308 winchester

Cartridges:

308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO centerfire rifle cartridges are also known as their metric nomenclature 7.62x51mm. Both of which are .30″ caliber, rimless, bottleneck centerfire rifle cartridge case designs that are reloadable with various combinations of primer, powder and .308″ diameter bullets. 7.62 NATO cartridges are normally loaded to slightly lower chamber pressure levels for semi-auto and full-auto rifle usage.

7.62 NATO Maximum Average Pressure – 60,200 PSI.

308 Winchester Maximum Average Pressure – 62,000 PSI.

Reloading Safety:

7.62 NATO cartridge casings are usually thicker in the web area, thereby reducing cartridge case volume. Only use published reloading data where this is taken into consideration when reloading 7.62 NATO cartridge cases. Otherwise you will experience much higher chamber pressures and possibly exceed your rifles limitation.

308 Winchester Reloading Specifications:

308 Winchester Cartridge: Bullet Diameter – .308″. Primer Diameter – .210″. Primer Type – Large Rifle. Case Neck Diameter – .343″. Case Shoulder Diameter – .454″. Case Base Diameter – .471″. Case Rim Diameter – .473″. Min. Case Length – 2.005″ / Trimmed. Max. Case Length – 2.015″ / Stretched. Min. Cartridge Loaded Length – 2.490″. Max. Cartridge Loaded Length – 2.810″. Max. Average Pressure – 62,000 PSI.

308 Winchester Reloading Data:

Handloaders have ample choices for loading their favorite bullet weights for many different tasks. From zombie slayers to woodchuck busters, lightweight bullets of 110 grain to 125 grain do quite well and probably better than most people know.

308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Barnes Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ TTSX 110 .166 .295 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.700″. Winchester Primer Type = WLR. Accurate 2200 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 43.8 3,168 48.7 3,448 61,753 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 3,448 2,904 – 1.5 100 yds. 3,096 2,342 + 1.1 200 yds. 2,773 1,878 0 300 yds. 2,471 1,492 – 5.6 400 yds. 2,189 1,171 – 16.9 500 yds. 1,926 906 – 35.6 308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Nosler Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ B-Tip 125 .188 .366 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.750″. Winchester Primer Type = WLR. Accurate 2460 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 45.3 3,042 50.4 3,302 61,301 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 3,302 3,026 – 1.5 100 yds. 3,026 2,541 + 1.2 200 yds. 2,767 2,125 0 300 yds. 2,523 1,767 – 5.7 400 yds. 2,292 1,458 – 16.9 500 yds. 2,072 1,192 – 34.7

For the deer, elk, or moose hunter hand-loading or reloading his or her own 308 Winchester ammunition, 150 grain bullets will work fine. For larger animals 165 grain bullets will deliver good energy and deep penetration further down-range.

308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Hornady Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ SST 150 .226 .415 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.735″. Winchester Primer Type = WLR. Accurate 2520 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 44.5 2,770 49.4 3,006 61,771 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 3,006 3,009 – 1.5 100 yds. 2,778 2,570 + 1.5 200 yds. 2,561 2,185 0 300 yds. 2,355 1,847 – 6.8 400 yds. 2,158 1,550 – 19.9 500 yds. 1,970 1,293 – 40.6 308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Sierra Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ G-K 165 .248 .404 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.810″. Winchester Primer Type = WLR. Accurate 2520 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 42.9 2,636 47.7 2,861 61,834 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 2,861 2,999 – 1.5 100 yds. 2,634 2,542 + 1.8 200 yds. 2,419 2,143 0 300 yds. 2,213 1,795 – 7.7 400 yds. 2,018 1,492 – 22.6 500 yds. 1,834 1,232 – 46.0

Handloaders of 308 Winchester cartridges have a couple good choices for loading heavier bullets that penetrate quite deep when used on large animals, 180 grain bullets can normally be driven fast enough to make it worth loading them for stopping power.

308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Speer Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ SP 180 .271 .441 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.800″. Federal Primer Type = 210M. IMR 4064 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 40.7 2,445 45.2 2,683 58,200 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 2,683 2,877 – 1.5 100 yds. 2,483 2,464 + 2.1 200 yds. 2,291 2,099 0 300 yds. 2,109 1,777 – 8.7 400 yds. 1,934 1,495 – 25.3 500 yds. 1,770 1,251 – 51.2 308 Winchester Load Data: Winchester Cartridge Case Case Trimmed Length = 2.005″. Hornady Bullet Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C. .308″ SST 180 .271 .480 Cartridge Overall Length = 2.740″. Winchester Primer Type = WLR. Accurate 2520 Powder Powder Start Load Grains Start Load Velocity Fps. Powder Maximum Load Grains Maximum Load Velocity Fps. Maximum Load Pressure P.S.I. 40.9 2,486 45.5 2,711 61,483 Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″. Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 12″. Bullet @ Velocity / FPS. Energy / FT.LBS. Trajectory / IN. Muzzle 2,711 2,937 – 1.5 100 yds. 2,526 2,549 + 2.0 200 yds. 2,348 2,203 0 300 yds. 2,177 1,894 – 8.3 400 yds. 2,014 1,621 – 24.0 500 yds. 1,858 1,379 – 48.2