308 150sst 45gr 2208

Hey guys, firstly thanks for all the info in previous posts! I’ve got a tikka t3 20” with gunworks suppressor.

I’ve loaded the above up in hornady brass, shot pretty well MOA @ 100yards.

Anyone have any idea of my FPS With this load Im guessing 2650fps from other posts I’ve read, I see I can push it up to 47grains, maybe in .5 increments, what do I need to look out for to see if it’s too hot?

Also any advice on keeping the barrel down when firing my bloody tikka jump like nothing else I’ve shot, I wrapping the sling around my arm and holding fore end and it helps!

Thanks
Scott

its working...LEAVE THE LOAD ALONE....is my advice....as to the other issue...you are on right track,will post link to an article by Nathan Foster...yip he has pinched bits from all over to create it BUT it works for me and many others....

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Kno...at+Forend.html

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Originally Posted by duckndeer

Hey guys, firstly thanks for all the info in previous posts! I’ve got a tikka t3 20” with gunworks suppressor.

I’ve loaded the above up in hornady brass, shot pretty well MOA @ 100yards.

Anyone have any idea of my FPS With this load Im guessing 2650fps from other posts I’ve read, I see I can push it up to 47grains, maybe in .5 increments, what do I need to look out for to see if it’s too hot?

Also any advice on keeping the barrel down when firing my bloody tikka jump like nothing else I’ve shot, I wrapping the sling around my arm and holding fore end and it helps!

Thanks
Scott

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Are you resting the forend on a hard surface as well as holding it? I was told a rifle will recoil away from a hard surface.

You won’t notice it when shooting at an animal.much like recoil.

@duckndeer I can work this out for you if you like on quickload.

Thanks for the article great read, I use a Harris bipod yep it hold it firmly! I don’t notice Recoil when hunting but find it hard to get a quick follow up shot as it throws me off (Yet me 7mm08 barely kicks - I think it’s just the 308 tikka which are Simply too light in the stock for the calibre) If you could work it out that would be great thanks @Timmay!

MAYBE try it over a well packed soft daybag...or sleeping bag at the range and see what happens...always interesting to try both ways. if you bush stalk,try a box of bog std winchester 180grn power points,they shove rather than kick and preformance on game is outstanding.

Thanks @Micky Duck I did vow and declare I’d never use a bipod again a few years back but you know how it goes.... I’ll give the pack another go! Do you have a load for me for the 180grn power points?

yeah sort of...I couldnt get the projectiles as component so went with hornady round nose sp...they seem to preform just as good at the spitting range I love to hunt. 41grns of 2208 is what Im using...magnum primer cause thats what Ive got.

Thinks to look out for as you work up ( Id leave it at that I found the 150sst to be very very frangible at 2750fps)
Stiff bolt lift, pay attention to any increase in force needed to lift and open the bolt and inspect brass case heads for extrusion into bolt reccesses and "swiping" bright shiny bits where the bolt has shaved off that extruded brass on opening.

With soft brass (federal comes to mind) this will happen early ( it even happens with their factory loads often? But with a harder brass like say Lapua if you get to this stage its over max....back off a grain at least from heavy extrusion and shavings and dont go any higher! !

Thanks @vietnamcan great info, went through another 30rounds today, using the hornady brass (once fired) I’m getting the light scraping on maybe 1/4 of the rounds but very minor, bolts a bit harder to close than normal but I’m guessing that’s because the rounds only just fitting mag so is tight in the chamber, it opens the same. The rounds shoot well tho managed 4MOA @ 400yds so quite like the load.

If you mean 4 inches at 400 that’s 1 MOA. 4 MOA at 400 would 16”. MOA is an angular measurement so it gets bigger the further out you go. Very roughly 1 inch per 100 yards. Sorry if you already know all that. Anyway assuming it was 4 inches good shooting! You must be controlling recoil ok.

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Originally Posted by duckndeer

...bolts a bit harder to close than normal but I’m guessing that’s because the rounds only just fitting mag so is tight in the chamber...

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Rounds only just fitting mag and bolt being harder to close could mean your projectiles are jamming the lands.

47 grains should give you 2800 ish

@WillB thanks yep 4inches my mistake... always learning! Thanks Gkp, I’ll look up ‘the Lands’ so basically seat my rounds slightly deeper (Screw the top part of my die in a bit more) @Cigar?

Thanks for all the info everyone obviously I’m new to reloading but am learning that’s there’s a lot to learn.

Managed my drop off 2650fps using the Ballistic AE app

4" at 400 yards...FFS DONT CHANGE A PLURRY THING........and write down all the load dope on wall above your loading bench....

@duckndeer, I have always been impressed with quick load, for me it has been insanely accurate regardless of the rifle used...

Attachment 144547

@Micky Duck I’m hearing ya I’ve done a fair bit of shooting over the years but this 308 shoots these rounds well, the 300 grouping was tight! It’s almost as good as the 7mm08 I got off Bob on here! Now to try them on some Tahr come Saturday!

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Originally Posted by Timmay

@duckndeer, I have always been impressed with quick load, for me it has been insanely accurate regardless of the rifle used...

Attachment 144547

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Hmm, very handy!:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by duckndeer

@WillB thanks yep 4inches my mistake... always learning! Thanks Gkp, I’ll look up ‘the Lands’ so basically seat my rounds slightly deeper (Screw the top part of my die in a bit more) @Cigar?

Thanks for all the info everyone obviously I’m new to reloading but am learning that’s there’s a lot to learn.

