.308 load for 1:12 twist 26" bbl

[Wiggity]

Hey guys I'm new at the reloading game and I want to work up a flat shooting load for my rem 700. Cost effective would be nice too.

My question is what bullet weight and what load is flat shooting and stable in a 26" 1:12 barrel?

[cysoto]

I shoot .308 out of a Savage FT/R with a 32" barrel. I load 155.5gr SMK's atop Varget with really good success but, in all honesty, a load that works great in my rifle may not work for yours. You have to take into account things like choice of brass, bullet jump, etc.

To find the load which I use now, I began by running a few ladder tests and refining some of the variables. Finding the "perfect" load is half the fun of this sport.

This link has some good information as well as a few loads which have been proven very effective for some well known competitors: http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

[paddywagon]

You will definitly have to try a few out to find the sweetheart. I almost always will try 168's in a .308 to start off with. Start with a middle of the road load and work up and down a couple of grains to start. You should see a pattern, such as increase or decrease of group size. Don't so much worry about where it is on the target, but what it is doing on the target. A good powder to start with for .308 is IMR 4064. Varget is a great choice as well but is a little more expensive and sometimes a bit harder to find. I have had excellent results as well with H380 even though it is more commonly thought of as a hi volume case varmint powder (ie. 220 Swift, 22-250).

[Zombie Steve]

You hunting or looking for a target load? I tend to stick with 165-168 bullets for general use out to 500 or so.

Varget, 4320, 4064 or AA2520 would all be good choices, with Varget being my first pick due to its stability in hot or cold weather.

[Wiggity]

Probably more of a target/prairie dog load

[Zombie Steve]

I've had exceptionally good results with a 168 grain A-max (Hornady) and Varget. You certainly don't need something that heavy for p-dogs. 155gr palma bullets are pretty impressive.

[Wiggity]

I'll probably use it for deer/elk at some point, but I'm not too worried about bullet weight even at that point. I'm a strong believer in shot placement over everything else. If you hit it in the right spot with any bullet weight then its going down, if not, then it won't.

[Buckaroobonsai]

Hey, Sam. Steps and I both have had excellent results with Nosler 150 gr Ballistic Silver Tipped projectiles thru our Remington 700's. My personal load was with 44 gr of IMR 4064 for 2740 FPS and listed as one of the most accurate loads tested. We were blowing up varmints with it, but I'm sure it would do great with bigger game as well. On the down side, it's pretty pricy stuff and sometimes hard to find. Still, it would be my #1 choice for that gun.

[Zombie Steve]

I'll probably use it for deer/elk at some point, but I'm not too worried about bullet weight even at that point. I'm a strong believer in shot placement over everything else. If you hit it in the right spot with any bullet weight then its going down, if not, then it won't.


Maybe. Maybe not. Most lightweight bullets are designed for varmint shooting... they come apart instantly by design. Target bullets are just that - they were never designed to do anything once they get there other than punching a hole in paper or making a steel gong ring. Target bullets have very thin jackets. They tend to blow up on impact as well. Doesn't penetrate well, and really wrecks meat. Let's say you have a downhill shot quartering towards - hitting the right spot means you have to bust through the shoulder blade. I wouldn't give that job to a light bullet or a target bullet of any weight on an elk. It will come apart and likely won't have enough retained weight to continue penetrating to the vitals.

Please don't hunt with a bullet not designed for hunting. You don't have to buy anything bonded or solid gilding metal or anything... just get a hunting bullet. Best all-rounder for you is probably a Sierra 165gr gameking.