What bullet do you reload in 308win

cook2007 · November 1, 2014, 03:58 PM

Still working up some hand loads for my 308. having good luck now but trying really dial in the gun. using 165 gr nosler ballistic tip right now and down to a inch at 100. my question is what bullet weights are you using or recommend for the best accuracy and knock down for whitetail.
THANK YOU

Tipsy Mcstagger · November 1, 2014, 08:59 PM

I've developed some hunting target loads and I've seen awesome success with 165 hp sgk. Same load seems to work across 3 different 700s and 1 lr308 so I guess I found a sweet spot. It has a low bc and I know it's not a really long range bullet but the groups have been outstanding. I'm also dialing in a 168 berger vld/hunting load and can't wait to start shooting it rather than testing it.

waveslayer · November 1, 2014, 09:43 PM

150-175 Bergers. They will tear it up! 168 are good.

oldreloader · November 2, 2014, 01:55 AM

165 gr Hornady Interlock or Sierra GK

4runnerman · November 2, 2014, 02:02 AM

I don't hunt anymore so it's 168 and 175 Serria Match.

hartcreek · November 2, 2014, 03:15 AM

I am hardcasting using a Lee 155 grain mold. I use the same bullet with two sizers for 7.62 x 39, .308 and 30-06. For hunting I use hornady 160 grain with a similar BC as the bullets I cast.

Jimro · November 2, 2014, 05:10 AM

For hunting with non magnum velocities I use Hornady 165gr Interlock Boat Tail Soft Points in 308. I use Rem 185gr corelokts in 8x57, and Speer hotcor 270gr soft point spitzer in 9.3x62.

In the past for 308 Win I've use CT ballistic tips, but I don't think the performance on game justified the premium price tag. I've also used 165gr X Bullets (solid copper) but they were puchased with an elk hunt in mind.

I found that you can often put together a load that shoots tight with cheap "cup and core" bullets, and with standard cartridges (non magnum velocities) the bullets will provide satisfactory terminal performance.

The good thing about cup and core bullets is that you can buy a lot of them, and get really good practice in with your hunting load before the season starts without breaking the bank.

Jimro

cook2007 · November 2, 2014, 09:11 AM

Thank you every one.

mxjunky78 · November 2, 2014, 08:08 PM

Barrel twist rate will have a lot to do with what shoots well and what won't. That being said, I run a 1:12 twist and have had good results with everything from a 155gr SMK Palma to the 178gr Amax with the 168gr SMK shooting the best.

bfoosh006 · November 3, 2014, 05:15 PM

Quite honestly, I have had VERY good accuracy results with all the Nosler BT's I have used. They aren't very fussy when it comes to reloading.

I will suggest that you make sure the barrel is very clean before each testing... I have found that it can make quite a bit of difference accuracy wise.

What powder are you using ? Along with what charge weight and rifle ... etc... primer case ...

Grunt96 · November 3, 2014, 05:53 PM

Speer 165gr SPBT, RE 15, Win case, CCI br2 primer. Load is very close in accuracy to the 168 SMK. Very good BC for a hunting bullet. For range my favorite is the 168 Amax, and the 168 SMK; all with Reloader 15. I find the 168 AMAX does better at 500 yards than the SMK in my rifle. Both are very good nonetheless.

grubbylabs · November 3, 2014, 07:42 PM

165'S and 150"s have given me great accuracy out of my bolt gun, and so far IMR 4064 has been the powder to beat. It has been better than Varget.

mxsailor803 · November 6, 2014, 07:50 PM

I use a lighter bullet unlike most people. Now I'm also going for southeast whitetail so they aren't quite as large. I've been using 125gr Sierra ProHunters for a long time. Even used them in 30-06. Out of probably 10-12 rifles thats been loaded with this bullet, only 2 that I can remember didn't like that light of a round. Just depends on the rifle.

jmr40 · November 7, 2014, 06:21 PM

I've used 130 gr TTSX's, and various 150's and 165's. I've even used a few 155's and 168's. I've never fooled with anything heavier, but wouldn't hesitate to do so if the need arose. All work and have their place. If I were forced to choose 1 bullet weight it would be in the 165/168 class. I could cover all my bases with that weight.

