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Author Topic: Light .308Win loads  (Read 590 times)

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Offline Saloon slug

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Light .308Win loads
« on: February 24, 2008, 10:14:00 AM »
I am getting ready to pick up my new .308 this week and am looking for some light load info. QuickDto pointed out a nice cast bullet for my needs that is 115grn gas checked. I want to use this as a light plinker for my kids and also load it up for varmints. I have Win brass and WLR primers on hand and quite a bit of 4320 would like to use it if I can but buying more powder wont break my heart.

Thanks
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2008, 12:31:12 PM »
The Lyman Cast Bullet and 48th Reloading Handbooks list several powders for the Lyman 311359 bullet in the 308W, Red Dot, 700X, Green Dot, PB, Unique, SR7625 and Herco, max velocities range from 1879-2272fps in a 26" barrel, pick one if you have it and I'll post their data for ya.

Tim
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Offline John Traveler

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2008, 01:28:19 PM »
I'm with quickdoo.  IMR 4320 is much too slow to use in light rifle case loads.

The Lyman manual is a good reference.  I too have used medium-slow shotgun powders for some very good light rifle loads.
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2008, 01:30:47 PM »
Another good place for cast loads for the 308 and 30/06 is the Lee ( buy my stuff ) modern reloading 2nd edition .

stimpy
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Offline Saloon slug

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2008, 04:30:15 PM »
The Lyman book I have is a bit old. What do you have for Unique I have that one for my .45colts so that would be a good one to start playing with. I know they changed Unique recently I really need to update my book collection.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 04:49:58 PM »
Unique is 12gr start, 17gr Max at 2272fps, COL of 2.430", Rem brass and 9½ primer, best accuracy in their 24" test barrel, their bullet was cast in #2 alloy.

Tim
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Offline Saloon slug

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 04:56:40 PM »
Excellent thank you Sir. I will give it a go. Just realized that I hadn't ordered my dies yet oops :-[. Well Midway is gonna get more of my money. Thanks for the load Tim.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2008, 05:03:03 PM »
Try GBO sponsor Midsouth, they usually beat Midway's price and with less shipping. ;)

Tim


http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
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Offline Saloon slug

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2008, 05:10:32 PM »
they usually do but Midway has the Lee Pacesetter 3 die on sale right now.
Have another ? for you. With standard pressure loads and FL sizing what should I expect for case life in my Handi?
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2008, 05:19:30 PM »
I dunno, haven't shot my .308 that much, but with those cast bullet loads, brass should last a looong time.  ;) Some of my 270 brass has been reloaded 4-5 times, it was once fired when I got it with my first 270 barrel, but you have to figure that each batch of loads was progressive in strength from start to near max loads, so a good share of it was light to moderately loaded when I used it, and I cycle the hotter loaded brass to the start loaded brass on the next batch to get a little more life out of it, I've not found any brass that show any bad signs so far, but I expect it any time. 

Tim
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Offline Saloon slug

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2008, 05:36:00 PM »
So at the worst I should get a one or two more loads then I do if I FL size my .303brit. Thanks for the info. I will let you know how it goes when I pick up the rifle and get the reloading stuff in.
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Offline Questor

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2008, 05:25:31 AM »
This doesn't address the original question, but it's related. We're using starting loads for my son to hunt with using his light weight Tikka 308. The load is from  Speer #13 and is the 150 grain Hot Cor bullet with 43 grains of Varget and a CCI 200 primer in a Winchester case with an OAL of 2.700".

It has surprisingly light recoil, and though I haven't chrono'ed it, I expect velocity to be about 2650fps, based on Speer's usually very reliable velocity data.

This would definitely be more recoil than an ultra-light plinking load, but it is a hunting load worth consideration.

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Offline 1sourdough

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2008, 08:56:25 AM »
 I use H 4895 for reduced loads on the 308 & 30-06. Lee 2nd edition has a lot of good info.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2008, 09:01:37 AM »
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Offline Saloon slug

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2008, 03:34:11 PM »
Cool thanks guys. Never heard the 60% rule with 4895 before. Learn something new every day.
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Offline SingleShotShorty

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Re: Light .308Win loads
« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2008, 02:19:35 PM »
I would load some 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in the manual listed mid range
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