Hornady .308 150gr. GMX (non lead)

[Californio]

I have not had good luck, groups, using the .308 150gr. TSX, so I thought I would try the Hornady GMX. Hornady reloading manual shows no difference in powder weights than with standard bullets.

Anyone loading this GMX, I have IMR 8208, H4895, H4064, Varget and RL-15 to play with.

[Divernhunter]

It will be necessary to know what cartridge you are loading the .308 bullets into to know what powder. I use IMR4064 in my 30-06 loading. I use Win 748 in my 308win loading. I use IMR4350 in my 300Win Mag loading. That is using the 150gr GMX bullets. I also use max loads as the bullets need to be pushed fast to work well. This is also true for the Barnes bullets.

[Californio]

Loading .308 Rem Brass with Federal Primers, Shooting out of 700 BDL 22" hunting barrel for Pigs. I tried the TSX and it was no go, could not get the groups I wanted. This rifle shot 150gr. Rem Core-Lokt for years, successfully. I bought some Winchester 150gr. E-Tips to see if they will work and some 150 gr. GMX bullets.

Just looking for a starting point.

I mostly use Varget in my Tac Rifles but I am lost in the no-lead game.

[Californio]

I played hooky today. The Winchester Supreme E-Tip .308 150gr will work, I think its a Nosler bullet, the groupings are not as tight as I would like but it will work. I tried Federal Vital-Shock 150, a TSX bullet and it was all over the place.

I tried both loads in a R700 hunting rifle and in a bull barrel varmint rifle. Got so pissed, had to breakout some of my Lapua, Varget, SMK loads just to make sure it was not me.

Not impressed with no-lead, at all.

Now back to the GMX, I will try some Varget and IMR4895 and see what happens and I have 20 Federal and 20 Winchester cases to play with.

[gottarollwithit]

308 and GMX bullets aren't a very ideal combination. GMX bullets require some pretty serious velocity for them to expand fully. In most 308 loads, you gotta practically push them past max loads to get some decent expansion. This is what kinda makes Hornady's Superformance ammo special
As in...http://www.midwayusa.com/product/631...tail-box-of-20

That being said, i'd start with a powder that's dense enough to allow you to fill the case up with practically a max load. I'd rather be able to put more or less powder in, opposed to only be able to put less in.

As for accuracy, i can't quite speak to that yet. I'm in the same boat as you... just with less time for load development...

[Californio]

I guess its the same when short magnums first came out, powder was proprietary and not available to the reloader. I will try the Superperformance GMX vs the E-Tip factory load. I see a 300 win mag rifle in my future.