[jayd4wg]

i just bought a box of these - not impressed with the terminal end of the Hornady Interlock 150's. guy at the shop was telling me to roll with Berger VLD's or go home...i said what about the Hornady A-Max...his response was "that's a match bullet, you can't hunt with it..." so i showed him in the new hornady manual that the Amax is now officially labelled as a small to medium sized game bullet up to and including whitetailed and mule deer.

so anyway...i wasn't gonna drop the kaching for the Amax's or the TTSX's they were 35 for 50 bullets...the SGK's were 30 for 100...i want the extra seat time...

Anyone got a good load for these? I will work up to them, just want to compare my final load with other guys loads.

 

[trailrider121]

for 165's use Varget and start laods from 44.5-46grs . You will find your load somewhere between 45.5 to 46.0grs. This will be a compressed load. Please make sure you work up.

 

[jimone]

+1 on Varget, my Ruger also likes IMR8208XBR, which also runs threw the powder measure better.
Sierra SBTs shoot really good in 257 Roberts, 30-06, and 308 for me, and have been consistent for the last 30 years for me.

 

[dhbwa]

Rel15 is the JAM with a 165 in the 308'. Max load or one over max in NOSLER.

 

[dmsbandit]

REL-15 was the only powder I could get to shoot those bullets well.

If I may make a suggestion, think outside the box if you're looking for a good load for your 308. If you don't normally shoot deer or bears past 150yds, try some 170gr Speer or Hornady FP bullets. Althought they are designed for the 30-30, the ballistics are better than you'd think, they hold together well at 308 velocities, and the HAMMER critters. ;D

 

[jayd4wg]

thanks for the input guys. i have both varget and RL15 in stock. I'll start with the RL15 though cus i have more of it and can afford the testing there. In my experience so far, both powders work equally well under the Hornady 150gr SP's and my gun REALLY likes them. i just don't like the terminal end. We think we found the carcass of the doe I shot on the last day of the season at 50-60 yards with the hornady interlock 150 on top of 45gr varget - this load produces half inch groups but that deer walked away, hair all over the place and no blood.

Hoping the SGK SBT's work better. I really wanted the HPBT's but there was none on the shelf. I have also found that my rifle does NOT like the 180 gr loads - at least not factory loads - my groups were 3"+ and very inconsistent with Remmy and Winchester. Here's to hoping it will group the 165's. if not, i'm gonna go to the 150gr SGK HPBT's next and get another can of Varget.
Good news is, primers are EVERYWHERE now LOL
hope it warms up a little, i want to hit the range.

 

[jayd4wg]

DMS, one other thought too - this fall i'm planning on a western SD hunt for deer and antelope. shots could be out past 500 if conditions are right (or wrong)

I'm comfy out there...and my current load holds up accuracy at this range but i'm hoping for more downrange THUMP with the 165's

 

[padodge]

I use this bullet out of my Winchester 308 with 45 grains of Varget and get 1" 5 shot groups with it. I also use the same bullet in my 30-06. Although I've only been able to get only one deer with the 308 it was bang, flop, drt at a range of 50 yards. With the 30-06 the furthest I've shot that bullet was about 250 yards had to track that deer about 50 yards or so as I shot it a little low but the deer left a very good blood trail and in the snow it was no problem finding it. I don't get a lot of blood shot meat either.

 

[dmsbandit]

DMS, one other thought too - this fall i'm planning on a western SD hunt for deer and antelope. shots could be out past 500 if conditions are right (or wrong)

I'm comfy out there...and my current load holds up accuracy at this range but i'm hoping for more downrange THUMP with the 165's

If your 150 Hornady Sp shoot well, try the 150 SST. They should work well on any deer out at long ranges and they tend to expand and not shoot 30cal holes thru the deer.