Reloading for Tikka t3 hunter in .308 advice

PAV · March 14, 2010, 08:13 PM

Hi,
Any advise on reloading for Tikka T3 hunter in .308. This is my only hunting rifle for now. I usually hunt for pigs at about 200+ yard. Now am using R15 with 165 and 180gr Hornady SPBT and I’m getting 1 inch or less at 100 yards. However, at 200 + yards my groups are not so good. I can still hit the pig but when target shooting it is all over the place 4-8 inch or more. I would like to have consistency just like at 100 yards if it is possible.
I use CCI primers with Winchester brass and 42rg of R15

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Pav

Jim243 · March 14, 2010, 10:11 PM

Under 300 yards use a flat base bullet not a boattail and try a lighter (shorter) bullet your rifle twist might like 150 or 155 grain bullets better.

Jim

whitedogone · March 14, 2010, 10:20 PM

For the 160-175 grain boattails used by the majority of .308 shooters, you want a powder of medium burn rate that gives close to 100% load density. The "classic" .308 load for 168gr SMKs is IMR 4064. However, these days Varget is probably slightly more popular.

In addition to Varget and IMR 4064, a half-dozen or more other powders work extremely well in the .308 case: AA 2460, BLC-2, IMR 4895, Reloader 15, Ramshot TAC, VV N150, and VV N540. Some folks are seeing a little more velocity with RL15 than with Varget, but Varget is still less temperature sensitive--important if you're running near max. Most of the guys shooting the Sierra or Lapua 155s are using Varget. For Sierra's 110gr Varminter and other light bullets, you can use a faster-burning powder such as Benchmark or VV N135. In general, the .308 seems to achieve its best accuracy with case-filling loads running pretty stout pressures. For safety's sake, always start at least 10% below recommended maximums, and watch for pressure signs carefully. Often you can be over-pressure even without tell-tale signs on the primer cup. One trick we use is to take a shell-holder to the range. After firing a test case, if you have difficulty sliding it into the shell-holder, the web has expanded excessively, meaning your pressure is too high.

When choosing a load to test, keep in mind that seating depths can make a HUGE difference in pressure. Remember that seating bullets into the lands can raise pressures but moving 0.020" or more AWAY from the lands can also raise pressures, because you are reducing the effective case capacity. Many readers ask us "should I jam or jump my bullets." There is no right answer for every gun. For every guy getting great results at .015" jam, there is another guy doing well with a 0.025" jump. In general, most popular .308 match bullets (Bergers excepted) are tolerant of jump. This is certainly true of the 168 and 175 SMKs. So don't worry that you may be sacrificing a great deal of accuracy by loading to mag length, even if that puts you pretty far from the lands.

Dis-1-Shooter · March 14, 2010, 11:38 PM

PAV, I have not reloaded for the Tikka T3, but have experimented with a friend's Tikka tatical in 308 win. I have found that the Tikka will perform better with the Sierra 155 gr palma bullet as compared to the famous 168 gr SMK for the 308. I seat the bullet .02 off the lands, Laupa brass, Remington primer, 43.5 gr H4895 and easily gets 1" moa @ 200 yds. FYI, Sierra does not recommend this bullet or SMK for hunting. I have got very similiar results with my gun using Berger VLD HP and SMK.... ( 5 shots .27" @ 200yds). I would expect the same for your gr weight and application.

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2010, 11:46 PM

If you are getting 1 inch groups at 100yds and 8 inch groups at 200yds it is shooter error. Try wearing ear plugs.

PAV · March 17, 2010, 11:47 AM

Thank you very much. this is great info.

P.S I do ware ear plugs.

oneoldsap · March 17, 2010, 03:30 PM

Practice , practice , practice !

GeauxTide · March 17, 2010, 07:59 PM

+1 Jim. I've used 150gr Hornady's for years. Like Hornady says, accurate, deadly, and dependable.

PAV · March 20, 2010, 03:01 PM

Is 150gr ok for pig hunt at about 200yards?

Thanks

Pav

elkman06 · March 20, 2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Is 150gr ok for pig hunt at about 200yards?

chuckle, I kill elk w/ them....you can decide I guess.
elkman06

ricehombre · March 20, 2010, 06:46 PM

My tikka tactical has a 1 to 11 twist and loves 165 Nosler BT's and 168 bergers with 44-44.5 RL 15, both seated well off the lands to fit detachable magazine. Your load seems kind of light. I think I was using 47gr RL15 with 155 Amax. All three less than .3 moa when I do my part.

