.308 Shorty Load Development/Data

[Hams42]

I will start with that I am a Bergara fan boy. I have had 5 Bergara rifles and all but one so far has been an awesome gun. The one I had issues with was a MG Micro Lite in 6.5 PRC 18" barrel. That was a dumb and expensive mistake. I had lots of issues with it and Bergara and I came to an agreement and they got me a .308 win in the same gun. I am much more pleased with this gun.

So onto the loads. Surprisingly I'm not finding any recent threads about short barreled .308 load data on here. There are a few threads from 2019 and 2020 but nothing recent.

I have done 4 different ladder tests with this gun and having gotten okay results. So far I am using BR2 Primers and CFE223 along with Varget.

I have used two different bullets both Sierra's. A flat based based 150 gr Pro-Hunter and 150 gr Boat tail Game King. I got a couple .8 MOA and smaller groups but at a much lower velocity than what I wanted. The Pro hunter was only around 2450 and the Game king was around 2600.

I am probably just like everyone else and have too high of expectations. I am going to try to load up some 165 Nosler BT and see what I can get.

I want to be able to shoot out to 500 yards or so with the gun. Here is the criteria I'm trying to hit. With 150 gr I would like 2700 fps or more and with a 165 I would be happy with 2600 fps. Trying to keep more than 1800 fps at 500 yards with around 1200 pound of energy.

MG Micro Lite .308 WIN 18" barrel with a 5.5" Suppressor.

Let me know what you guys have done.

 

[howl]

Barnes claims a bc for their 130gr higher than Sierra advertises for their 150gr.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Don’t have a 308 shorty but if I did 155 scenars over varget, h4895, n540, or xbr is probably where I’d start.

 

[Bambistew]

In both my Kimber and Rem 700 (22 barrels), I'm getting 2750fps with 44gr of Varget and 165 Accubonds. I'd assume you'd get maybe 100-150fps less with the 18" barrel?

 

[Forkyfinder]

Just chopped a 308 to 18" with winchester m118lr 175 smks - i was getting 2520 fps. Box states 2620 and previously i matched/slightly exceeded other box velocities with a 24.4" barrel. This meets your energy and velocity requirements.

Id say 100-150 fps less is accurate.

 

[Hams42]

Just chopped a 308 to 18" with winchester m118lr 175 smks - i was getting 2520 fps. Box states 2620 and previously i matched/slightly exceeded other box velocities with a 24.4" barrel. This meets your energy and velocity requirements.

Id say 100-150 fps less is accurate.

That's pretty impressive with 175's. I've been wanting to try the Terminal Ascents for a whole now but I though the 175's would be too heavy. I'll have to give this a look.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Have you measured how long you can go on OAL? Seems like a fast burning powder like Varget, or H 4895, plus a longer OAL might be your ticket.

 

[Forkyfinder]

That's pretty impressive with 175's. I've been wanting to try the Terminal Ascents for a whole now but I though the 175's would be too heavy. I'll have to give this a look.

30 CAL 175 GR HPBT MATCHKING X (MKX)

The Bulletsmiths®. Reloadable bullets for rifles and pistols designed for precision target shooting, hunting, and defense. Crafting a tradition of precision since 1947.

sierrabullets.com

These would be a "clone" of the smk that sierra reccomends for hunting. When i start reloading - think i might try these.

175 smk practice ammo could be bought pretty cheap or loaded cheap too.

 

[Hams42]

Have you measured how long you can go on OAL? Seems like a fast burning powder like Varget, or H 4895, plus a longer OAL might be your ticket.

I'll have to measure tonight but the magazine is really going to screw me on the OAL.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I will start with that I am a Bergara fan boy. I have had 5 Bergara rifles and all but one so far has been an awesome gun. The one I had issues with was a MG Micro Lite in 6.5 PRC 18" barrel. That was a dumb and expensive mistake. I had lots of issues with it and Bergara and I came to an agreement and they got me a .308 win in the same gun. I am much more pleased with this gun.

So onto the loads. Surprisingly I'm not finding any recent threads about short barreled .308 load data on here. There are a few threads from 2019 and 2020 but nothing recent.

I have done 4 different ladder tests with this gun and having gotten okay results. So far I am using BR2 Primers and CFE223 along with Varget.

