Best .308 150gr FMJ Factory ammo??

[gottarollwithit]

I'm lookin to clone a good factory load and need some advice. I'll be getting a chrono soon....

I'll be using it in semi and bolt action rifles, so there the idea here is not to custom taylor loads to specific rifles, but to have one good load that's versatile in terms of range/accuracy/feedability/cycleability across the board. I'll leave the precision stuff for other loads. I'd like to use Hornady 150gr FMJ's and LC brass - pretty common stuff in terms of factory loads.

Any advice on which factory load to clone? What do you guys think of the American Eagle 150gr FMJ offering? What about the Lapua offering? Do they use a significantly different FMJ projectile? Mine has a cannelure... And... what about XM762D??

Thanks!

[freakshow10mm]

A 150gr FMJ at 2650fps to 2750fps will be a good round for bolt and safe for M1A rifles.

Plenty of powders that will get you there, W748, W760/H414, either of the 4895s, BLC2, Varget, TAC, few others. I would use TAC as it burns well and is cheaper than the others. An 8lb keg is usually around $130 or so.

[gottarollwithit]

Is that what most of the loads i listed pretty much run at?

What about OAL, case length, etc?

[freakshow10mm]

Case length is good at 2.015 and OAL should be 2.8 which is generally mag length.

A 150gr bullet can be pushed to about 2900fps in a 24 inch barrel safely.

[gottarollwithit]

I usually run an OAL of 2.8" as well, but the case mouth dosen't even come close to the cannelure. I know it's OK to not use the cannelure, but i've seen some military type 308 ammo that's significantly shorter than 2.8". For bolt action stuff, crimping isn't required, but for semi auto it can be.

Since this will be an "all purpose" load, should i crimp and shorten the OAL such that i can crimp into the cannelure?