This data is being presented for informational purposes only. Care in reloading is a function of knowledge and skill. I suggest reading several reloading manuals before attempting reloading for the first time. I try to always consult at least 4 reloading manuals/sources before loading a cartridge for the first time. Top loads in any reloading data are just that, don't exceed. Always go with the recommended starting loads found in the manuals. With few exceptions my quest is for the load that provides: 1) top accuracy, 2) case life and 3) velocity. I consider them in that order. Sometimes I'm lucky and get all three.

308 Winchester

This project resulted from a purchase of an Armalite AR10.  Having previously swown I was never going to own a 308 again this has been quite a reversal for me.  Weighing over 10 pounds it is not a walking rifle nor a everyday varmint rifle.  I really have no plans on using any bullet lighter than 150 grains in the gun.  If I shoot any varmints with this rifle it will be coyotes or feral hogs.

The trigger to put it bluntly was severely lacking.  It scaled at 8.25 pounds from the factory.  Remedy was to install an aftermrket match trigger.  I chose a JP match trigger.  Installation is not for the faint of heart as I had to cut on both the sear and back of the trigger to install it properly.  JP directions were good, including the price, part number  and phone number if a replacement was needed.  The JP trigger spring would not reset the sear so I replaced it with the factory one.  End result of a couple hours work is a very crisp 4.25 pound trigger.  Might have been a whole lot easier to send the lower back to Armalite and let them install thier two stage match trigger.  If you need to shoot military ball through the gun I would leave the factory hammer spring in the gun or get Armalite's trigger.

Scope on the gun is a Bushnell Elite 3200 10X with mil dots.   So far it has held up well and adjustment settings have been accurate and repeatable.  I recently tested the scope by shooting at 200 yards, adjusting up 13 clicks and hitting a gong at 350 yards, back to 200 shoot a couple of rounds and back to 350.  I cleaned the gun and set the scope for 350 (20 clicks up from 100 yard zero) and hit the gong in the center with the cold, clean bore.

This is a very accurate rifle.  Most of the handloads I tried shot under an inch at 100 yards.  Surplus military ball shot just over an inch.

Loads in orange were shot in a friends Remington 700 VS

 
Bullet Powder Amount Case Primer Velocity Accuracy
150 SIE MK H4895 42.5 LC92 Win120 2668 1.09@100
150 SIE MK Varget 44.5 LC92 Win120 2701 .7@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 40 WCC61 F210M 2423 .492@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 40.5 WCC61 F210M 2455 .592@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 41 WCC61 F210M 2496 .892@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 41.5 LC92 Win120 2578 .511@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 41.5 WCC61 F210M 2556 .480@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 42 WCC61 F210M 2563 .417@100
168 Nosler Comp H4895 42.5 WCC61 F210M 2595 .597@100
168 Nosler Comp RL15 41 WCC61 F210M 2435 .592@100
168 Nosler Comp RL15 41.5 WCC61 F210M 2457 1.0@100
168 Nosler Comp RL15 42.1 WCC61 F210M 2511 .542@100
168 Nosler Comp RL15 42.6 WCC61 F210M 2527 1.247@100
168 Nosler Comp RL15 43 WCC61 F210M 2536 .754@100
168 Nosler Comp Varget 44 LC92 F210M 2641 .412@100
168 Nosler Comp Varget 44.5 LC92 F210M 2689 1.12@100
168 Sierra HPBT MK RL15 42.1 Federal F210M 2600 .542@100
168 Sierra HPBT MK H4895 41.5 Fed Match F210M 2618 .554@100
168 Sierra HPBT MK Varget 44 Fed Match F210M 2700 1.3@100

More data from another Remington 700 & M1A tested in 1984
(yes guns were used even that long ago)

Bullet
Powder
Amount
Case
Primer
Barrel length
Velocity
Gun used
130 HOR SP 748 50 REM F210M 23.5 2982 REM 700
130 HOR SP 748 51 REM FED210M 23.5 3094 REM 700
130 HOR SP 748 51 REM WIN120 23.5 3069 REM 700
130 SPEER HP SR4756 14.7 WCC61 F210M 23.5 1763 REM 700
150 SIE SP SR4759 24 WCC61 F210M 23.5 2068 REM 700
165 SIE HP I4064 40 LC WIN 22 2421 M1A
165 SIE HP I4064 43.5 LC WIN 22 2700 M1A
168 SIE INT I3031 40.8 - F210M 22 2586 REM 700
168 SIE INT I4064 42 LC WIN 22 2605 M1A
168 SIE INT I4064 43 S&W WIN 22 2647 M1A
168 SIE INT I4895 40 LC CCI 22 2445 M1A
168 SIE INT I4895 42 LC81 WIN 22 2627 M1A
168 SIE INT I4895 42 S&W WIN 22 2502 M1A
168 SIE INT I4895 42.3 LC81 WIN 22 2657 M1A
168 SIE INT I4064 41.5 FED F210M 23.5 2583 REM 700
168 SIE INT I4064 42 FED F210M 23.5 2623 REM 700
168 SIE INT I4064 42.5 FED F210M 23.5 2659 REM 700
168 SIE INT I4895 41 FED F210M 23.5 2601 REM 700
168 SIE INT I4895 41.5 FED F210M 23.5 2638 REM 700
190 SIE MK H4350 46.5 FED NIC F210M 22 2392 REM 700
190 SIE MK H4350 47.5 FED NIC F210M 22 2445 REM 700
190 SIE MK I4064 41 FED NIC F210M 22 2452 REM 700
190 SIE MK I4064 41 WIN WIN 22 2453 M1A
190 SIE MK I4064 41.5 WIN WIN 22 2470 M1A
190 SIE MK I4064 41.9 FED NIC F210M 22 2515 REM 700
190 SIE MK I4064 42 WIN WIN 22 2492 M1A
190 SIE MK I4064 42.3 FED NIC F210M 22 2545 REM 700
190 SIE MK I4064 42.5 WIN WIN 22 2522 M1A
190 SIE MK I4064 42.9 FED NIC F210M 22 2582 REM 700
200 SIE MK H4350 47.5 FED NIC F210M 22 2472 REM 700

The Ultimate 308 Vermin Gun

 

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