I have used two different bullets both Sierra's. A flat based based 150 gr Pro-Hunter and 150 gr Boat tail Game King. I got a couple .8 MOA and smaller groups but at a much lower velocity than what I wanted. The Pro hunter was only around 2450 and the Game king was around 2600.

I am probably just like everyone else and have too high of expectations. I am going to try to load up some 165 Nosler BT and see what I can get.

I want to be able to shoot out to 500 yards or so with the gun. Here is the criteria I'm trying to hit. With 150 gr I would like 2700 fps or more and with a 165 I would be happy with 2600 fps. Trying to keep more than 1800 fps at 500 yards with around 1200 pound of energy.

MG Micro Lite .308 WIN 18" barrel with a 5.5" Suppressor.

Let me know what you guys have done.

Internet says .308 Moses will get you to 2900fps (with a 180grain pill). Something to think about. @dsrtibb can help you out if interested, not sure if he can rechamber or not.

 

[Robert N]

FWIW:

Christensen Arms Ridgeline Carbon...16.5" shorty barrel (8" suppressor).

150gr. Federal BlueBox factory ammo: 2,659 fps average.
165gr. Nosler AB over 44.0 gr. of Varget: 2,545 fps average.
180gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter over 44.0 of Varget: 2,487 fps average.

I pushed the 165 AB to 46.0 Varget and that gave me another 50-75 fps. I didn't find that particularly meaningful for my shooting out to 300 yards.

 

[Hams42]

FWIW:

Christensen Arms Ridgeline Carbon...16.5" shorty barrel (8" suppressor).

150gr. Federal BlueBox factory ammo: 2,659 fps average.
165gr. Nosler AB over 44.0 gr. of Varget: 2,545 fps average.
180gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter over 44.0 of Varget: 2,487 fps average.

I pushed the 165 AB to 46.0 Varget and that gave me another 50-75 fps. I didn't find that particularly meaningful for my shooting out to 300 yards.

So I talked to some guys on the Hammer time forum and I bought some 151 gr Absolute Hammers running 47.5 gr of TAC and I'm now getting sub moa and I'm getting 2905 FPS!

 

[Robert N]

So I talked to some guys on the Hammer time forum and I bought some 151 gr Absolute Hammers running 47.5 gr of TAC and I'm now getting sub moa and I'm getting 2905 FPS!

18” barrel, Hammers over TAC?

I have some TAC in the cupboard…might have to try that.

(*Side note: just checked official Ramshot load data…pending bullet, that’s on the warm to max side of things. So, rifle/brass, variables…that’s doable.)

(PPS: also worth noting, my 16.5” barrel shoots about 200 fps than the factory 24” barrel. So if it’s shooting at 2900 fps, my rifle would likely deliver 2700 fps. Which would suit me fine for my whitetail deer purposes.)

 

[Hams42]

18” barrel, Hammers over TAC?

I have some TAC in the cupboard…might have to try that.

(*Side note: just checked official Ramshot load data…pending bullet, that’s on the warm to max side of things. So, rifle/brass, variables…that’s doable.)

(PPS: also worth noting, my 16.5” barrel shoots about 200 fps than the factory 24” barrel. So if it’s shooting at 2900 fps, my rifle would likely deliver 2700 fps. Which would suit me fine for my whitetail deer purposes.)

So the Absolute Hammers which is a specific bulltet design that has less contact with he rifling and you can get about 100 fps faster than normal.

 

[Sheltowee]

So the Absolute Hammers which is a specific bullet design that has less contact with he rifling and you can get about 100 fps faster than normal.

A lot of the Hammers are more or less bore-riders with significantly less bearing surface than a normal all-copper bullet. That said, 2900fps with an 18" barrel is screaming. Nice work.

 

[Mallardsx2]

44 grains of IMR 4064

22” barrel.

 

[Caseknife]

I'm getting 3100+ with my Howa Super Lite 308 and 137 Hammer Hunters and 8208XBR, 20" barrel.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I'm getting 3100+ with my Howa Super Lite 308 and 137 Hammer Hunters and 8208XBR, 20" barrel.

I would love to see that chronograph data.

 

[Badlandboy]

44 grains of IMR 4064

22” barrel.

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Have never loaded for a shorty but I have loaded for several .308s over the years. IMR4064 with 165 gr. bullets (usually Speer HC or Hornady IL) has always been good to me. 44gr. has almost always been the winner.

 

[Caseknife]

I would love to see that chronograph data.