308 loading advice

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Re: 308 loading advice

Post by fxol » 20 Dec 2018, 9:19 pm

I load 45 grs of 2206H under 150 gr SST's. I get great accuracy in my Steyr and found they liked to be seated closer to the lands.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Cal-ApeR » 20 Dec 2018, 10:23 pm

Cheers SCJ, as I think we mentioned in another thread. They really are bang for buck. Was very happy with the outcome. I might try actually wearing my glasses on a visit, never know, they might help a bit but I doubtbit. Going to pick up some more 130gr HPs as I think these can be improved upon.

JimTom, if I see the ELD-X pop up for a decent price I'll grab some. They go great in your gun. Nice shooting!

Fxol - will borrow some 2206h from my old boy and give the 150 ssts another go.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Cal-ApeR » 10 Jan 2019, 4:39 pm

Rather than starting another thread thought I'd add on one more question that relates to this firearm.

In my quest for accuracy, I tried many factory loads. As a result, I have a fair amount of unused factory rounds sitting going to waste. I now know this rifle like a small jump which the factory loads do not give. Can I change the OAL of these loads safely. I will NOT be making them shorter, only longer to within about 20thou of the lands.

Help is appreciated.... Again.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by duncan61 » 10 Jan 2019, 4:47 pm

Kinetic hammer with the right whack will pull the projectile out enough to reseat to a better oal
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Oldbloke » 10 Jan 2019, 4:52 pm

Can be done but I wouldn't. Too many variables.
I would shoot them as practice and then load the cases.

Edit, if most of the bullets are the same you could potentially pull them and use in reloads.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by JimTom » 10 Jan 2019, 6:33 pm

Mate as Oldbloke said, shoot them away, or, just pull them all, save the projectiles if you wish, and use the brass to load up your own loads, but that's just me.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 10 Jan 2019, 6:53 pm

I pulled apart a round that had failed to fire due to a dud primer. It had a ball powder inside which surprised me. I reseated the projectile without resizing the case. I wouldn't jam it into the lands as that may increase pressure but different sensible seating depths would be fine.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by in2anity » 11 Jan 2019, 7:42 am

SCJ429 wrote:I reseated the projectile without resizing the case.

Won't neck tension be noticeably different for that load?
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by marksman » 11 Jan 2019, 12:03 pm

the problem you will have when trying to pull a factory round projectile is that it is crimped
seat the projectile in further a bit before trying to pull it
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 11 Jan 2019, 5:28 pm

in2anity wrote:
SCJ429 wrote:I reseated the projectile without resizing the case.

Won't neck tension be noticeably different for that load?


It will be different than an untouched factory round but similar to any other rounds you have doctored. The cases have plenty of neck tension to hold the projectiles again.

Marksman, the round I took apart was a Federal, I think, and it came apart easily with a kenetic puller. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to push it in a bit more with a seater die.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Cal-ApeR » 11 Jan 2019, 6:29 pm

All good advice. Very tempted to try it but don't like playing with things too much.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Cal-ApeR » 22 Feb 2019, 7:39 pm

Final update. Went to the range the other day and settled on this load. 150gr prohunters pushed with 45.5gr 2208. This was my best group of the day, I also shot another 5 X 3-shot groups with the same load. All under 1". I also tested out to 200 with about 2" accuracy (3-9 scope at that distance was painful). Anyway I thought I'd end this thread with my results. Thanks to everyone for the advice, it certainly got me over the line. I have learnt a hell of a lot, particularly with OAL and how this rifle really likes then seated heaps further out.

Hopefully this thread helps someone who might be in the same boat one day.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by JimTom » 22 Feb 2019, 7:52 pm

Nice one mate. Have to be happy with that load. It's a cracker. :thumbsup:
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Oldbloke » 22 Feb 2019, 8:06 pm

I'd be very happy with that.

Reloading is certainly the way to go. Most rifles respond to a bit of experimenting. Even the cheaper ones.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Oldbloke » 22 Feb 2019, 8:16 pm

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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Sako 85 » 17 Mar 2019, 9:30 am

Hi everyone,
I have just started realoading for my 308. I have started loading 165 gr sierra game kings and 165 gr nosler spitzer balistic tips with bench mark 2. I shot my groups yesterday with none of the loads grouping under 1.5 inchs at 100 metres. Just wanted to ask if anyone else has tried bench mark 2 in their 308? I also have some ar2208 that i want to try out soon. Any advice would be much appreciated as i am new to reloading
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Mar 2019, 3:39 pm

AR2208 is certainly suitable. Give it a crack. I use it with success in 223 & both 30-06s. One is loaded with 180gr & the ither 130gr bullets
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by sungazer » 17 Mar 2019, 8:16 pm

I have used along with a few other people I know 8208 with good success. Not so sure about BM2 it is listed as faster again. It may give you too much pressure without the velocity.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 17 Mar 2019, 8:35 pm

You should be able to find a node with any of these powders, the faster powders may not be able to produce the same speeds so you may find the node at a lower speed.

