I am wanting to spend some time shooting a 308 for practice on steel. I have had 4 shoulder surgeries, so recoil is a slight concern. I am wanting to shoot the 168 grain ELD-X projectiles over CFE 223, Varget, or 4064. What charge weight would you recommend? Should I stick with a “spicer” load or a reduced load?
The range that I shoot at only goes out to 600 yards and I try to go at least once or twice a week.
What length barrel?
20”, sorry I thought I put that in. Also the “spicy load” is right at 2700 fps and the “mild load” would be about 2400 fps.
I’ve had really good results with 175gr projectiles and Varget; you’ll probably need to load them pretty close to the max to get full burn with 168’s and a 20" barrel though so I’d try the ones with a faster burn rate to see if they work for you first.
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Can you pick a really light bullet? Bullet weight will impact the recoil more than velocity within normal ranges.
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What weight would you recommend?
Maybe a 125gr Sierra Matchking?
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How does bullet weight affect recoil?
I think it would be that you can download a light bullet and still get decent velocity, but with a smaller powder charge.
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Patrick, I shoot and have reloaded 308 win for going on 20+ years.
I can tell you with absolute confidence that if you load the Speer TNT 125s using 48-49 grains of Varget, 47 - 48 grains of IMR 4064, 46-47 grains of IMR 3031, in Winchester brass, Hornady also, as the weights are very similar; those loads will produce very solid groups to 600 yards, with very light recoil. Wind is tougher on the load of course, but 200-400 is very doable, only adds a few inches drift. That little bullet, being a flat base is easy to tune, and they shoot extremely well. They are also still one of the best buys out there at 500 for $100 - 120.00. I have shot them in 1:14, 1:13, 1:11, 1:10 twists with great results. A lot of folks just dont shoot the 125 in 308, but it is a great varmint, practice, and using the 125 ballistic tips a solid hunting round for whitetail and down in size. One last thought, my experience has been that Ramshot TAC works very well with the lighter bullets in 308 vs the standard 168s and up. I use 49 grains in a Federal case with 125 Speers, Hornaday SST, or the Nosler B-Tips. Ramshot TAC costs a lot less than the other powders you listed above in todays market. Good luck.
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