Quickload shows this load at 108%, mildly compressed. However, it also shows this load to be 1,000 psi over maximum. Be very careful.

 

Tony65x55 thanks for the quick response! I might break out the bullet puller and try a different powder. Does anyone know of a good charge of h380 for the 308 load?

 

My Speer #12 shows 49gr of H380 as a compressed load and also they used CCI250 Magnum primers. I would have to add that it appears to be a poor choice of powder for the 308W and 150gr bullet, unless you are intentionally wanting a "slow" load. That load is 340fps slower than the fastest vel given. (In the Speer #12 manual)

Wow, I just reviewed some Hodgdon data for the 308W with the 150gr Nos BT, and it is way different than the Speer data with the Speer 150gr, BUT H380 is not listed in the Hodgdon data. Varget delivered the highest velocity, closely followed by IMR4320 & IMR4895, in that order.

Hope this helps somehow.

Jeff
NRA Life

 

Different brands of brass have different internal capacities. 308 military brass is thickest, so it will have the lowest case capacity.
Loading manuals always suggest reducing loads and working up to allow for variables such as case capacity, etc.
Without knowing primer, case, powder, bullet, and o.a.l. any comparison of 'loads' is meaningless!
M.

 

Thanks Sweetwater...I believe I will choose a different powder. I just have a old one pound bottle of h380. The container its in is a kaki and black in color cardboard with metal top and bottom. The price tag from where it came from says it costs a whole $2.75! The powder was kept in the dry and I have loaded some 30-06's for a friend and had good results at 72yds.


Different brands of brass have different internal capacities. 308 military brass is thickest, so it will have the lowest case capacity.
Loading manuals always suggest reducing loads and working up to allow for variables such as case capacity, etc.
Without knowing primer, case, powder, bullet, and o.a.l. any comparison of 'loads' is meaningless!
M.

I'm using new winchester brass and WLR primers and the OAL's I loaded was 2.735 and 2.820 I'm getting my info from the lyman 49th edition book.

 

Tony65x55 thanks for the quick response! I might break out the bullet puller and try a different powder. Does anyone know of a good charge of h380 for the 308 load?

Start at 44 grains and work up 1/2 grain at a time to 47 gr. That will give you 2,740 fps. Honestly though, Sweetwater is right. There are better powders. Two that spring to mind as good performers in the .308 with 150 gr bullets are IMR-3031 and Winchester 748. There are several other excellent powders for your load. Consult a reloading manual to choose the best ones.

 

Consult a reloading manual to choose the best ones.

This is what I have done. I have the lyman 49th edition and it has h380 as the best powder for this bullet weight....
powder sugg start vel. fps press. max load vel. fps press.
h-380 48.0 2607 38,700 52.0+ 2787 45,200p

This is right out of the book. I'm still going to take the advise and use a different powder and pull these bullets.

 

IIRC H380 went through some growing pains. There was quite a swing in burning rates from one batch to the next. The price you paid and the style of the container makes it a very early batch. I was paying $3/lb for IMR powders in the late 60's. The Hodgdon boys designed H380 for their varmint rifle and hit 3800fps with it. Hence the name. Someone will likely have the full story and correct as prudent. Believe it was a 22-250 or some other fast-stepping 22 centerfire. I remember being cautioned (similar to the recent cautions on using Alliant's Blue Dot) to be very mindful of the pressures. I had one pound of it. I didn't have any problems with i;, I just wasn't comfortable using it. I feel the same way about Blue Dot, and I actually really liked it.

Going through the manuals, there is a significant difference in recommended powders and powder charges with various 150gr bullets. It sounds like your purpose is simply to "use it up". If it's always stayed dry and smells ok, you shouldn't have any real issues, but I would stay out of the "max" loads just on general circumstance. Stay safe and have fun.

Jeff
NRA Life

 

13.5 years of bench rest taught me about the .308 and 150gn bullets.


Use IMR4064 and standard large rifle primes, when worked up in a good bedded bolt action expect one hole 200yd groups.

 

13.5 years of bench rest taught me about the .308 and 150gn bullets.

Use IMR4064 and standard large rifle primes, when worked up in a good bedded bolt action expect one hole 200yd groups.

I also use a lot of IMR4064 in the 308W with both 150's and 180's. It just works.

Swany, I would have expected you to say W748 or BallC2, also good powders as is Varget.

Jeff
NRA Life

 

Burned a lot of both of them ball powders in the .308 and a couple of .300 Savage bolt guns, just IMR4064 was more accurate with the 150s. We were using Sierra 150gn spitzer flat base hunting bullets in 200 yd competition and doing well, lot of others were spending high dollar on match bullets and doing no better.