March 14, 2010, 08:13 PM	#1
PAV Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Posts: 4	Reloading for Tikka t3 hunter in .308 advice Hi, Any advise on reloading for Tikka T3 hunter in .308. This is my only hunting rifle for now. I usually hunt for pigs at about 200+ yard. Now am using R15 with 165 and 180gr Hornady SPBT and I’m getting 1 inch or less at 100 yards. However, at 200 + yards my groups are not so good. I can still hit the pig but when target shooting it is all over the place 4-8 inch or more. I would like to have consistency just like at 100 yards if it is possible. I use CCI primers with Winchester brass and 42rg of R15 Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Pav

March 14, 2010, 10:20 PM	#3
whitedogone Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2010 Posts: 100	For the 160-175 grain boattails used by the majority of .308 shooters, you want a powder of medium burn rate that gives close to 100% load density. The "classic" .308 load for 168gr SMKs is IMR 4064. However, these days Varget is probably slightly more popular. In addition to Varget and IMR 4064, a half-dozen or more other powders work extremely well in the .308 case: AA 2460, BLC-2, IMR 4895, Reloader 15, Ramshot TAC, VV N150, and VV N540. Some folks are seeing a little more velocity with RL15 than with Varget, but Varget is still less temperature sensitive--important if you're running near max. Most of the guys shooting the Sierra or Lapua 155s are using Varget. For Sierra's 110gr Varminter and other light bullets, you can use a faster-burning powder such as Benchmark or VV N135. In general, the .308 seems to achieve its best accuracy with case-filling loads running pretty stout pressures. For safety's sake, always start at least 10% below recommended maximums, and watch for pressure signs carefully. Often you can be over-pressure even without tell-tale signs on the primer cup. One trick we use is to take a shell-holder to the range. After firing a test case, if you have difficulty sliding it into the shell-holder, the web has expanded excessively, meaning your pressure is too high. When choosing a load to test, keep in mind that seating depths can make a HUGE difference in pressure. Remember that seating bullets into the lands can raise pressures but moving 0.020" or more AWAY from the lands can also raise pressures, because you are reducing the effective case capacity. Many readers ask us "should I jam or jump my bullets." There is no right answer for every gun. For every guy getting great results at .015" jam, there is another guy doing well with a 0.025" jump. In general, most popular .308 match bullets (Bergers excepted) are tolerant of jump. This is certainly true of the 168 and 175 SMKs. So don't worry that you may be sacrificing a great deal of accuracy by loading to mag length, even if that puts you pretty far from the lands. __________________ http://www.illinoiscarry.com/betteroffdead-ILcc.swf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nurM0...ayer_embedded#

March 14, 2010, 11:38 PM	#4
Dis-1-Shooter Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Posts: 47	PAV, I have not reloaded for the Tikka T3, but have experimented with a friend's Tikka tatical in 308 win. I have found that the Tikka will perform better with the Sierra 155 gr palma bullet as compared to the famous 168 gr SMK for the 308. I seat the bullet .02 off the lands, Laupa brass, Remington primer, 43.5 gr H4895 and easily gets 1" moa @ 200 yds. FYI, Sierra does not recommend this bullet or SMK for hunting. I have got very similiar results with my gun using Berger VLD HP and SMK.... ( 5 shots .27" @ 200yds). I would expect the same for your gr weight and application. Last edited by Dis-1-Shooter; March 14, 2010 at 11:47 PM.

March 14, 2010, 10:11 PM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Under 300 yards use a flat base bullet not a boattail and try a lighter (shorter) bullet your rifle twist might like 150 or 155 grain bullets better. Jim

March 14, 2010, 11:46 PM	#5
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	If you are getting 1 inch groups at 100yds and 8 inch groups at 200yds it is shooter error. Try wearing ear plugs.

March 17, 2010, 11:47 AM	#6
PAV Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Posts: 4	Thank you very much. this is great info. P.S I do ware ear plugs.

March 17, 2010, 03:30 PM	#7
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	Practice , practice , practice !

March 17, 2010, 07:59 PM	#8
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	+1 Jim. I've used 150gr Hornady's for years. Like Hornady says, accurate, deadly, and dependable.

March 20, 2010, 03:01 PM	#9
PAV Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Posts: 4	Is 150gr ok for pig hunt at about 200yards? Thanks Pav

March 20, 2010, 06:46 PM	#11
ricehombre Member Join Date: December 27, 2004 Posts: 22	My tikka tactical has a 1 to 11 twist and loves 165 Nosler BT's and 168 bergers with 44-44.5 RL 15, both seated well off the lands to fit detachable magazine. Your load seems kind of light. I think I was using 47gr RL15 with 155 Amax. All three less than .3 moa when I do my part.