308 win 135smk

Im helping my mate learn to reload
He has arthritis and his 308 hurts
Even though its a big heavy target rifle with a 28 inch heavy barrel
So we decided to load the 135gn smk in the hopes of reducing recoil abit

Useing ar 2208 powder
Cci BR2 primers
Pmc brass (he had from once fired factory ammo)

I was using data from my nick Harvey book which states min 48gn/max 50gn
For a 125-130 obviously our bullet is 5gn heavyer

I was very confused about the case capacity as the min charge was a very full case
Like starting to compress no way we were getting anywhere close to stated max of 50gn in the case without a large amount of compression
A look on adi website to confirm showed there min to be 47gn
(130gn) and still a max of 50gnC

So we loaded from 47gn to 48.5 in .5 Increments 5 of each the 135 should be slightly less powder being 5gn heavyer
So 47 should be ok as a starting point?

Just thought id ask on here as never seen a case that full before with a min charge sure with a max compressed load

Use this data as a guide only. It MAY NOT BE SAFE IN YOUR RIFLE.

It's a brilliant bullet. The load below suits my rifle. Yours may be different, so work up properly.
0.3 moa groups.
R-P brass
RE15--47 grains
Fed 210 primer
COAL 2.725" NB,,,MY rifle. MV 2930

130 gr is getting to/is the lighter limit of projectiles 2208 is suitable for in the 308 case so it will be full yes.
Depending on your cases and chamber size it may be full to the top at 50- 54 gr.
Using a drop tube helps a lot to settle it lower in the case.
Sounds like the perfect excuse to fit a brake to me.

Sent from my SM-A320Y using Tapatalk

I have found PMC cases to have less inside capacity than say Winchester or Norma. Even in other calibers they tend to fill up more than most others.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I have found PMC cases to have less inside capacity than say Winchester or Norma. Even in other calibers they tend to fill up more than most others.

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Yeah was thinking that

I think we will be fine with the 47-48.5gn loads
And there should be something pretty accurate there
Hes useing cheap pmc bronze at the mo which shoots arround 1.5 at 100
If I can get him shooting under an inch ill be happy and im sure he will also

That pmc is pretty average stuff
Most of the flash holes not even central lol

I use lapua for everything so used to good quality stuff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

130 gr is getting to/is the lighter limit of projectiles 2208 is suitable for in the 308 case so it will be full yes.
Depending on your cases and chamber size it may be full to the top at 50- 54 gr.
Using a drop tube helps a lot to settle it lower in the case.
Sounds like the perfect excuse to fit a brake to me.

Sent from my SM-A320Y using Tapatalk

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Cheers for your reply mate
Yeah I have always used 2208 for 308 for all of which I’ve loaded for
But I’ve only ever loaded 150 plus
I looked in manual and thought ok 3200 ish be ok

He only needs a target load so no need to worrie about max loads any how

Ive talked to him about a break but he doesn’t want to modify the rifle
Threading etc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woody

Use this data as a guide only. It MAY NOT BE SAFE IN YOUR RIFLE.

It's a brilliant bullet. The load below suits my rifle. Yours may be different, so work up properly.
0.3 moa groups.
R-P brass
RE15--47 grains
Fed 210 primer
COAL 2.725" NB,,,MY rifle. MV 2930

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Will have a play if the 2208 doesn’t work

Reduced rifle loads with H4895 Or 2206H
Hodgdon recommend 60% of book max of H4895 as starting load. But only where H4895 is listed for that cartridge already in published data.
https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/u...ifle-loads.pdf

Hodgdon just relables Adi powders. As per this thread
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....h4831sc-39432/

Eddited:
Very bottom of the page "IS HODGDON PROPELLANT THE SAME AS ADI PROPELLANT?"
http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders/faq.asp

Or straight from the horse's mouth as 2nd and 3rd hand info for reloading is always best to be verified.

125gr speer TNT 49gr 2206h magnum primer MV 2980/2990 16.5"barreled.308. Best to use 2206h with lighter pills i have found. Used 2208 for my 165s

Good dose of 2206H is at the top of the case prior to seating 125 and 130 too, good old crunch

PMC and PPU/ Hyland have smaller volumes but they last. Ive got 308 ppu on its 9th go round, and 223 on 12

Fired all rounds
No pressure signs
Accurate well accurate enough for him
Recoil way more mannagable for him
Good results all round

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Fired all rounds
No pressure signs
Accurate well accurate enough for him
Recoil way more mannagable for him
Good results all round

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Was that with 135gr pills and 2208?

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Originally Posted by Nugget connaisseur

Was that with 135gr pills and 2208?

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Yes
135gn smk
Pmc brass
Cci br2
Ar2208
Loaded 5 loads
Of
47
47.5
48
48.5 (full case within 3mm of the top

The lee seating die fully screwed in
Run out of adjustment
Even screwed the die body in till it was touching shell holder to get the extra 20thou
Still just off the lans closer than what I would like but absolutely no more adjustments in the die
Only about 2-3mm of bullet inside the case not counting the boat tail

But they go ok
We will just run 47gn 2208 as that was probably most accurate little bit hard to tell as he pulled a few shots
Says it kicks less than his Sks now so successfully got the recoil down which was the main objective once he re gains confidence in the rifle now it doesn’t hurt his shooting should get better then we can play to try and get more out of it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Yes
135gn smk
Pmc brass
Cci br2
Ar2208
Loaded 5 loads
Of
47
47.5
48
48.5 (full case within 3mm of the top

The lee seating die fully screwed in
Run out of adjustment
Even screwed the die body in till it was touching shell holder to get the extra 20thou
Still just off the lans closer than what I would like but absolutely no more adjustments in the die
Only about 2-3mm of bullet inside the case not counting the boat tail

But they go ok
We will just run 47gn 2208 as that was probably most accurate little bit hard to tell as he pulled a few shots
Says it kicks less than his Sks now so successfully got the recoil down which was the main objective once he re gains confidence in the rifle now it doesn’t hurt his shooting should get better then we can play to try and get more out of it

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Sure you are using a 308 seating die?

Well no I haven’t physically read the side of the die but they were brand-new set from the shop so unless lee stuffed up in the factory it is @Gibo

Seems weird youve had to wind it right down or am i missing something?

@Gibo no you have it 100% right
I normally leave a slight gap between the die and shell holder but i had to touch the shell holder with the die
Plus wind the seating stem all the way in is far as it goes just to get it to chamber in the rifle
It’s still touching the lans but chambers smoothly so not ideal but it’s the best I could do to get him shooting

How far down is the die threaded into the press?

Maybe half way
Can’t screw it down any more it’s already touching the shell holder