You are already using a good one.

1stmar · November 7, 2014, 08:01 PM

168 smk. 42gr 4064. Springfield m1A

Mike / Tx · November 8, 2014, 05:53 AM

Well to be honest I haven't done a LOT of loading for mine. For the most part over the past decade or so I have had it, I have simply used the Remington 150gr CL load. The main reason is that when I picked up the rifle I also grabbed up several boxes of ammo mainly to have the brass for later and secondly I was headed to the woods the following weekend on a hog hunt and needed something to use. Needless to say it worked out....

Anyway, my rifle is the Ruger Compact with the short little 16.5" pencil barrel on it. While it might not ever deliver BR accuracy, even with the Rem factory loads it will hold under 2" at 100yds day in day out. I worked up some reduced loads using both the 125 gr Nosler BT and the 130gr Barnes TTX for my grandson to use when he was pretty young. Surprisingly enough both of those shoot one hole groups at 50, 75, and around an inch at 100yds.

Two years back I finally got down to my last 2 boxes of the cheap Remington ammo I had stored up so figured I might as well go ahead and work up something equivalent. Since I know them so well out to 400yds I didn't want to go through doing all the shooting to learn something different, so I worked up some loads using H-4895 and the 150gr Remington bullet. I simply shot the factory stuff through the chrony and worked up to that velocity. The best part is my loads are now shooting around an inch or so at 100yds if not better when I do my part. The low power scope and my bifocals do have an impact on how well I do.

If I had something with a longer barrel, I would probably work up a accurate load running somewhere between 2800-2900fps using a 150gr bullet and call it good. There simply isn't any need for me to go heavier with the critters I would be using it on. Now if I were to be headed out for something like Elk, I would probably look into the 165gr area, but that would be about as heavy as I would go. Not that heavier might not be better, but putting them where they need to go has more to do with meat on the ground. The 165's on the market today far exceed some of the performance of by gone days, with the exception of the Partition. I would look first at it and then possibly something in a TTSX.

RNG · November 8, 2014, 05:53 AM

What OLDRELOADER said.

165g hornady interlock

165g SGK spitzer

Both with Varget -

R25 10 twist - 165g interlock, 42.2g Varget, WLR, Win Brass would do 3 in same hole at 100

Thompson Center Venture Predator gets the SGK w/42.5, WLR, RP brass. Dime sized groups @ 100.

Both are running about 2600 FPS.

I need to work up a load for the T/C using the interlocks. Interlocks would ALWAYS exit the other side with a half-dollar sized hole. Absolutely devastating on White Tail.

The two I've shot with the SGK's failed to exit. Although they both were DRT due to neck shots, limited bleeding would have presented a problem with tracking if not DRT.

All the best,
Richard

T. O'Heir · November 8, 2014, 04:36 PM

Nothing will beat a 165 out of a .308. Doesn't mean your rifle will like No$ler BT's.
Sounds like it does though. If you're getting a consistent 1" at 100, sight the thing in, you're done. And get practicing, off hand, at a 9" pie plate at 100. A deer rifle doesn't need to shoot one hole groups.

GWS · November 10, 2014, 09:58 PM

I've only reloaded 165gr Nosler B.T.s, in my Remington R25 AR10 clone,so I can't comment on others. But I will say that they are accurate as h..l for a hunting bullet......and I like the striking tip color.

