2900 fps .308 ?

N

NONYA

New member
Anyone getting anything near this with a 165-168 grn bullet?If so what powder/charge and what kind of pressure signs are you getting?Thanx
 
That's awfully fast for a 308, or a 30-06, for that matter. Come to think of it, I was running 180 Partitions in my 300 H&H Magnum, and 2975 fps was pushing it pretty hard. I have a difficult time with the concept of a 308 giving a 300 H&H a run for it's money in the velocity department. I did run 165's out my H&H for a bit, and I think I clocked them at a shade under 3100 fps, with stiff loads. Whoever is running a 308 with 165's at 2900 fps is either a very brave soul or a wee bit "off".
 
Found some data for a rifle I had several years ago. It had a 30" Kreiger. The load was 44.0 grs R-15 168gr Sierra MK at 2910fps. Accuracy was not good with this load. I did much better with 45.8 grs Varget at 2860fps.
John
 
That's a fairly stiff load for most 150's in standard 24 inch barrel sporting rifles. Most load books I have top out a little over 2700 with the 165's in the 308.

You can always overload, but you can be taking a big chance trying to push the 165's that hard out of a 308 case. I'd be really carful watching for pressure signs if your trying to work up to those velocities.

My 308 is one of Remington's model 7 carbines with the 18.5 inch tube so I don't get published velocities from it. Can't see where the deer can tell any difference though.

I've found that usually a load that's 10 percent under maximum load delivers much better accuracy and you'll only loose 2 percent velocity and most game animals can't tell you which kills them deader.

The easiest way to get those kind of velocities in 30 caliber is go to one of the 30 magnums. I've had good luck with both the 308 Norma mag and the 300 Win mag.
 
Ive done a bunch of research and havnt found any data showing loads for 2900 fps loads with 168s,Im going to try some IMR 4064 ,46grs,next.Im testing some hornaday amax's over 48 grs of IMR 4350 today.Playing with loads for the new VTR before the weather gets real nice and I can get serious about long range.Shot some 165 gr. interbonds over 48 gr of IMR 4350 last week and they grouped well out at 300,hit a crow at 392,I think a more streamline bullet and this load might be the ticket.
 
If you try this with the 308 then you need to invest in a good pair of shooting glasses because you may just need them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I found it difficult and scary getting 2400 FPS with 110-125 grn bullets in a 308 and they were not accurate at even 100 yards
 
Im getting 3107 fps out of 125 grain bullets with 50.2 grains of IMR 4895 through a 26" Remington.
At 51 grains I get a sticky bolt, I dont see getting 2900 out of a 168 grain bullet.
 
Nosler 6 has a 165-168 load using Big Game that is claiming 2910 fps. But the most accurate test in that load was at 2720 fps. Fastest is not always best you can't miss them fast enough to kill them or collect X's.
 
If I may ask, why would you want a 168gr pill to go 2900fps? There is no advantage in pushing a .308 168grn round 2900 instead of 2750fps. If you want to shoot long range you will have to dial elevation no matter what. 150fps will do nothing for you. The main concern is just to stay supersonic at the given longesst distance you are shooting, and with the BC's of the 168 match bullets this is no problem out to 8, 9 or even a 1000yds.
 
Was just checking to see if some "data" i had seen online was accurate,never said I wanted to go that fast.Found the load I needed in todays tests so my quest is over.
 
Quote:
what case do they use on the Norma?



All I ever used was Norma cases, but it's simular to the 300 win mag with a longer neck. I got the same velocities from both cases, but liked the longer neck as I didn't have to seat those nice 180's down in the powder. It's a short magnum case the same length as the 300 Win mag. It was Norma's entry into belted cases that would fit in 30-06 length actions.

At the time it was introduced Winchester had not introduced the 300 Win mag. Norma had two cartridges on this case the 308 Norma and the 358 Norma mag. Both were exceptional rounds. Norma was supplying gunsmiths the reamers free if they sold barrels and actions on these two cases at the time.

I built mine in 1963 I believe with a Commercial Mauser action an Hobaugh 26 inch sporter weight barrel and a Fagen stock. I gave it to my Nephew for a wedding present years ago and he's retired in Alaska now and still shooting it. Sure loved that old gun.
 
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