Ruger 77 in .308 with a 22 inch barrel question?

[catman]

found it

[Duffy]

You are off to a good start with those powders. Might add Varget to the list too but the 4064 works well in the 308. Just play with seating depth and charges a bit and it'll come together. My brother has a old M77 target that gives it's best groups at the upper end of the loads. Also found some accuracy improvements in different primers, Federal match primers gave a bit lower vel than WW but they shrunk groups too.

[magnum308]

Catman,

I load and shoot a .308 Win in a Winchester pre 64 Model 70 featherweight (22" barrel). Here is Australia we use ADI powders (they're repackaged as Hodgdon in the US see http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp ). I use AR2206 as it was developed specifically for the Australian Army use in the 7.62MM military cartridge. I found that it shoots well and I get good results using Nosler solid base (HPBT) and Winchester silvertips both in 150 gr. Following are the loads I have found shoot good and the velocities (chronographed, 3 shot average, in my rifle)

150gr Nosler HPBT with AR2206 Winchester cases and primers

45.5grs 2,793 fps
46.0grs 2,813 fps
46.5grs 2,837 fps
47.0grs 2,873 fps
47.5grs 2,911 fps
48.0grs 2,932 fps (hot load)

150gr Win Silvertips with AR2206 Winchester cases and primers

46.5grs 2,857 fps
47.0grs 2,879 fps
47.5grs 2,909 fps  
48.0grs 2,919 fps (hot load)

Whilst pretty well all of these shoot under the inch (usually around ¾") 3 shots @ 100 yards, I have on occasions shot even better as the following target shows



The final shot with Nosler bullets ahead of 48.0grs AR2206 to rezero the rifle to be 1.3" high @ 100 yards was chronoed at 2,966 fps!! I put this through the Point Blank programme when I got home and it's ballistics are as follows:

100 yds 2,704 fps 2,435 fpe +1.32"
150 yds 2,594 fps 2,241 fpe +0.98"
200 yds 2,487 fps 2,060 fpe -0.64"
250 yds 2,382 fps 1,890 fpe -3.62"
300 yds 2,280 fps 1,731 fpe -8.20"

Of course, these loads were safe in my rifle by may not be safe in yours. Start with 2 grs below my starting load and work up carefully noting signs of pressure.

The .308 Win is great and very underrated little cartridge.

Magnum

[while99]

Whenever I load for the .308 Winchester, I always try 4064, Varget, and ReLoader 15.  Usually I will find a load or two that gives fine accuracy with one of those powders.  If not, I'll try H-335 or IMR 4895.