The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .308 handloads and accuracy: please clarify.

Rimfire5 · February 9, 2013, 11:27 AM

It is possible that your particular rifle might not like the slightly faster N135 powder with that weight bullet.

Lapua's reloading site indicates that the minimum load for N135 with Lapua Scenar 155 grain bullets is 34.4 grains (2254 fps) and the maximum load is 40.7 grains (2638 fps).

In my .308 using 150 grain SMKs, I have had the best results with N140 using 42.3 to 43.1 grain loads depending upon the seating depth (my rifle has a 24 inch barrel).
For 150 grain SMKs, Vihta Vuori recommends N140 loads range from 40.4 (2467) to 47.3 (2851 fps).

I have had my best results with N140 with 168 grain bullets with loads in the 40.6 to 42.8 grain range depending upon the bullet and the seating depth.
Vihta Vuri recommends N140 loads with 168 SMKs from 36.2 (2247 fps) to 42.8 grains (2558 fps).
I have also had results almost as good from H4895 and Varget with 150 to 168 grain bullets.

The even slower N150 powder in my rifle doesn't match the performance of the N140 or H4895. The same for Reloader 15 which is also a slower powder. Apparently, my rifle is not a fan of powders that are slower than N140, H4895, and Varget.

February 9, 2013, 11:27 AM	#6
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 922	It is possible that your particular rifle might not like the slightly faster N135 powder with that weight bullet. Lapua's reloading site indicates that the minimum load for N135 with Lapua Scenar 155 grain bullets is 34.4 grains (2254 fps) and the maximum load is 40.7 grains (2638 fps). In my .308 using 150 grain SMKs, I have had the best results with N140 using 42.3 to 43.1 grain loads depending upon the seating depth (my rifle has a 24 inch barrel). For 150 grain SMKs, Vihta Vuori recommends N140 loads range from 40.4 (2467) to 47.3 (2851 fps). I have had my best results with N140 with 168 grain bullets with loads in the 40.6 to 42.8 grain range depending upon the bullet and the seating depth. Vihta Vuri recommends N140 loads with 168 SMKs from 36.2 (2247 fps) to 42.8 grains (2558 fps). I have also had results almost as good from H4895 and Varget with 150 to 168 grain bullets. The even slower N150 powder in my rifle doesn't match the performance of the N140 or H4895. The same for Reloader 15 which is also a slower powder. Apparently, my rifle is not a fan of powders that are slower than N140, H4895, and Varget.