Managed my drop off 2650fps using the Ballistic AE app

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You may be jamming the lands, maybe not, it's just a possibility with long rounds when you haven't measured with the likes of an OAL gauge.
Jamming the lands increases pressure (compared to not touching the lands), but if you did your load development with rounds at the same length it is not really an issue.

@Cigar thanks mate have read up on it, I’ll seat a bit deeper and see how they go no load development, this was just what I first tried when I bought my kit ‘virgin load’!

@Timmay Wow great software which I would never had known existed. A small purchase compared to the frustration of a missed stag!

It’s quite sad really When you think about the amount of missed or injured animals (especially my ones) due to poor preparation and not enough knowledge of your round...

how Ive set up my dies when starting out.....to seat bullet...use a factory round your rifle likes,place in press and unscrew the top bit of bullet seater,lower ram and let handle sit...screw top bit in untill handle quivers like a dog on hot scent...stop...
try seating projectile in a sized case with die like this and try it for size in rifle...bolt should close with no effort...IF YOU SUSPECT projectiles are touching rifling its a simple matter to proove/disproove it...grab black/blue marker pen/vivid and colour sides of projectile,APPLY SAFETY...POINT RIFLE IN SAFE DIRECTION..KEEP FINGER AWAY FROM TRIGGER...load round in chamber and close bolt...open it a little and close again...eject round and have a look to see if any vivid has been scrubbed off...if its touching rifling you will see it
as you have twigged to,screw the top bit of seating die in A LITTLE BIT more and try again.
if you go onto www.huntingnut and look at box on top leftside you will see pointblank online.click on that and follow your nose...imput what info you have/know and do best guess for rest...play with sight in distance and you will get really good idea of what projectile does in flight....its dead easy to use and free.

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Originally Posted by duckndeer

Thanks for the article great read, I use a Harris bipod yep it hold it firmly! I don’t notice Recoil when hunting but find it hard to get a quick follow up shot as it throws me off (Yet me 7mm08 barely kicks - I think it’s just the 308 tikka which are Simply too light in the stock for the calibre) If you could work it out that would be great thanks @Timmay!

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Yes Tikkas can be pretty lively in the more powerful cartridges. IMO one chambered in 308 or 270 requires a suppressor, and the magnums need a brake. Given that yours is suppressed and you’re gripping the forend firmly, muzzle jump should be moderate, unless your shooting off a hard surface?

I use some of Nathan’s advice and agree with his philosophy of a firm grip on the forend when shooting lightweight rifles; I haven’t used a bipod on my 308 for years and just shoot off a daypack. But recently I dusted off the Harris, and with a good grip on the forend proceeded to shoot some 0.5MOA groups, so had to eat a bit of humble pie after that...I may look at a Javelin or Backlanz at some stage as I do dislike lugging the Harris around

aha...so you have learnt the rules and can now bend them at will to your evil ends LOL.....

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

MAYBE try it over a well packed soft daybag...or sleeping bag at the range and see what happens...always interesting to try both ways. if you bush stalk,try a box of bog std winchester 180grn power points,they shove rather than kick and preformance on game is outstanding.

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Micky Duck does great advice, but hes in a love relationship with 180gr power points haha . My advice is now i have added a 223 to my 243 and 308 bush rifles i have found a 55gr round
does the job fine . A 100gr 243 is finer lol but a std 150gr in 308 is all you need. Esp if recoil a factor no need to go 180gr, we dont have elephants in the bush here to worry about lol

now I KNOW you havent tried them....keep telling you,they push rather than boot LOL.

Pretty much Micky. I found that a bipod and crossed arm hold was great if no recoil was involved e.g. rimfires or a 223. But that concept turned to shit pretty quickly with a light unsuppressed 308, hence the change to a daypack and control of the forend. Now I seem to have switched to a hybrid technique with the bipod and forend hold, but the weight and bulk of a Harris is the downside. If only these next generation bipods were cheaper!

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Originally Posted by deer243

Micky Duck does great advice, but hes in a love relationship with 180gr power points haha . My advice is now i have added a 223 to my 243 and 308 bush rifles i have found a 55gr round
does the job fine . A 100gr 243 is finer lol but a std 150gr in 308 is all you need. Esp if recoil a factor no need to go 180gr, we dont have elephants in the bush here to worry about lol

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Yes 150s are very effective. But those chasing the extended ranges require a higher BC, which is where slippery 168s or 178s come in. Never used 180 power points but that would be an awesome bush round, they have their place

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

now I KNOW you havent tried them....keep telling you,they push rather than boot LOL.

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Ok, no i havnt and im sure they work well lol . Maybe you talk me into it one day lol. One thing that helps recoil is dont cut ye barrel lol.
My 308 is 24 inch, i dont mine it at all in the bush, i dont even have a recoil pad at all on it, just hard plastic. Im using 165gr sst and hardy feel a thing, due to the extra length i assume hence no need for a recoil pad or limpsaver . Yes, im using 165 gr lol but the rifle was for longer range but still end up using it bush ranges.
Found the 165gr sst not great for bush range but still works but if i was using it solely for bush work i certainly go to a 150gr sp instead, they work awesome .

Just for what it's worth and this comes down to a correctly fitting rifle which we all know the positives of.

But I can shoot my 308 running 168s like I can a 22. I'm old fashioned and do the old pack under the forend and you're weak hand firmly holding just behind where the pack and stock meet.

Also try fitting a limb saver recoil pad. I found the difference between that and the old pachmyer was chalk and cheese plus I got a increase I'm LOP for my gangly arms