Loads for .308 Winchester Rifle:
(Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various
Powders.)
Bullet is .308″ diameter. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet,
seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS
charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these
charges and work up.
100 grain Plinker (Cup Jacket with lead nose)
| IMR 4895 | 45.0 gr. | 2,770 FPS |
| IMR 3031 | 44.0 gr. | 3,080 |
| Reloader 11 | 43.0 gr. | 2,900 |
110 grain JSP or JHP (Sierra Jacketed Spire Point)
| IMR 4895 | 49.0*gr. | 3,130 FPS |
| H4895 | 49.0*gr. | 3,239 |
| IMR 3031 | 45.0 gr. | 2,990 |
| Reloader 7 | 42.5 gr. | 3,130 |
| Reloader 12 | 50.5 gr. | 3,200 |
| H380 | 53.0 gr. | 3,145 |
| A2230 | 47.5 gr. | 3,171 |
| A2460 | 48.5 gr. | 3,193 |
| 748 | 53.2 gr. | 3,300 |
* compressed load
125 grain JSP (Sierra Spitzer Point)
| IMR 4895 | 49.0 gr. | 2,925 FPS |
| H4895 | 47.0 gr. | 3,075 |
| Reloader 7 | 40.0 gr. | 2,920 |
| Reloader 12 | 49.0 gr. | 3,040 |
| H380 | 52.0 gr. | 2,986 |
| A2230 | 47.0 gr. | 3,017 |
| A2460 | 47.0 gr. | 3,014 |
| 748 | 52.0 gr. | 3,175 |
150 grain JSP (Spitzer or Spire Point)
| IMR 4895 | 44.5 gr. | 2,780 FPS | |
| H4895 | 44.0 gr. | 2,830 | |
| IMR 3031 | 45.0*gr. | 2,830 | |
| 2400 | 25.0 gr . | 2,215 | |
| Reloader 7 | 37.0 gr. | 2,750 | |
| Reloader 15 | 46.3 gr. | 2,880 | |
| H380 | 51.0 gr. | 2,876 | |
| A2230 | 43.5 gr . | 2,712 | |
| A2460 | 45.0 gr. | 2,765 | |
| 748 | 48.5 gr. | 2,865 | |
| Trail Boss | 9.5 gr. | 1,095 | (mild plinking load)(will not cycle autoloader) |
| Trail Boss | 12.2 gr. | 1,322 | (max – still a plinking load) |
* compressed load
165 grain JSP (Spitzer or Spire Point)
| IMR 4895 | 41.0 gr. | 2,421 FPS |
| H4895 | 40.0 gr. | 2,525 |
| IMR 3031 | 37.0 gr. | 2,457 |
| Reloader 12 | 44.0 gr. | 2,650 |
| Reloader 15 | 45.5 gr. | 2,780 |
| H380 | 48.0 gr. | 2,634 |
| A2230 | 42.0 gr. | 2,610 |
| A2460 | 42.5 gr. | 2,601 |
180 grain JSP (Spitzer or Spire Point) or JRN
| IMR 4895 | 41.0 gr. | 2,346 FPS |
| H4895 | 40.0 gr. | 2,540 |
| IMR 3031 | 38.0 gr. | 2,411 |
| 2400 | 28.2 gr. | 2,210 |
| Reloader | 44.0 gr. | 152,645 |
| H380 | 47.0 gr. | 2,624 |
| A2230 | 40.0 gr. | 2,439 |
| A2460 | 41.5 gr. | 2,474 |
| 748 | 46.5 gr. | 2,610 |
200 grain JSP (Spitzer or Spire Point) or JRN
| IMR 4895 | 38.0 gr. | 2,249 FPS |
| IMR 3031 | 34.0 gr. | 2,158 |
| 748 | 43.0 gr. | 2,435 |
220 grain JSP (Spitzer or Spire Point) or JRN
| H4350* | 46.0 gr.. | 2,369 |
* use magnum primers
Discussion: IMR 3031 is a faster burning powder than IMR 4895, so you use less
of it for similar volocities. I have listed powders of Hodgdon, Alliant and
Accurate also. Use which ever you have handy. Slow burning powders generally
work better in longer barrels and heavier bullets. 308 Cases will stretch,
especially with hot loads, and you definitely need to check each in a case
length guage and trim off excess brass. Of course, discard any cases that show
a split anywhere on the case. For hunting at long distances with an
unobstructed view, you should choose the spire point with a soft lead tip. For
hunting at shorter ranges in brush, as is common in the woods of Alabama, you
should choose a round nose bullet. They are less easily deflected and/or
deformed by brush that you may be shooting through. The flat nose bullet is
used especially in tubular fed magazines to prevent pressure on the primer in
the cartridge above it.
There are a number of other high performance bullets on the market. The
“boattail” is a very good long range target match bullet. It has very good
wind performance. If you are shooting for precision, you should weight each
powder charge and put exactly the same amount in each case. Each case should
be exactly on specs and the bullet should not be crimped into the case. (These
bullets don’t normally have a crimp ring anyhow.) (The Hunting bullets below
DO have a crimp ring.)
Actually ALL 30 cal. bullets are .308 in diameter. *
* #2400, Reloader 7, 11, 12, and 15 are products of Alliant (formerly
Hercules) Powders. H380, H450, H4350 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon
Powders. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder
Company. A#2230, and A#2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company WMR, WSF,
WSL, 760, 748, 680, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.
References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet – – Alliant Powder Co.
Reloaders’ Guide (1995) – – Hodgdon’s Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) – – Speer
Reloading Manual, #12 – – Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition
– – Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. – – VihtaVuori Oy
Company, reloading booklet (1995) – – Numerous magazine articles on reloading
special calibers and personal loads where noted.
