If you are the least bit worried about the bullet over expanding..then use a tougher bullet..Try using some 150 grain Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertips...some BL-C2 powder...and watch for pressure signs...Start from a perfectly clean barrel..and watch your chronograph...when you get to around 2400fps...stop...You should be loading them out to just off the lands...I usually have them about .003" to .005" off...I think you will be very pleased with the results..There really isn't any need to go with the lighter bullets and have to worry...This load at 2400 fps...and you can get this because of the Lubalox coating and seating them further out than the standard factory length..with NO CRIMP...will give you durn near 300 Savage performance...Here's what it Point Blank shows with this load...compare it to the lighter loads for down range performance..
Load Data
~~~~~~~~~
Name: .308 Cal, Nosler CTSBT, 150 grn
Ballistic Coeff: 0.435
Bullet Weight: 150
Velocity: 2400
Target Distance: 227
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500
Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Range Elevation Velocity Energy ETA Drop Max Y 10mph Wind Deflect
0 yds -1.50 in 2400 fps 1918 fpe 0.000 sec 0.00 in -1.50 in 0.00 in
25 yds 0.42 in 2353 fps 1844 fpe 0.032 sec 0.19 in -0.55 in 0.05 in
50 yds 1.95 in 2307 fps 1773 fpe 0.064 sec 0.78 in -0.40 in 0.23 in
75 yds 3.07 in 2262 fps 1704 fpe 0.097 sec 1.77 in -0.14 in 0.54 in
100 yds 3.76 in 2217 fps 1636 fpe 0.130 sec 3.20 in 0.23 in 0.97 in
125 yds 4.00 in 2172 fps 1571 fpe 0.165 sec 5.07 in 0.72 in 1.51 in
150 yds 3.78 in 2128 fps 1508 fpe 0.200 sec 7.40 in 1.34 in 2.16 in
175 yds 3.10 in 2084 fps 1447 fpe 0.235 sec 10.21 in 2.09 in 2.92 in
200 yds 1.92 in 2041 fps 1387 fpe 0.272 sec 13.49 in 2.98 in 3.79 in
225 yds 0.15 in 1999 fps 1331 fpe 0.309 sec 17.38 in 4.05 in 4.92 in
250 yds -1.99 in 1956 fps 1274 fpe 0.346 sec 21.63 in 5.22 in 5.93 in
275 yds -4.73 in 1914 fps 1220 fpe 0.384 sec 26.49 in 6.58 in 7.16 in
300 yds -8.11 in 1873 fps 1169 fpe 0.424 sec 31.98 in 8.13 in 8.60 in
325 yds -12.14 in 1833 fps 1119 fpe 0.464 sec 38.13 in 9.88 in 10.24 in
350 yds -16.86 in 1793 fps 1071 fpe 0.506 sec 44.97 in 11.85 in 12.07 in
375 yds -22.29 in 1755 fps 1025 fpe 0.549 sec 52.50 in 14.04 in 14.08 in
400 yds -28.43 in 1716 fps 981 fpe 0.592 sec 60.76 in 16.46 in 16.26 in
The maximum point blank range is 272 yards with the rifle sighted at dead on 231 yards with a 8" kill zone
Here's for the 125 grainer..
Load Data
~~~~~~~~~
Name: .308 Cal, Nosler BT, 125 gr
Ballistic Coeff: 0.366
Bullet Weight: 125
Velocity: 2600
Target Distance: 227
Scope Height: 1.500
Temperature: 70
Altitude: 500
Ballistic Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Range Elevation Velocity Energy ETA Drop Max Y 10mph Wind Deflect
0 yds -1.50 in 2600 fps 1876 fpe 0.000 sec 0.00 in -1.50 in 0.00 in
25 yds 0.19 in 2542 fps 1793 fpe 0.029 sec 0.16 in -0.56 in 0.04 in
50 yds 1.54 in 2485 fps 1714 fpe 0.059 sec 0.66 in -0.43 in 0.22 in
75 yds 2.55 in 2428 fps 1636 fpe 0.089 sec 1.50 in -0.21 in 0.47 in
100 yds 3.19 in 2372 fps 1562 fpe 0.120 sec 2.71 in 0.10 in 0.88 in
125 yds 3.44 in 2317 fps 1491 fpe 0.152 sec 4.32 in 0.53 in 1.44 in
150 yds 3.27 in 2263 fps 1422 fpe 0.185 sec 6.33 in 1.07 in 2.16 in
175 yds 2.68 in 2210 fps 1355 fpe 0.219 sec 8.78 in 1.73 in 3.01 in
200 yds 1.64 in 2157 fps 1291 fpe 0.254 sec 11.67 in 2.52 in 4.00 in
225 yds 0.14 in 2105 fps 1229 fpe 0.289 sec 15.02 in 3.45 in 5.13 in
250 yds -1.83 in 2053 fps 1170 fpe 0.325 sec 18.84 in 4.52 in 6.38 in
275 yds -4.29 in 2002 fps 1113 fpe 0.361 sec 23.15 in 5.75 in 7.76 in
300 yds -7.30 in 1952 fps 1058 fpe 0.399 sec 28.01 in 7.14 in 9.33 in
325 yds -10.84 in 1903 fps 1005 fpe 0.438 sec 33.40 in 8.71 in 11.02 in
350 yds -15.03 in 1854 fps 954 fpe 0.478 sec 39.44 in 10.48 in 12.97 in
375 yds -19.91 in 1807 fps 906 fpe 0.519 sec 46.17 in 12.48 in 15.14 in
400 yds -25.48 in 1760 fps 860 fpe 0.561 sec 53.60 in 14.70 in 17.53 in
The maximum point blank range with this is 283 yards with the rifle sighted dead on at 241 yards
Going with a lighter bullet in the Handi...your not really gaining anything at normal hunting ranges...except a little less recoil and 3" less drop at 400 yards...with 3 yards difference in MPBR...Also if a deer gets up on you at say 25-50 yards...I would rather have a the better sectional density of the heavier bullet..Getting 2400 & 2600 fps respectfully with these 2 bullets is possible...I have done this in my rifles..both are loaded to the max..and even a little over...so you should work up for both slowly watching for pressure signs...The 150 gr BT is a favorite for the 300 Savage & the 308...The thing to remember with any coated bullets is not to mix plain jacketed one when shooting...Accuracy suffers a-lot...
Mac