A little pricey of course, but for a while they were all I could find locally, and so I added to my stash when others were looking for Hornadys in vain. Very pleased.

cw308 · November 11, 2014, 09:39 AM

Hornady 168 A-Max, I'm a benchrest shooter 308 cal. I only shoot 168 gr Sierra HPBT, the 168 gr A-Max is just as accurate but used for hunting. I removed the bullet on a A-Max the powder weight was 40.3 gr. looked like IMR4064 I load the 168 gr. Sierra over 40.5 gr. IMR 4064 which is on the low side,but at 200 yards groups 1/2". Hornady is just as good.Hope I helped Chris

cw308 · November 11, 2014, 09:57 AM

Sorry I posted twice

chiefr · November 11, 2014, 10:12 AM

168 Sierras. Used to be USA's preferred match round unless something has changed.

wogpotter · November 11, 2014, 10:45 AM

165 Gr Sierra GameKing HPBT.
My rifle prefers these over everything else.

Clark · November 11, 2014, 11:37 AM

110 gr Vmax for small groups at 100 yards.

150 gr Nosler Ballistic tip for long range hunting.

HiBC · November 11, 2014, 02:02 PM

For myself:

165 gr Ballistic tips are a very good,accurate hunting bullet of "medium loose" expansion characteristics...fine for deer.Work on elk lung shots.
A 168 gr Nosler BT is available with a touch better BC

165 Accubonds,if I wanted a little tougher bullet

168 gr Nosler Custom Comp,reasonably priced good match bullet.And,with due diligence to sound reloading practice,a 168 gr MK may be substituted.

I use Varget for all of them.

With the exception of the 168 Ballistic tip,they all have pretty much the same BC,and I have not noticed significant variation in POI at 300 between them.Maybe a click or two fine tuning for the day.

So,from a match bullet,through a rapid expanding bullet,to a tough expanding bullet,one sight setting,one trajectory...suits me.

November 1, 2014, 03:58 PM	#1
cook2007 Member Join Date: September 28, 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 27	What bullet do you reload in 308win Still working up some hand loads for my 308. having good luck now but trying really dial in the gun. using 165 gr nosler ballistic tip right now and down to a inch at 100. my question is what bullet weights are you using or recommend for the best accuracy and knock down for whitetail. THANK YOU

November 2, 2014, 02:02 AM	#5
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	I don't hunt anymore so it's 168 and 175 Serria Match. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

November 2, 2014, 05:10 AM	#7
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	For hunting with non magnum velocities I use Hornady 165gr Interlock Boat Tail Soft Points in 308. I use Rem 185gr corelokts in 8x57, and Speer hotcor 270gr soft point spitzer in 9.3x62. In the past for 308 Win I've use CT ballistic tips, but I don't think the performance on game justified the premium price tag. I've also used 165gr X Bullets (solid copper) but they were puchased with an elk hunt in mind. I found that you can often put together a load that shoots tight with cheap "cup and core" bullets, and with standard cartridges (non magnum velocities) the bullets will provide satisfactory terminal performance. The good thing about cup and core bullets is that you can buy a lot of them, and get really good practice in with your hunting load before the season starts without breaking the bank. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

November 3, 2014, 07:42 PM	#12
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	165'S and 150"s have given me great accuracy out of my bolt gun, and so far IMR 4064 has been the powder to beat. It has been better than Varget. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

