Gunsite Ruger Scout .308

[torquewrench]

I am shooting my first .308. I bought a Gunsite Ruger Scout. It has a 16.5 inch barrel.

I do all my own loading.

Looking for suggestions on Powder and bullets for optimal performance out of the shorter barrel.

I picked up some 150 gr fmj for range.

Recreational Purposes: Target shooting, White Tail hunting.

 

[mehavey]

Cartridge : .308 Win.
Bullet : .308, 150, Sierra FMJ BT 2115
Cartridge O.A.L: 2.800 inch
Barrel Length : 16.5 inch
Matching Maximum Pressure: 54,000 psi
Case Fill: ≥ 90% ≤ 105% (full case/little compression)
Burn: ≥ 95%
Limited to commonly-available powders:

Type	       WT(gr) fill(%)  vel(fps) Pmax(psi) Burn(%)
IMR 3031	43.9	101	2,654	54,000	100
Winchester 748	46.5	93	2,641	54,000	98
IMR 4895	46.5	100	2,637	54,000	95
Hodgdon BL-C2	48.5	96	2,634	54,000	97
Accurate 2495	44.4	101	2,626	54,000	100
Accurate 2520	47.0	98	2,623	54,000	98
Hodgdon H4895	45.0	97	2,614	54,000	96
Ramshot TAC	45.6	92	2,603	54,000	97
Hodgdon H322	42.1	94	2,602	54,000	99
Vihtavuori N540	47.1	101	2,600	54,000	99
Vihtavuori N530	43.6	94	2,595	54,000	97
Vihtavuori N140	45.6	100	2,583	54,000	99
Accurate 2460	45.6	92	2,582	54,000	98
Alliant RL-12	44.1	93	2,573	54,000	99
Accurate 2230	44.7	90	2,572	54,000	98
Alliant RL-10x	39.7	91	2,571	54,000	100
Hodg Benchmark	43.0	94	2,550	54,000	97
Vihtavuori N133	42.1	99	2,539	54,000	100
Vihtavuori N130	40.5	94	2,527	54,000	100

ACHTUNG -- NOTICE -- ATTENTION
Take These as Suggested Powder Options Only.
Refer to loading manuals for starting loads.

 

[torquewrench]

Mahavey - WOW. Thanks for the data.

 

[mehavey]

De nada señor.

That's one thing QuickLoad really shines at.

 

[Unclenick]

Watch out for the big differences in case capacity in the .308. I can amount to almost 2 grains powder charge difference in the extreme. Winchester has the most capacity and some foreign military has the least. The other commercial brands are in between. Start low and work up, watching for pressure signs.

 

[GeauxTide]

For deer, a 150 Hornady, CoreLokt, or Sierra over 46.5gr of Varget in Rem cases with Std primers.

 

[PawPaw]

That's interesting re: the Quickload data. My go-to powders for the .308 Win are Reloder 15, H-Varget, and IMR 4895, yet Quickload only lists 4895 among my favorites.

However I do see Reloder 12 which I've never considered for the .308. I guess they're using faster powders to compensate for that short barrel. Very interesting.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I own a Scout built on a Sako action w/ a 20" barrel.

Go with a faster powder for that short barrel, otherwise the muzzleflash will eat you up.

I am using IMR4198 w/ 110gr. V-Max for coyotes.