Developing a .308 Hunting Load with...

There’s one thing deeply satisfying about taking the precision of handloading and bringing it full circle from cautious bench work from home to a clear, moral harvest within the area. As a comparatively new reloader, I lately determined to work up a customized looking load for my .308 Winchester rifle utilizing RCBS reloading tools, Nosler brass, Nosler 180-grain AccuBond bullets, and Varget powder, with the purpose of looking Axis deer in Texas. Right here’s a take a look at my journey from load growth and testing, to hitting the sphere with complete confidence in my gear and ammunition.

Try the primary 3 articles on this sequence if you happen to haven’t already!

Why Reload for Looking?

Manufacturing facility ammunition has served me effectively up to now, however I needed to get essentially the most out of my rifle by tailoring masses particularly for long-range accuracy and terminal efficiency. Axis deer are recognized for being robust and sometimes current pictures at various distances within the brush or from a blind. I wanted a spherical that was correct out to 200–300 yards, dependable below various climate circumstances, and had wonderful weight retention and growth.

The Nosler 180gr AccuBond stood out as the proper looking bullet: heavy sufficient for deep penetration, bonded for managed growth, and extremely correct. Mixed with Varget a powder recognized for its consistency in .308 Win and Nosler brass, I had the inspiration for a wonderful looking spherical. And to make sure consistency at each stage, I used solely RCBS reloading tools.

 

 

Reloading Setup with RCBS

Being new to reloading, I needed gear I may depend on. RCBS got here extremely really useful for its high quality and precision. My setup included:

I additionally used a sturdy RCBS reloading bench tray and loading block to maintain all the things clear and arranged.

Brass Prep and Load Planning

I began with new Nosler .308 Winchester brass. Though it was new, I ran every bit by way of the full-length sizing die to make sure constant neck rigidity and uniform dimensions. After that, I:

• Trimmed every case to 2.005″ utilizing the RCBS Trim Professional (https://www.rcbs.com/case-prep/trimmers/trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer/16-90370.html)
• Deburred and chamfered case mouths
• Cleaned and uniformed primer pockets
• Weighed circumstances to test for consistency (they have been impressively uniform)

For primers, I used Winchester Massive Rifle, seated by really feel with the RCBS priming instrument.

Working Up Hundreds: Varget and 180gr AccuBond

Utilizing information from Nosler’s load handbook and Hodgdon’s web site, I deliberate a conservative strain ladder to establish essentially the most correct cost for my rifle. I selected to check Varget powder in 0.5-grain increments from 41.0 grains as much as 44.0 grains.

Every take a look at load consisted of 5 rounds. I stored total size (COL) at 2.800 inches, which labored effectively in my rifle’s journal and stayed inside revealed seating depth tips.

I labeled every field of take a look at rounds fastidiously and logged all the info in my reloading pocket book:

• Powder cost
• Case lot
• Primer kind
• Bullet seating depth
• Ambient temperature

Accuracy Testing on the Vary

With my masses prepared, I headed out to my native 100-yard rifle vary early within the morning to keep away from wind and warmth mirage. My setup included:

• A sturdy taking pictures bench
• Rear squeeze bag and bipod
• Goal board with labeled grids for every load
• Chronograph to measure velocity and consistency

Testing course of:

• I began with fouling pictures to season the barrel.
• Shot five-round teams for every load, letting the barrel cool between teams.
• Recorded group measurement and velocity.
• Seemed for strain indicators and recorded notes for each load.

Outcomes:

• The decrease expenses (41.0–42.0 grains) have been clear however grouped round 1.25 inches.
• The 43.0-grain load confirmed promise with a 0.8-inch group and really constant velocity (~2,540 fps, SD below 12).
• At 43 grains, the magic occurred: my group measured 0.56 inches, with a velocity of two,600 fps and a regular deviation of simply 8 fps. Primers appeared excellent, and bolt elevate was clean.

This load clearly stood out as essentially the most correct and constant in my rifle. With that mixture of efficiency and stability, I had discovered my looking load.

Last Testing and Discipline Prep

To substantiate the 43-grain load’s reliability, I loaded up 20 extra rounds and examined them once more per week later below completely different climate circumstances (hotter, with a slight crosswind). The group sizes stayed tight effectively below 1 MOA and velocities remained secure.

At that time, I cleaned my rifle, loaded a contemporary batch of 20 looking rounds, and saved them in a weatherproof ammo case. I additionally did some sensible area taking pictures inclined and off taking pictures sticks to simulate potential looking circumstances. The bullet’s level of impression remained constant, even in less-than-ideal taking pictures positions.

Axis Hunt in Texas: Placing the Load to the Take a look at

With my gear packed, I headed all the way down to the Texas Hill Nation for an Axis deer hunt I’d been trying ahead to for months. Axis deer are sharp-eyed and quick. You don’t all the time get a second probability, so I needed to be fully assured in my rifle and ammo.

On the second morning of the hunt, after an extended, quiet wait in a floor blind, I noticed a mature Axis buck stepping out from cowl at 175 yards. I steadied my rifle, confirmed my dope, and took a deep breath. The 180gr AccuBond hit proper behind the shoulder simply as I’d practiced and the buck dropped inside 40 yards.

Clear, moral, and proper the place I aimed. That was the total circle second I’d hoped for.

Last Ideas

Handloading with RCBS tools, Nosler elements, and Varget powder gave me extra than simply higher efficiency it gave me the boldness to make a decisive, humane shot when it counted most. The method of working up masses, testing them fastidiously, and refining for accuracy taught me a ton about each my rifle and me as a shooter.

If you happen to’re contemplating handloading your individual looking ammunition, my recommendation is easy: take your time, put money into high quality gear like RCBS, and doc all the things. When that excellent load lastly comes collectively and proves itself within the area, you’ll understand it was value each minute on the bench.

Andy Husek

Andy has been a lifelong Outdoorsman and has hunted and fished everywhere in the world however his residence state of Michigan is close to and expensive to his coronary heart. He grew up fishing the Nice Lakes and principally hunted waterfowl and small sport till his teenage years when he rapidly grew to become an avid large sport hunter. He has hunted North America from the northernmost components of Alaska to the southernmost components of Florida and all over the place in between. When he isn’t looking or fishing he’s teaching journey softball and watching his two daughters play the sports activities they love.