Help please 130 grain in the 308

[sloughfoot]

I’m looking for any load data I can find on 130 grain cast loads in the 308. I have the Lyman 4th edition and the powders list I have none of. Powders I have available are IMR 4227,4320,4198,4895,3031, accurate 2200, RX-7, green dot, 292708

[longbow]

From what you list I suspect Green Dot or IMR4227 are most suitable.

I have loaded the Mihec 316410 (130 gr. solid) for .303 British but not .308. I'll check my load data as I can't recall what I used for that one but I think IMR4227. The hollow point version makes a mess of a water jug! Any load I used in the Lee Enfield will be safe in a .308 as I have a PB mould and didn't load hot. I may also have some loads from manuals. I'll take a look.

Longbow

[sloughfoot]

Thanks man that’d be awesome I love the 4227 for the 150 and 170 grain

[Hick]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd edition says starting load of 11 grains green dot for 120 grain lead bullet and 10.5 green dot starting load for 151 grain. Max for 151 grain is 13.5 grains of green dot. If it was my rifle I would try green dot at a starting load of 10.5 grains for the 130 grain bullet and be wary of going over 13.5.

[longbow]

I stand corrected... Lyman Ideal #40 shows 20.5 grs. of 4198 for velocity of 1950 FPS for a 125 gr. gas checked cast bullet. I'd start at 18 grs. and work up for the 130 gr.

I'll try to look later for my .303 load data.

Longbow

[longbow]

Okay then I figured I had better look before I forget!

I have loaded up now .303 British with the Mihec 316410 bullet (130 grs. solid) over 22 grs. IMR4227 + COW and graphite filler. While filler is a controversial subject I have used it quite a bit and like it having worked loads up with filler. Regardless, we can agree that pressures will be lower without filler and these show no pressure signs as is and shoot well with a PB boolit. These are not hot loads.

For reference, the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition shows for .308: #311466 151 gr. over 20.0 gr. starting load and 31 grs. max. load for IMR4227.

Also, listed are IMR4198 at starting load of 21.8 grs. and max load of 36.0 grs. and the Green Dot load mentioned above.

That should get you going!

Yes, I like 4227 as well. I use it in .308, .303 British and .44 mag.

Longbow

[sloughfoot]

Thanks for your help. I’ll post some results in a day or two.


Okay then I figured I had better look before I forget!

I have loaded up now .303 British with the Mihec 316410 bullet (130 grs. solid) over 22 grs. IMR4227 + COW and graphite filler. While filler is a controversial subject I have used it quite a bit and like it having worked loads up with filler. Regardless, we can agree that pressures will be lower without filler and these show no pressure signs as is and shoot well with a PB boolit. These are not hot loads.

For reference, the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition shows for .308: #311466 151 gr. over 20.0 gr. starting load and 31 grs. max. load for IMR4227.

Also, listed are IMR4198 at starting load of 21.8 grs. and max load of 36.0 grs. and the Green Dot load mentioned above.

That should get you going!

Yes, I like 4227 as well. I use it in .308, .303 British and .44 mag.

Longbow

[longbow]

The only problem I have had with 4227 was in .44 mag loads for my Marlin using a 165 gr. boolit. Lacking load data I used 180 gr. cast boolit data. The payload was just too light for the powder charge and I got incomplete combustion.

I don't recall any issues like that with .303 British ir .308 (bottleneck cases) but something to watch for. If you do get poor ignition/incomplete combustion using charges for 150 gr. boolits as a basis, as mentioned above, look at the 120 gr. loads and split the difference to increase charge using starting loads.

Longbow