Did you use a chrono? And if you did, what was the lowest SD you produced?
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Sako 85 » 18 Mar 2019, 6:43 am

I did experience a slightly high pressure with one cartridge i loaded with a slightly hard bolt lift and flat primer but tried the same powder weight with the bullet seated 0.025 further from the lands and got my best group shootin 1.260 inch with 2 touching. That load has 39.5 gr of bm2 with the 165gr sie hpbt seated 0.035 off.
I was thinking of moving away from bm2 due to little success and higher pressures but have loaded a few more groups starting at 39.5 and finishing at 39.8 all seated 0.035 off the lands. I am going to try ar2208 next do anyone have any advice on were would be a good place to start with 2208 adi say between 42gr and 46 gr being a compressed load.

No i didn't have a crono. I am thinking of getting one though as i really woud like to know what sort of velocity im getting
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by sungazer » 18 Mar 2019, 8:46 am

Rather than go to 2208 my advice would be either 8208 or AR2206H both much better for the 168grn in a 308.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Sako 85 » 18 Mar 2019, 4:25 pm

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will try a few of those other powders and see how they go.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 18 Mar 2019, 5:56 pm

sungazer wrote:Rather than go to 2208 my advice would be either 8208 or AR2206H both much better for the 168grn in a 308.


Why would the faster powders be much better than 2208?
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by TassieTiger » 18 Mar 2019, 6:56 pm

A friend uses ar2209 with very good results - I tried some in my 06 and that’s now my go to powder for that caliber.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 18 Mar 2019, 7:02 pm

TassieTiger wrote:A friend uses ar2209 with very good results - I tried some in my 06 and that’s now my go to powder for that caliber.


You have a fair bit more case capacity in a 30/06, you won't get much speed for a 308 using 2209. I have heard of a few guys using 2206h and say they get a bit less carbon fouling but 2208 has the runs on the board with heavier projectiles.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by TassieTiger » 18 Mar 2019, 7:26 pm

SCJ429 wrote:
TassieTiger wrote:A friend uses ar2209 with very good results - I tried some in my 06 and that’s now my go to powder for that caliber.


You have a fair bit more case capacity in a 30/06, you won't get much speed for a 308 using 2209. I have heard of a few guys using 2206h and say they get a bit less carbon fouling but 2208 has the runs on the board with heavier projectiles.


I’ve only tried 3 powders in my 260 - but ar2209 works best in that so far as well...with much less capacity?
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by SCJ429 » 18 Mar 2019, 7:42 pm

Very different application using 2209 in a 308 compared to a 6.5mm. Yes if I was loading 140 grain pills in a 260 I would start with 2209. If I was shooting a 168 grain pill in a 308 I would start with 2208.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by TassieTiger » 18 Mar 2019, 8:54 pm

But a 160/180gn in a 30/06 would be 09 again over 08...it’s not hard to confuse me and I’m there again...
So 09 in a 260 and 30/06 but not in the somewhat middle - 308? If 09 is a bit slower burning, shouldn’t 08 or 06h work better in the 260 if the projectile is say 120gn?
Is there a formula of sorts to explain powder burn rates vs weights vs caliber?
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by Oldbloke » 19 Mar 2019, 4:46 am

TassieTiger wrote:Is there a formula of sorts to explain powder burn rates vs weights vs caliber?


In general terms. The heavier the bullet the slower burning powder you should use.
But not that simple. For example in a 12g pushing 32grams of lead the powders are much faster than say ar2208.

AR2208 & and AR2206h are very flexible/versatile should be fine in this case.
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Re: 308 loading advice

Post by sungazer » 19 Mar 2019, 7:19 am

I am not sure of all the reasons that 8208 and AR2206H work better that 2208. But from experiments and the asking the top shooters in FT/R and F Standard these two are what the use.

One of the reasons is probably that the powder fills the case completely and is slightly compressed (just). 8208 is a finer powder and meters very well it was actually designed specifically for the Fullbore target shooters. Not many of them have changes as yet a very slow group in general to change however the F class group is much more adventurous and open to change. I started with AR2206H but am changing over to 8208 for 155s and 168 it just works better and that is evidence based. I shot on electronic targets a lot and can look back at results and use them to assess system changes.
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