Reloading for Remington 750 Semi in .308 Cal.

[McLernon]

I've reloaded for about ten years now for a variety of bolt guns but I have never reloaded for a semi. I'm told there is a difference. I plan to use 150 gr. Hornady Interbonds over IMR 4895 for White Tail deer. Any suggestions for loading? Perhaps a different powder?? What about using Lee's factory crimper with a bullet with no canalure groove??

Thanks

McLermnon

[Cheesehead]

I reload for my 308 semi with good results. I bought one of the "one book/one caliber" books specifically for the 308 and it has been a great help. Alliant reloader 15 is what I now use exclusively. It has worked so well that I bought a 5 pound jug of it. RL 15 is what the military has used.  Be cautioned not to use slow burning powders in a semi. They can adversely affect the gas system. I had a bad experience with slow burning powder and my BAR 300 mag. The rifle I often use for whitetail is a Springfield M1A and RL 15 works great for power and accuracy in this 308. I have had good luck with remington corelokt and bronze point 150 grain bullets. You can buy them bulk at Midway. Good luck.

Cheese

[McLernon]

Thanks 'cheesehead'

McLernon

[R.W.Dale]

I've had outstanding results using Varget powder in my 7400 30-06 . This powder should work even better in a .308

 When selecting powder for my SEMI I treat it as if I were loading for a Garand. In your case I'd load as though you were shooting a M1A

[Grumulkin]

The powder I use and like the best at least with 165 and 168 grain bullets in the .308 is IMR 4064.  I've used it with great results in Remington 742 and M1A autoloaders.  The 150 grain bullets should work fine for deer but I haven't worked up any good loads for that bullet weight in the .308.

You will need to full length resize your cases in a small base die.  Also, abide by reloading manual's maximum load warnings.  In a bolt action rifle you may get by with pushing loads to a sticky case (not that I'm recommending that) but trying that in an autoloader may damage your gun.

Using too slow powders can damage a semiauto with too high port pressures.  The Hornady Manual has sections devoted to M1 Garands and M1As.  If you use the powders listed there or ones that are faster (there is a table of relative powder speeds in the Hornady Manual) you should be OK.

I also get outstanding results with Varget in my .30/06 but it doesn't work as well as IMR 4064 in my .308.

[Ranger J]

I have had good luck using both Reloader 7 and 15 in my old 742 30-06.  The latter makes a little slower load with a little less recoil.  It still operates the gun well and as most of the shots in the Ozarks are well under 100 yards, using 150g CL bullets it has dropped every deer I have shot it at.  I use ‘normal’ Lee full length resizing dies with no problems.  In my .308 Handi Rifle I use a similar load with good results.
RJ

[fishdog52]

Something more to ponder: The military has used alot of BL-C2 in the 308, mostly in semi's.  It tends to group pretty well, and is usually easy to get along with.  46-49 grains will generally produce good groups & good performance under a 150 grain bullet yuor rifle likes.  
As it is a ball powder, it meters well and has a nuclear shelf life.