Starting to reload .308

[benn1124]

hey guys,

going to be starting to experiment with some hand loads in the next few weeks, will be for a tikka t3 hunter in a 308, wanting to stick with a hollow point bullet and just wondering what sort of, projectiles, primers, and powder people are using for their hand loads, i know each rifle is different im just lookign at a starting point, i was hoping to use the berger hollow point bullets havent really decided on a weight yet tho.

thanks

[newsteadvic]

I tend to pick a bullet for the job at hand, the look at a couple of loading sources like ADI free pdf and Nick Harveys book then think about powder. AR2208, AR2209 will do well. If you have other rifles you may reload for in time this may affect powder choice.

Purchase a book, the Nick Harvey one is good. Does you local library carry anything? Ours has Nick Harvey and ABC reloading by Chevallier.

Do you have a kit or press? The Lee Loader with a set of scales is a slow but effective way of starting to reload, I started with one for my .243 and a set of Dillon Eliminator scales and produced some very accurate loads. Western Firearms carry Lee Loaders or TitanReloading in the USA will post them. NVT.com.au carry scales. Avoid the Lee Scales.

Good luck, reloading is great fun.

[Jack V]

I use AR2208 as it is about right for a 308 volume case . Federal 210 primers . Fore some unknown reason the load shot slightly better with federal primers than Winchester during development . It's the opposite in my 243 though with AR2209 . Go figure .
It's fairly hard to say what will work best for your gun and load combination and loading technique . You have to experiment a bit to work out what works best for you.
Buying projectiles now is a big problem with USA supplies so unreliable now.

[Chronos]

What are the chances , just last night I shared some data with amate who wants to load 130gr Speer hollow points

I tried them with 2208 but I think the powder is a little slow and will load again with either 2206h or BM8208 and try to match the accuracy of the federal factory loads with this bullet.

In my gun they shot around 1" 3 shot groups at 200y and 3000fps with good SD and ES numbers

Here some of my data, obviously these won't directly translate to your loads in your gun but might give you an idea what to expect.

Play it safe and work up as usual

Tikka hunter stainless fluted .308

.308 load data

Federal 130gr Speer factory 3000fps ES 55, SD 22 for 6 rounds, 3 clean cold bore and 3 dirty warm.

130gr Speer handloads, powder- 2208, primer- federal match LR 2.705" COAL

48gr 2798 fps ES 88 SD 39
48.5gr 2759 fps ES 117 SD 49
49gr 2828 fps ES 62 SD 29
49.5 gr 2863 fps ES 76 SD 32
50 gr max 2901 fps ES 32 SD 13

[Baldrick314]

I use 2206H in my 308. I use 168gr Nosler Custom Comps. These are target only projectiles, they probably wouldn't perform well on game. For cases I just reload federal brass, so far it's given me great results. And federal primers.

[benn1124]

i got the hornady ultimate reloading kit a while back, and also have purchased the 9th eddition of nick hearvys reloading manual as every 1 i know hwo reloads very highly reccomends this book, my reloads will pretty much just be for pig hunting i had origonally thought to use balistic tips but find at to close fo distances they act like a FMJ round and just go straight through this is around and up to 50m ish at least that was with the factory loads currently im shooting the remington premier gold tip 165gr balistic tips but going to be switching to a hollow point factory load soon untill i get my hand loads figured out, as far as a powder measurer goes im lookign at buying one of the hornady electronic powder throwing machines mainly because once i get everythign sorted im going to start with reloading 30/30 aswell as 22-250 and other calibres later on down the track. thank you all for the responses tho has been a very good starting point im heading to the gun shop on the weekend to grab a couple things will have a bit fo a chat to the guys there about ti all too.

[tom604]

try speer 130gr, bm2 powder, they wont go through ,work up your own load but near max works for my gun. it has been said that they lack stopping power at longer range's but within 100 to 200 mtrs they are deadly on the plus side you can use bm2 in a 223 as well so one powder two guns i only hunt so don't try for tiny holes at really long distances, the critters don't seem to be able to tell

[Lorgar]

will be for a tikka t3 hunter in a 308, wanting to stick with a hollow point bullet and just wondering what sort of, projectiles, primers, and powder people are using for their hand loads, i know each rifle is different im just lookign at a starting point

Nosler Custom Competitions have always shot good for me in everything.

A couple of Rugers and Tikka in .308 and 300WM, always good shooters.

AR2208 powder. Faster has always worked better than slower for me.

Primers... CCI BR2, or standard federal primers.

Good luck with it

[benn1124]

where about can you get speer hp bullets from around the brisbane area ?

[mausermate]

yup! i'm a 130 gr speer or 150 gr Woodleigh. just depends on the hunt. 155 gr HPBT match for the range. Faster is better for the 7.62 IMO. 2206H.

[Jack V]

The good thing about the 308 case is it larger bore volume to case capacity compared to magnums , it allows a wider range of powder speeds to work ok.

[Baronvonrort]

Here is the link to the ADI reloading manual,it's pretty good,the price is right.

http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloade ... on_WEB.pdf

[tactice]

Nosler Custom Competitions have always shot good for me in everything.

Shooting the 168gr ones as well?

[Lorgar]

They were 155gr if I recall.

Shooting in my Ruger.

[headspace]

The problem facing anyone new to reloading is an over abundance of information. What works in one rifle won't always work in another. Just to complicate matters further, you can toss in barrel length, twist rate and a host of other variables. However I like 165 gn Hornady Interlocks and 2208 powder. Works really well for me but the rifle won't shoot 150gn bullets worth a damn. I'll say one thing though, the 308 does like a full case.
JD

[Norton]

The problem facing anyone new to reloading is an over abundance of information. What works in one rifle won't always work in another.

This is it.

Learn the safety aspects of it, then there's nothing to do but get your feet wet and start reloading to find what works for your setup.

[Timb0]

where about can you get speer hp bullets from around the brisbane area ?

Sometimes Qld gunX have them

[bobnob]

Just get Ar2206h and a good 150g bullet and use it for everything. You won't go wrong.

The GameKing or Interlocks are hard to beat for accuracy, price and killing effectiveness.

[Davies]

Just get Ar2206h and a good 150g bullet and use it for everything.

Hornady SST are a pretty good 'everything' bullet IMO.

[bobnob]

Yes they're a pretty good pig and deer bullet and generally pretty accurate too I find. Price is ok as well.

[Lorgar]

+1 for both of the above.

SST worked well for me in a couple of rifles.