Thread: Newbie advice

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings AWBates,
Here are my current loads for the .308 and .303 that work well for me. For the .308 I have been loading the Norma 150 grain semi pointed projectiles for hunting since the early eighties. Cases are either Norma or CAC and charged with 46 grains of Dupont IMR4064 with Federal 210 primers in my Remington 700 (560 mm barrel) these chronograph 2,800 fps. AR2208 (Varget) is close to the same speed and the Hodgdons online data shows similar velocity for Varget and IMR4064. This is a near max load so lighter charges should be tried first. Recently a Bergara single shot .308 appeared in the cupboard. I am loading a reduced load for this one with Hornady 150 grain spire points or round noses. Currently the charge is 38 grains of AR2206H with Federal 210 primers in either CAC or Winchester cases. I used this load in the 700 for some time as a target load and they chronograph 2,350 fps in that rifle. I may up the load to 40 grains of the same powder now that the rifle has a suppressor. Max would be around 45 grains of AR2206H with the 150 grain.
For the .303 I have been loading 174 grain Hornady round noses in CAC and 1942 DI cases. The charge is 32 grains of AR2206H with Federal 210 primers. These chronograph about 2,080 fps. I have deliberately kept the pressures low in the .303 so I can continuously neck size the cases which gives excellent life. I have also tried 150 grain Norma projectiles with 34 grains of the same powder for about the same speed.
Some may tell you that projectiles will bounce off deer at these velocities but Bell shot several hundred elephants using military ammo with a 215 grain full patch projectile at about 2,000 fps.
All of the above loads are accurate in my rifles.
All the best Grandpamac.

Amazing help. Thanks everybody!