Long Ranger 308 handloading

[wingnut]

My load:

Bullet: 150g Nosler E-Tip - I chose the .308 150 grain Nosler E-Tip for its high (for weight) BC, its speed out of a 20 inch barrel (high compared to a heavier cup & core bullets) and its good penetration ability (very high for weight).

Primer: CCI 200 LRP

Powder: BL-C2 - 43.5 grains (Hodgdon recommended) Less powder due to shorter than usual COAL.

Case length: 2.015” (Spec) max

COAL: 2.750” (Nosler recommended for the above bullet)

The chamber on my rifle is very tight, near or tighter than match spec. Therefore:

1. Case length is critical for chambering. Anything longer than spec would not chamber.
2. A small base sizing die is required or the round would not chamber.
3. Any hint of a crimp causing a slight bump in neck diameter would not chamber. The Redding seater die is too short for this COAL and causes a very slight crimp bump. RCBS dies are recommended.

Using a 4x scope, the load produces a MV of ~2725 FPS and a 4 shot 1.2” inch group at 100 yards.

I’m satisfied.

[Mistered]

4 shot 1.2” inch group at 100 yards.

Doesn't get much better than this!

[JEBar]

OUTSTANDING .... Nolser's 150 gr E-tip is an outstanding copper hunting round .... the only real difference in our E-tip 308 load is we use 47 gr of IMR 4320 .... as a side note, we've found that substituting Nosler's 150 gr Ballistic Tip with exactly the other components gives us a much cheaper, very good practice round that groups very close to the E-tip