I recently purchased a Winchester model 70 pre 64 rifle and I am ready to custom load ammo for this rifle.  I reload for my other rifles  but never 308 caliber. I have researched 168 gr bullets a optimum for this round from what I have found, but need advise on powder or powder and bullet. Thanks

What's your twist rate ? Barrel length ?


btw: mine's an "02".

I'd recommend IMR 4895, IMR 4064 and/or Varget powder with Sierra #2200 168-gr HPBT matchking bullets.

20 in. barrel. And from my research its most likely 1/12 but slight posibility 1/10.

Varget and 168gr/175gr Nosler CC or SMK.
Ramshot TAC for plinking rounds. Cheap but good powder imho.

Thanks for the help. I will try a few different combos and see which works best.

You would most likely be correct on twist rate. If you really want to get serious shooting, buy Sierra's manual. Sierra used a Savage 12VSS 26" 1in10 for published data. Listing Reloader 15 as most accurate powder.

I haven't found a rifle load yet that doesn't perform well using Reloader 15. In calibers .223 and .308. Another powder that's new. IMR 8208 XBR. Haven't gotten around to testing theory or not.  Based on om my research.......

Anything RE-15 can do,  IMR 8208 XBR can do better.

Alliant introduced a new powder to compete with IMR 8208 XBR and it's called AR Auto-Comp. Imported from Sweden it is hyped as being RE-15 on steroids.

It's more temperature insensitive than RE-15, yet retains a lot of RE-15's qualities. Reloader 15 is currently the powder used in all Lake City Match loads using 175 grain SMK hpbt. Both 168s and 175s will do well in you're rifle if twist is 1 in 12.

According to my pre-64 Winchester 70 google-fu your rifle is 1 in 12.

Thanks for the help very much appreciated

Powder:
Varget
RL-15
RL-17 (with 208 AMAXS ONLY)
IMR4064
IMR4895

Bullets:
155 AMAX
168 AMAX
178 AMAX
208 AMAX
155 Lapua Scenar
175 SMK
185 Lapua Scenar
190 SMK


Hows that?

IMR 4064

I'd say you could really comfortably use IMR 4895, IMR 4064, Varget, RL15 for the .308 rifles.  

Another go to is H4895, it's another of Hodgdon's extreme powdes with lower temp sensitivity.  Great for .308 and .30-06 and not as trendy as Varget so you're less likely to have availability issues.

I have only used IMR 4895 and RE-15

Ramshot Tac

+1 to the H4895.  Using Hornady 150gr and 165gr Interlocks I get really nice groups with moderate charges.

TAC, 4895, Varget, All good powders.

A friend uses Varget and recommends it.  Neither of us has ever tried any other 308 powder.  But Varget certainly works well.

I use Varget for my .308 bolt gun loads. Several years ago I used AA 2520 but it was too temperature sensitive. I've also used IMR 4895 for my M1A loads.

IMR4064 is my favorite

Ramshot TAC also shoots quite well out of my PSS and dumps nicely out of the RCBS powder measure as well.

2520
Varget
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