November 8, 2014, 05:53 AM	#16
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	Well to be honest I haven't done a LOT of loading for mine. For the most part over the past decade or so I have had it, I have simply used the Remington 150gr CL load. The main reason is that when I picked up the rifle I also grabbed up several boxes of ammo mainly to have the brass for later and secondly I was headed to the woods the following weekend on a hog hunt and needed something to use. Needless to say it worked out.... Anyway, my rifle is the Ruger Compact with the short little 16.5" pencil barrel on it. While it might not ever deliver BR accuracy, even with the Rem factory loads it will hold under 2" at 100yds day in day out. I worked up some reduced loads using both the 125 gr Nosler BT and the 130gr Barnes TTX for my grandson to use when he was pretty young. Surprisingly enough both of those shoot one hole groups at 50, 75, and around an inch at 100yds. Two years back I finally got down to my last 2 boxes of the cheap Remington ammo I had stored up so figured I might as well go ahead and work up something equivalent. Since I know them so well out to 400yds I didn't want to go through doing all the shooting to learn something different, so I worked up some loads using H-4895 and the 150gr Remington bullet. I simply shot the factory stuff through the chrony and worked up to that velocity. The best part is my loads are now shooting around an inch or so at 100yds if not better when I do my part. The low power scope and my bifocals do have an impact on how well I do. If I had something with a longer barrel, I would probably work up a accurate load running somewhere between 2800-2900fps using a 150gr bullet and call it good. There simply isn't any need for me to go heavier with the critters I would be using it on. Now if I were to be headed out for something like Elk, I would probably look into the 165gr area, but that would be about as heavy as I would go. Not that heavier might not be better, but putting them where they need to go has more to do with meat on the ground. The 165's on the market today far exceed some of the performance of by gone days, with the exception of the Partition. I would look first at it and then possibly something in a TTSX. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

November 1, 2014, 08:59 PM	#2
Tipsy Mcstagger Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2013 Location: South Texas Posts: 190	I've developed some hunting target loads and I've seen awesome success with 165 hp sgk. Same load seems to work across 3 different 700s and 1 lr308 so I guess I found a sweet spot. It has a low bc and I know it's not a really long range bullet but the groups have been outstanding. I'm also dialing in a 168 berger vld/hunting load and can't wait to start shooting it rather than testing it.

November 1, 2014, 09:43 PM	#3
waveslayer Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2013 Posts: 246	150-175 Bergers. They will tear it up! 168 are good.

November 2, 2014, 01:55 AM	#4
oldreloader Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Magnolia, Arkansas Posts: 251	165 gr Hornady Interlock or Sierra GK

November 2, 2014, 03:15 AM	#6
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	I am hardcasting using a Lee 155 grain mold. I use the same bullet with two sizers for 7.62 x 39, .308 and 30-06. For hunting I use hornady 160 grain with a similar BC as the bullets I cast.

November 2, 2014, 09:11 AM	#8
cook2007 Member Join Date: September 28, 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 27	Thank you every one.

November 2, 2014, 08:08 PM	#9
mxjunky78 Member Join Date: August 2, 2012 Posts: 61	Barrel twist rate will have a lot to do with what shoots well and what won't. That being said, I run a 1:12 twist and have had good results with everything from a 155gr SMK Palma to the 178gr Amax with the 168gr SMK shooting the best.

November 3, 2014, 05:15 PM	#10
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Quite honestly, I have had VERY good accuracy results with all the Nosler BT's I have used. They aren't very fussy when it comes to reloading. I will suggest that you make sure the barrel is very clean before each testing... I have found that it can make quite a bit of difference accuracy wise. What powder are you using ? Along with what charge weight and rifle ... etc... primer case ...

November 3, 2014, 05:53 PM	#11
Grunt96 Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Posts: 90	Speer 165gr SPBT, RE 15, Win case, CCI br2 primer. Load is very close in accuracy to the 168 SMK. Very good BC for a hunting bullet. For range my favorite is the 168 Amax, and the 168 SMK; all with Reloader 15. I find the 168 AMAX does better at 500 yards than the SMK in my rifle. Both are very good nonetheless.

November 6, 2014, 07:50 PM	#13
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	I use a lighter bullet unlike most people. Now I'm also going for southeast whitetail so they aren't quite as large. I've been using 125gr Sierra ProHunters for a long time. Even used them in 30-06. Out of probably 10-12 rifles thats been loaded with this bullet, only 2 that I can remember didn't like that light of a round. Just depends on the rifle.