 

I load a 150 Hornady SPBT Interlock with 47gr of Re15.They chrono 2810fps and are a full grain
under the max load in the Speer manual.I love this powder and it works well in 30-30 also.

 

Burned a lot of both of them ball powders in the .308 and a couple of .300 Savage bolt guns, just IMR4064 was more accurate with the 150s. We were using Sierra 150gn spitzer flat base hunting bullets in 200 yd competition and doing well, lot of others were spending high dollar on match bullets and doing no better.

48.4 grains of IMR 4064 in an '06 with the Sierra HPBT was an absolute tackdriver.

 

Where's a good place to start with 4046. Meaning OAL, beginnig grns, max grns. with 150 grn. bullet

 

I use Varget and IMR 8208 with excellent results with 150-165 gr loads in my 308 Ruger Hawkeye RSI. This guy fell to a 150 gr Accubond at 2.82" in Hdy. match brass with CCI 200 primer and 2.96g (45.7gr) Varget. This runs about 2600 fps from my 18" barrel and shoots about an inch at 100 yds. The IMR 8208 is a little denser, measures even better than Varget, and will be in my next bulk order after trying a pound with great results in 30-30 and 45-70 too.

 

Where's a good place to start with 4046. Meaning OAL, beginnig grns, max grns. with 150 grn. bullet

Does your Lyman 49th list the 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tip? If not, I would check the Nosler website. They have load data available online. Years ago, like 50 years ago, there was not so much variation in bullet shapes. You could take data for 150gr bullets and use it for about any 150gr bullet, with maybe some minor adjustment for round nose vs pointed. Today, you have to be much more careful. There is so much variation in bearing surface from one bullet to another that pressures can go all over the place. Still, if you start at the starting load in the Nosler data, (which may be a max load for a different bullet), and work up 1/2 grain at a time, you will find your sweet spot. It will likely be short of a max load in your rifle, as "most" rifles shoot best accuracy lower than max pressure/velocity. IF you have a Chrony, it is a useful tool as it can help you tell what your powder is doing, but don't anguish over it if you do not have one. Read your targets and listen to your rifle. Have fun. Stay safe. Customize OAL to fit your rifle for proper function.

Jeff
NRA Life

 

The book uses a hornady soft point for standard rifles and uses a speer soft point under t/c contender data (my ruger compact has a 16.25 inch barrel and sometimes I use this data as they list use of a 15 inch barrel for the contender's). I do have a chrony and use it quite often +1 on it being a very useful tool. I have looked at nosler's web site and found that they list 3 different powders. I'm going to the local fun shop next week to look at a nosler's reloading handbook and get some ideas. Alot of the customer's at this shop use nosler and hornady bullets so I can get some ideas from them too. I appreciate all the help guy's!

 

Based on the Nosler data, I'd use IMR4320 as I have it on hand and it proposes to be accurate at the top end of the data*

Merry Christmas
Jeff
NRA Life

From the Nosler Website:
dia Wgt profile B.C. S.D. Bullet Length
.308"150Gr. Spitzer 0.435 0.226 OAL 1.2803015030
.308"155Gr. Hollow Point 0.450 0.233 OAL 1.1755315530
.308"150Gr. Spitzer 0.435 0.226 OAL 1.2805115030
.308"150Gr. Spitzer 0.435 0.226 OAL 1.2305671930
.308"150Gr. Spitze r0.387 0.226 OAL 1.10016329
Case Type:Cart. Max. AOLrimer Type:Barrel Length/Make:Barrel Twist:
Nosler 2.810" Fed 210M 24" Lilja1-10"

Powder Typeowder Charge Muzzle Velocity:
Grains F.P.S. / M.P.S. Load Density
IMR4831 Max. 52.0 2750/ 838 112%
50.0 2660/ 810 107%
48.0* 2570/ 783 103%

IMR4895 Max. 44.5 2802/ 854 99%
42.5 2673/ 814 94%
40.5* 2544/ 775 90%

IMR4320 Max. 47.0* 2842/ 866 102%
45.0 2727/ 831 98%
43.0 2612 / 796 93%

Viht N135 Max. 45.0* 2863 / 872 106%
43.0 2740/ 835 101%
41.1 2617/ 797 96%
Nosler, Inc.
107 SW Columbia St. Bend, OR
97702 U.S.A.
800-285-3701

 

I was wondering if anybody else uses this powder. I'm loading 150grn. nosler ballistic tip's and 48grns. of powder and right off noticed that the powder fills into the neck. I know that at 52grns is a compressed load but this seem to be pretty full. I only loaded 3 to an OAL 2.735 and also loaded 3 to an OAL of 2.820 both with 48 grns of powder. I was wondering if this is normal for h380?
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