.308 Winchester and the 311041

[wvmedic]

I just got a new Savage 10 in .308 Winchester with wood stock, I'm going to use it for Whitetail and if I'm lucky enough to have the chance Black Bear.

I got the .308 and gave my Son my 30-06, I figured with the reduced case capacity of the .308 I would get better case fill with the powder over the 30-06. Not by much but still better case fill.

I plan on using WW and H4895.

Anyone use this combo for hunting, if so what velocity and what distance would be your max effective range for a clean kill.


Jeff

[Screwbolts]

IMHO, the max effective range for a clean kill will depend on you and your shooting iron. What is the max range you will be able to consistantly hit a 10" diameter object. That will tell you what your max range is. Once you find your rifles sweet spot with your boolitz sized in your dies of your alloy. The 31141/311041 will do great IMHO, with air cooled wws or air cooled WW -lead 50/50. Listen to your rifle for the answers.

Ken

[mattw]

4895 and 4831 and the 31141 are my preferred combos in the 30-30 and 30-06. In the 308 I would think that you might be limited to 250 yards or so, would depend on the lube you use, the speed you push them at and your abilities with your rifle.

Good luck.

[Larry Gibson]

wvmedic

I used the 311041 in several .308Ws for many years now hunting. I suggest you mix the COWWs with 2# tin and then mix at 50/50 with lead (the SOWWs will do for this) and let the bullets AC for at least 10 day before doing anything with them. Then GC, size .311 and lube with a good lube such as White label 50/50 or 2500+. Load over H4895 and use a 1/2 - 3/4 gr Dacron filler. Load 8 shot test strings in 1 gr increments from 28 - 34 gr. Test at 100 yards or preferably the maximum expect range of a shot; I use 200 yards as my own maximum. Clean the barrel between test strings. That will maintain the best accuracy with the softer alloy. Pay attention to see if the 1st shot goes to group. If not you'll want to fire a fouler or two before hunting. I always figured if I hadn't got the deer/whatever in that 7-8 shots I might as well quit hunting, go home and clean the rifle and figure out what I was doing wrong.

What you're looking for is the best acceptable accuracy at the max range you'll shoot something. Only you can answer what "acceptable" is. For me 3 moa or 6" groups at 200 yards is adequate as most of my deer have been killed on the short side of 100 yards with the .308W/311041 combo. Doing the above will get you the most velocity for better down range kills. The softer alloy will give expansion out to 200 yards BTW. You can expect the velocity to be 1950 - 2100 fps doing the above.

Larry Gibson

[wvmedic]

Thanks Guy's.

Abilities aside, say I can keep my rounds in a 4" circle at 200 yards.

What velocity do I need to insure a clean kill at 200 yards?

I'm looking for a place to start, I want my max range to be 200 yards and I want to use cast to get there.

I know I will need to look at fit, lube, charge and such. But I would like to know what is a proven 200 yard effective load velocity.

As an example Lee shows a starting load for a 175gr cast at 1750 FPS to a max load at 2500 FPS with H4895.

The Lyman manual I looked at does not show a load for 4895 of either manufacture, unfortunately that is what I have to work with other than a half pound of 2400.

I've seen posts that say 1800 FPS is about max for accuracy, then I've seen others that are approaching 2500 FPS with great results.

Also per a ballistics chart I have looked at, starting out at 1860 FPS. The energy at 200 yards is 626 ft/lbs.

I'm really new to this and am doing alright with our 357 mag carbines, and considered getting a 44 mag carbine but I already have powder and a mould for 30 caliber and I would consider the 44 mag a 150 yard gun.

I just want to get a good hunting load with the .308, my shots will no doubt be under a 100 yards 90% of the time. But I want to load for the just incase.

Thanks, Jeff

[wvmedic]

Larry, thank you very much.

I was typing when you posted the information.

Jeff

[ballistim]

deleted

[pls1911]

As always, Larry's advice is second to none.
I approach the same place by a little different route which admittedly is a bit more labor intensive.
The Lyman 31141 remains among the best .30 cal hunting bullet designs and my favorite until I found the RanchDog/NOE 165. It casts to about the same weight, and the flat point provides a resounding SLAP on impact.
I cast soft, about 12 bhn, then heat treat to the mid 20s, gas check, lube and size large through a .311 or .312 size die This process provides a hard bullet for 2000 fps velocities without the brittleness of linotype... it doesn't break up on impact. The sizing works well with everything from various .30/30 cal levers and TCs, Savage .308s and even old Spanish Mausers.
And I've never had a problem with leading with my target velocity in all cases of 1900 fps.

[wvmedic]

pls 1911, thank you for your input.

Jeff