sending me the 2208 powder

[SCJ429]

I have found that the 308 needs all the speed you can get to shoot well. You should be able to get 47 grains of 2208 into the case using a long drop tube and a bit of tapping to settle the powder, and still seat your 150 grain pill so that you can feed it from your Tikka magazine. I found a node at 46.4 grains using a different 150 grain projectile. Any slower and I got lots of verticle.

[Mossa]

Thanks for the advice, some things to think about.

Mossa
You say that 46 grains of 2208 "shot OK" at 100 yards.
Did you work up to that charge? What weight of bullet were you using with that charge?

Yeah worked up from 44 following the ADI guide. I was loading them singular into the rifle. I was using the set up from my 125 grain, but didn't know it would seat different. I was using 150, tried some at 44, 45 and 46. 46 was getting better.

I have found that the 308 needs all the speed you can get to shoot well. You should be able to get 47 grains of 2208 into the case using a long drop tube and a bit of tapping to settle the powder, and still seat your 150 grain pill so that you can feed it from your Tikka magazine. I found a node at 46.4 grains using a different 150 grain projectile. Any slower and I got lots of verticle.

I am going to try that. Do you have a recommend long drop tube?

Are you happy with 200 results as they are? If so, work out your scope adjustment to shoot dead on at that distance.

Not too bad, was worried about the inconsistency at 200 though, could it be me or the powder is the question. I am shooting on a rest at the back and front, but I don't do a lot of bench shooting. Only time I shot off a bench is to sight in and keep my SSAA rego.

[Wm.Traynor]

2206H gives better velocity in the relatively short barrels of hunting rifles but then again, whether the theoretical gain is worth the cost of a new can of powder is also something to think about.
Have you got a rimfire? They are the cheapest way to hone your shooting and bench rest skills. Maybe do that for a while. See what you think of your performance with that.
BTW, it looks as though there was variable wind when you shot. Shooting rimfire is cheap practice for doping wind too
Good luck mate!

[Stix]

G'day Mossa,
If im reading your post correct, youre looking to reduce the drop at 200m, as compared with 100m.
Commenting on that--Im no ballistics expert, but i dont think a couple of grains of powder is going to give you any great difference in bullet drop out to 200m...And if there is a drop, i dont think its of any importance especially especially if shooting deer in the chest.

Come time to squeeze off a shot on a deer, your heart will be pumping so hard, & even if propped off of a tree for the shot, the wind & your influence on the rifle will be far greater than a few mm of bullet drop.

It would be interesting if someone could do basic ballistic calc example for you to see the basic difference in buller drop at 200 with the lowest & highest charges you've mentioned..

What people "normally" do, is zero the rifle at 200, then shoot it at 100 to see how high it lands.
From there adjust your aim by holding under (at 100) when in the field.

Personally, i have my (mostly used) rifle set at one inch (20-25mm) high at 100, & i know where it hits at 200 but try shoot rabbit heads with a much flatter shooting cartridge.

For what its worth, if i was shooting deer with your rifle & loads,(& your scope is 1/4"/click @ 100), based on what i can tell the size of your target is, id come up 6-8 clicks & go get some venison...that should get you shooting minute of deer heart with any of the loads you've mentioned.

[SCJ429]

Yes, I use a long drop tube for loads that need it.

A 150 grain bullet is only about two inches low at 200 metres if you have a 100 metre zero. Personally I would shoot the fastest node I can find with a case with limited space.

[rustypic]

Hi Mossa, here's my 2 bobs worth.
I use 2208 for my 308, 125grain Sierra loads and use 49.3 grains no probs. You should be able to get 46 grains with a 150 grain pill with no issues, that should get you around 2800fps, sighted in at 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, zero at 175 yards, 1.2 inches low at 200, 5 inches low at 250 and 10 inches low at 300. I never would sight in dead centre at 100yds with this calibre or any others for that matter.
You would also need to measure your projectiles distance from the rifling, my 308 prefers a bullet jump of 0.8 to 0.4 mm, this might sound a bit technical but is very important. When you say the reload didn't fit the mag there is every chance the projectile was pushed into the rifling, not the best scenario.
Just another thing worth noting, not all brass will hold the same amount of powder !

Cheers and good luck.