Reloading 308 240 grain sierra match king bullets

nyhttrain · August 18, 2013, 10:57 PM

I'm looking for information on where to find what powder and load data for a 240 grain sierra match king bullet. I usually load 168 or 175 grain bullets and have the data for them from my manuals. A friend wants to load 240 grain bullets and I can not find any load data for these heavy bullets. I did see these bullets must have a 1 in 9 twist barrel. I told him I would see if I can find some kind of data or if anyone has ever loaded any of these. Any suggestions? Besides bigger isn't always better. Thanks.

osirus82 · August 20, 2013, 05:32 PM

i flipped through my hornaday rifle cartridge reloading manual and couldn't find anything above a 225gr bullet. sorry no help. on the other hand i did a search online and found several discussions and recipes. good luck.

Dan Newberry · August 20, 2013, 06:17 PM

Considering the limited velocity you'll get with those from a .308, you may end up needing a twist faster than a 9 twist to stabilize them.

Unless he has a custom barrel with a 9 twist, there aren't any .308's out there to my knowledge that have such a fast twist. (And I don't know why anyone would chamber a 9 twist barrel in .308 win, for that matter)...

I'd probably ix-nay this project before you waste time and material.

Dan

Bart B. · August 20, 2013, 07:19 PM

Try working up to 42 grains of Re17 or IMR4350 under Sierra's .308" 240-gr. HPMK bullet. If you cannot seat the bullet without crunching the powder to fit your chamber, you'll need a longer throat in the barrel. David Tubb shot 250 gr. HPMK's in his long-throated .308 Win. with 42(?) grains of IMR4350, as I remember, he got 2150 fps from his 28" barrel with it. Note you'll need a 1:8 twist to stabilize those bullets enough for good accuracy. Some web sites listing loads for the .308 Win. using that bullet list more powder and muzzle velocity; I'd avoid them like the plague!!!!!!!

If one checks the wind drift at 1000 yards using a Sierra 30 caliber 240 HPMK at 2200 fps or a 250 HPMK at 2150 from a .308 Win., they'll see why a long throat 28" barrel is a winner when that cartridge has to be used. . . .earlier Palma matches. Both bullets need to be spinning over 190,000 RPM to stabilize them.

nyhttrain · August 20, 2013, 09:19 PM

Thanks for all the input. He has a 20 inch barrel with a 1x10 twist and a 26 inch barrel with a 1x12 twist. I think I'll try to get him to load something that matches his twist and barrels after what you guys have posted. I always like to load on the side of caution and safety. Again thanks a lot to all of you.

Bart B. · August 20, 2013, 10:50 PM

nyhttrain, he can shoot Sierra 190 HPMK's from that 1:12 twist barrel. A top load from years gone by was 44 grains of IMR4320 under one in a 7 .62 NATO match case. Many a match was won with them from 24" Garand 7.62 barrels with 1:12 twist.

nyhttrain · August 24, 2013, 02:23 AM

Thanks

nyhttrain · August 24, 2013, 02:31 AM

Thanks Bart, I have a 26 inch 1x12 barrel I think I'll give that round a try myself.

nyhttrain · August 24, 2013, 02:39 AM

Thanks Bart I think I'll give that round a try in my 26 inch 1x12 inch barrel.

August 18, 2013, 10:57 PM	#1
nyhttrain Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2012 Posts: 10	Reloading 308 240 grain sierra match king bullets I'm looking for information on where to find what powder and load data for a 240 grain sierra match king bullet. I usually load 168 or 175 grain bullets and have the data for them from my manuals. A friend wants to load 240 grain bullets and I can not find any load data for these heavy bullets. I did see these bullets must have a 1 in 9 twist barrel. I told him I would see if I can find some kind of data or if anyone has ever loaded any of these. Any suggestions? Besides bigger isn't always better. Thanks.

August 20, 2013, 06:17 PM	#3
Dan Newberry Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Wytheville, VA Posts: 216	Considering the limited velocity you'll get with those from a .308, you may end up needing a twist faster than a 9 twist to stabilize them. Unless he has a custom barrel with a 9 twist, there aren't any .308's out there to my knowledge that have such a fast twist. (And I don't know why anyone would chamber a 9 twist barrel in .308 win, for that matter)... I'd probably ix-nay this project before you waste time and material. Dan __________________ *www.BANGSTEEL.com* Practical Long Range Rifle Courses... Optimal Charge Weight handload consulting

August 20, 2013, 07:19 PM	#4
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Try working up to 42 grains of Re17 or IMR4350 under Sierra's .308" 240-gr. HPMK bullet. If you cannot seat the bullet without crunching the powder to fit your chamber, you'll need a longer throat in the barrel. David Tubb shot 250 gr. HPMK's in his long-throated .308 Win. with 42(?) grains of IMR4350, as I remember, he got 2150 fps from his 28" barrel with it. Note you'll need a 1:8 twist to stabilize those bullets enough for good accuracy. Some web sites listing loads for the .308 Win. using that bullet list more powder and muzzle velocity; I'd avoid them like the plague!!!!!!! If one checks the wind drift at 1000 yards using a Sierra 30 caliber 240 HPMK at 2200 fps or a 250 HPMK at 2150 from a .308 Win., they'll see why a long throat 28" barrel is a winner when that cartridge has to be used. . . .earlier Palma matches. Both bullets need to be spinning over 190,000 RPM to stabilize them. Last edited by Bart B.; August 20, 2013 at 07:26 PM.

August 24, 2013, 02:23 AM	#7
nyhttrain Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks Last edited by nyhttrain; August 24, 2013 at 02:45 AM. Reason: multiple post was bit able to delete post

August 20, 2013, 05:32 PM	#2
osirus82 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 102	i flipped through my hornaday rifle cartridge reloading manual and couldn't find anything above a 225gr bullet. sorry no help. on the other hand i did a search online and found several discussions and recipes. good luck.

August 20, 2013, 09:19 PM	#5
nyhttrain Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks for all the input. He has a 20 inch barrel with a 1x10 twist and a 26 inch barrel with a 1x12 twist. I think I'll try to get him to load something that matches his twist and barrels after what you guys have posted. I always like to load on the side of caution and safety. Again thanks a lot to all of you.

August 20, 2013, 10:50 PM	#6
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	nyhttrain, he can shoot Sierra 190 HPMK's from that 1:12 twist barrel. A top load from years gone by was 44 grains of IMR4320 under one in a 7 .62 NATO match case. Many a match was won with them from 24" Garand 7.62 barrels with 1:12 twist.

August 24, 2013, 02:31 AM	#8
nyhttrain Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks Bart, I have a 26 inch 1x12 barrel I think I'll give that round a try myself.

August 24, 2013, 02:39 AM	#9
nyhttrain Junior Member Join Date: August 26, 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks Bart I think I'll give that round a try in my 26 inch 1x12 inch barrel.