110 gr .308

gunmart · June 16, 2000, 08:39 AM

i need a good starting load for 110 gr .308 barnes bullets.the two powders i have are h380 and aa4350.can anyone give me a good starting charge.

Art Eatman · June 16, 2000, 09:17 AM

Cometh the Smartmouth Answer: "Can't you find the .308 page in your reloading manual?"

Mr. Hogdon sez a starting load is 49.0 of H380, with the 110-gr. MV of 2,966 at 43,200 CUP. His Max is 53.0 grains at 3,145 and 46,800.

He doesn't mention aa4350, but H4350 starts at 44.0 grains, for 2,230 at 25,600 CUP. The max load is listed at 47.0 grains, for 2,525 at 32,000 CUP. I'd say that means that H4350 is just way too slow for the light bullet.

Looking at the Hodgdon book, and recalling some posts here, 4895 seems to be a better powder for these lightweight bullets.

Mr. Speer thinks AA 2460, Re12, H322, Re15, AA2520, 3031 and 4895 are all good. The fastest Max load is 3,200 ft/sec, +/-.

Now you have an excuse to visit the Powder Man!

Later, Art

Hutch · June 16, 2000, 09:36 AM

Absolutely staggering coincidence! I just chrono'd Speer and Hornady 110SP's in my 700VS in .308 yesterday.... using H380!!

49.0 grains H380, Fed 210 LRP, WW brass.

2900 FPS, more or less. Outstanding consistency, but poor accuracy.

YMMV

Robert the41MagFan · June 16, 2000, 11:14 AM

Tried 110gr bullets in my Browning A-Bolt Varmint and could not get the bullet to group, even with the BOSS. I think that it has something to do with the rifling, most of our rifle's barrel twist is made for heavier bullets. A 125gr is minimum that I can shoot through my gun.

Robert

June 16, 2000, 02:12 PM

Robert,

I've got a Browning A-Bolt Varmint in .308. I have been getting pretty bad accuracy with 110's as well. I have only had it to the range once thus far though, so I havn't been able to play with the BOSS or seating depth or anything.

One thing, What bullets do you use in it and what is the optimum OAL for you with those bullets?

DOCSpanky · June 16, 2000, 03:08 PM

The rifling of the Brownings probaby has general trouble stabilizing the 110, I have been told never to go below 125's.

But with 150 BTHP's it will shoot far better than I am capable of.

------------------
I thought I'd seen it all, until a 22WMR spun a bunny 2 1/4 times in the air!

Robert the41MagFan · June 16, 2000, 04:34 PM

Think the DOC's got it right. Both Remington and Browning have a 1-12" twist, so they may be suffering from the same problem when it comes to 110gr bullets. Lack of twist to stabilize the bullet at the higher muzzle speed. Don't know if that is even correct or not, but from trial and error that is what I think is wrong. Just so happens when I tried the 110 grains bullets (Hornady SP110), had a friend with me and his Savage 12BVSS. The Savage was consistently shooting tighter groups. Just so happens that the Savage also has a 1-10" twist. I know there can be many factors involved here (powder, AOL, bullet), but the twist seems to be the most obvious. Also, if you look at our manuals for adjusting the BOSS, there are no starting points for bullets under 150 grain.

When I say the groups were not that great, I'm talking just over a inch at 100 yards. Think that the best group was 1 1/4 inches. Another thing that could be attributing to lack of grouping was the AOL. My A-Bolt loves long bullets, 2.790-2.800 inches. Those 110's were at 2.680", if my memory is correct.

Robert

Paul B. · June 18, 2000, 04:00 PM

Robert. It is Winchester and Browning that use the 1 in 12 inch twist in the .308 Win. !in 12 will stabilize 110 gr. bullets with no problem what ever. The problem arises, according to the "egg-spurts" in the gun rags, who state that the .308 is no good with bullets heavire than 180 gr. Reconstituted bull fodder! I have two Winchester model 70s, a Youth Ranger push feed, and a pre-64 Featherweight. Both have 1 in 12 inch twist barrels. I also have a 30-06 custom on an FN Mauser action with a 1 in 12 inch twist Douglass barrel. With the push feed .308, I get 2350 FPS and 3/8 inch groups using 220 gr, Sierra round nose bullets. The pre-64 does on inch at 2300 FPS, and the 30-06 does 1.25 inch at 2480 FPS. These are, BTW, not hot loads. Any one of them would do a moose or even a Grizzly Bear the bad deed is properly place. As a matter of fact, W.D.M. Bell fely that a 220 gr. solid in the .308 Win. would be the perfect load for elephant. Maybe for him, but those who say heavy bullets in the .308 don't work, have not tried it. I still have to try it in a 1 in 10 inch twist barrel, when I get time. So many projects, so little time.
Paul B.