November 7, 2014, 06:21 PM	#14
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	I've used 130 gr TTSX's, and various 150's and 165's. I've even used a few 155's and 168's. I've never fooled with anything heavier, but wouldn't hesitate to do so if the need arose. All work and have their place. If I were forced to choose 1 bullet weight it would be in the 165/168 class. I could cover all my bases with that weight. You are already using a good one.

November 7, 2014, 08:01 PM	#15
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	168 smk. 42gr 4064. Springfield m1A

November 8, 2014, 05:53 AM	#17
RNG Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 120	What OLDRELOADER said. 165g hornady interlock 165g SGK spitzer Both with Varget - R25 10 twist - 165g interlock, 42.2g Varget, WLR, Win Brass would do 3 in same hole at 100 Thompson Center Venture Predator gets the SGK w/42.5, WLR, RP brass. Dime sized groups @ 100. Both are running about 2600 FPS. I need to work up a load for the T/C using the interlocks. Interlocks would ALWAYS exit the other side with a half-dollar sized hole. Absolutely devastating on White Tail. The two I've shot with the SGK's failed to exit. Although they both were DRT due to neck shots, limited bleeding would have presented a problem with tracking if not DRT. All the best, Richard __________________ __________________________________________________________ Kimbers are what you show your friends. Glocks are what you show your enemies.

November 8, 2014, 04:36 PM	#18
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Nothing will beat a 165 out of a .308. Doesn't mean your rifle will like No$ler BT's. Sounds like it does though. If you're getting a consistent 1" at 100, sight the thing in, you're done. And get practicing, off hand, at a 9" pie plate at 100. A deer rifle doesn't need to shoot one hole groups. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 10, 2014, 09:58 PM	#19
GWS Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 688	I've only reloaded 165gr Nosler B.T.s, in my Remington R25 AR10 clone,so I can't comment on others. But I will say that they are accurate as h..l for a hunting bullet......and I like the striking tip color. A little pricey of course, but for a while they were all I could find locally, and so I added to my stash when others were looking for Hornadys in vain. Very pleased.

November 11, 2014, 09:39 AM	#20
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Hornady 168 A-Max, I'm a benchrest shooter 308 cal. I only shoot 168 gr Sierra HPBT, the 168 gr A-Max is just as accurate but used for hunting. I removed the bullet on a A-Max the powder weight was 40.3 gr. looked like IMR4064 I load the 168 gr. Sierra over 40.5 gr. IMR 4064 which is on the low side,but at 200 yards groups 1/2". Hornady is just as good.Hope I helped Chris

November 11, 2014, 09:57 AM	#21
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Sorry I posted twice Last edited by cw308; November 11, 2014 at 03:41 PM.

November 11, 2014, 10:12 AM	#22
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	168 Sierras. Used to be USA's preferred match round unless something has changed.

November 11, 2014, 10:45 AM	#23
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	165 Gr Sierra GameKing HPBT. My rifle prefers these over everything else. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; November 11, 2014 at 03:27 PM.

November 11, 2014, 11:37 AM	#24
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	110 gr Vmax for small groups at 100 yards. 150 gr Nosler Ballistic tip for long range hunting. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

November 11, 2014, 02:02 PM	#25
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,288	For myself: 165 gr Ballistic tips are a very good,accurate hunting bullet of "medium loose" expansion characteristics...fine for deer.Work on elk lung shots. A 168 gr Nosler BT is available with a touch better BC 165 Accubonds,if I wanted a little tougher bullet 168 gr Nosler Custom Comp,reasonably priced good match bullet.And,with due diligence to sound reloading practice,a 168 gr MK may be substituted. I use Varget for all of them. With the exception of the 168 Ballistic tip,they all have pretty much the same BC,and I have not noticed significant variation in POI at 300 between them.Maybe a click or two fine tuning for the day. So,from a match bullet,through a rapid expanding bullet,to a tough expanding bullet,one sight setting,one trajectory...suits me. Last edited by HiBC; November 11, 2014 at 02:11 PM.