June 16, 2000, 08:39 AM	#1
gunmart Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Posts: 551	i need a good starting load for 110 gr .308 barnes bullets.the two powders i have are h380 and aa4350.can anyone give me a good starting charge.

June 16, 2000, 09:17 AM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Cometh the Smartmouth Answer: "Can't you find the .308 page in your reloading manual?" Mr. Hogdon sez a starting load is 49.0 of H380, with the 110-gr. MV of 2,966 at 43,200 CUP. His Max is 53.0 grains at 3,145 and 46,800. He doesn't mention aa4350, but H4350 starts at 44.0 grains, for 2,230 at 25,600 CUP. The max load is listed at 47.0 grains, for 2,525 at 32,000 CUP. I'd say that means that H4350 is just way too slow for the light bullet. Looking at the Hodgdon book, and recalling some posts here, 4895 seems to be a better powder for these lightweight bullets. Mr. Speer thinks AA 2460, Re12, H322, Re15, AA2520, 3031 and 4895 are all good. The fastest Max load is 3,200 ft/sec, +/-. Now you have an excuse to visit the Powder Man! Later, Art

June 16, 2000, 09:36 AM	#3
Hutch Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,124	Absolutely staggering coincidence! I just chrono'd Speer and Hornady 110SP's in my 700VS in .308 yesterday.... using H380!! 49.0 grains H380, Fed 210 LRP, WW brass. 2900 FPS, more or less. Outstanding consistency, but poor accuracy. YMMV

June 16, 2000, 11:14 AM	#4
Robert the41MagFan Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Posts: 1,233	Tried 110gr bullets in my Browning A-Bolt Varmint and could not get the bullet to group, even with the BOSS. I think that it has something to do with the rifling, most of our rifle's barrel twist is made for heavier bullets. A 125gr is minimum that I can shoot through my gun. Robert

June 16, 2000, 02:12 PM	#5
KilgorII Guest Posts: n/a	Robert, I've got a Browning A-Bolt Varmint in .308. I have been getting pretty bad accuracy with 110's as well. I have only had it to the range once thus far though, so I havn't been able to play with the BOSS or seating depth or anything. One thing, What bullets do you use in it and what is the optimum OAL for you with those bullets?

June 16, 2000, 03:08 PM	#6
DOCSpanky Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 1999 Location: Ashland City, TN Posts: 779	The rifling of the Brownings probaby has general trouble stabilizing the 110, I have been told never to go below 125's. But with 150 BTHP's it will shoot far better than I am capable of. ------------------ I thought I'd seen it all, until a 22WMR spun a bunny 2 1/4 times in the air!

June 16, 2000, 04:34 PM	#7
Robert the41MagFan Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Posts: 1,233	Think the DOC's got it right. Both Remington and Browning have a 1-12" twist, so they may be suffering from the same problem when it comes to 110gr bullets. Lack of twist to stabilize the bullet at the higher muzzle speed. Don't know if that is even correct or not, but from trial and error that is what I think is wrong. Just so happens when I tried the 110 grains bullets (Hornady SP110), had a friend with me and his Savage 12BVSS. The Savage was consistently shooting tighter groups. Just so happens that the Savage also has a 1-10" twist. I know there can be many factors involved here (powder, AOL, bullet), but the twist seems to be the most obvious. Also, if you look at our manuals for adjusting the BOSS, there are no starting points for bullets under 150 grain. When I say the groups were not that great, I'm talking just over a inch at 100 yards. Think that the best group was 1 1/4 inches. Another thing that could be attributing to lack of grouping was the AOL. My A-Bolt loves long bullets, 2.790-2.800 inches. Those 110's were at 2.680", if my memory is correct. Robert

June 18, 2000, 04:00 PM	#8
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Robert. It is Winchester and Browning that use the 1 in 12 inch twist in the .308 Win. !in 12 will stabilize 110 gr. bullets with no problem what ever. The problem arises, according to the "egg-spurts" in the gun rags, who state that the .308 is no good with bullets heavire than 180 gr. Reconstituted bull fodder! I have two Winchester model 70s, a Youth Ranger push feed, and a pre-64 Featherweight. Both have 1 in 12 inch twist barrels. I also have a 30-06 custom on an FN Mauser action with a 1 in 12 inch twist Douglass barrel. With the push feed .308, I get 2350 FPS and 3/8 inch groups using 220 gr, Sierra round nose bullets. The pre-64 does on inch at 2300 FPS, and the 30-06 does 1.25 inch at 2480 FPS. These are, BTW, not hot loads. Any one of them would do a moose or even a Grizzly Bear the bad deed is properly place. As a matter of fact, W.D.M. Bell fely that a 220 gr. solid in the .308 Win. would be the perfect load for elephant. Maybe for him, but those who say heavy bullets in the .308 don't work, have not tried it. I still have to try it in a 1 in 10 inch twist barrel, when I get time. So many projects, so little time. Paul B.