Reloading 150g .308

[Knife Edge]

Just bought some bulk 150g Hornady FMJBT for my SCAR 17s. The load data I have suggests an OAL of 2.800, but when loaded to that depth the cannelure is .1" beyond the neck. Why would the cannelure be so far from the neck?

What am I missing. Going with 2.80" OAL if I don't hear anything else.

[jvpark]

What is the case size?
2.80 is the Maximum length

a bunch of my last reloads with 2.71 and were fine

[Knife Edge]

2.005". I guess the cannelure is optional and requires modification to the loading tables. I'll leave them at 2.80"

[skibuff]

Lyman shows Hornady SP #3031, 150gr. 2.735" OAL

If you look the loading manual you are using it is showing a nosler bullet. You need to find the OAL length for the exact Hornady bullet you are using.

[skibuff]

Sierra has a very similar bullet and here are their specs #2115 .308" 150 gr. FMJBT C.O.A.L. 2.775"

[Knife Edge]

Mods, please don't delete this. Found a link elsewhere that explains this very well. Looks like the cannelure location varies by manufacturer.

http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=248096

[Pete1979]

Looks like your data is for a Nosler bullet, the Hornady M80 spec bullet has a different shape.

[Knife Edge]

Thanks everyone. Just saw skibuffs data. So 2.73 it is. Anyone have load data for that bullet, IMR 8208?

Fingers crossed

[Dutch Henry]

Hornady uses a secant ogive rather than a tangent ogive on many of their rifle bullets. You may want to verify the OAL with a gauge before loading up a large number of cartridges. A bullet loaded too far forward could engage the rifling, causing high pressure upon firing.

[FLIGHT762]

In Hornady's latest loading manual, they list the tested COL for their #3037 150 gr. FMJ bullet @ 2.700"

They also list 8208 XBR with that bullet in the .308 Winchester with a starting load of 39.0 grains to a maximum of 44.2 grains.

I have safely used 44.0 grains of 8208 XBR in my L/R rifles with a 155 gr. bullet. You should work up to that for your rifle.

For my Military style autoloaders, I do not load to a COL magazine maximum of 2.800". I will load to 2.780" or so, depending on the style of bullet to be sure I have 100% reliable feeding.

[Knife Edge]

UPDATE

Thanks for the help everyone. Loaded the bullets up to 2.80", essentialy magazine length for M1A, SR25 and FN (FN has more room than the others). Chose this because it's also the same length I use with the Honady 178g Match which I believe has the same ogive according to what a few stated earlier...

43g XBR is MAX load with FC brass!! 2595 ft/sec out of the SOCOM II, never measured the 17S.

Thanks again gents!!

[skibuff]

Be careful not using the crimp groove for a semi auto. If you are loading them one by one your fine but the crimp and cannelure are used on semi auto's to prevent the bullet from seating deeper when feeding.

Bolt action no need for crimp.

[Gasman]

Chose this because it's also the same length I use with the Honady 178g Match which I believe has the same ogive according to what a few stated earlier.

Did you happen to verify this with a bullet comparator?

[Gasman]

As long as the round fits in the mag, OAL is relatively meaningless - it's the base-to-ogive length that matters.

For a battle rifle, I'd just seat that Hornady FMJ at the cannelure, crimp, and call it a day.

[Knife Edge]

I need to get a comparator, still learning. As far as crimping I have a few semi autos designed around federal gold, I don't believe those are crimped. Have shot thousands of rounds, no issues unless there was a jam, haven't had that in over a year.

Thanks. I'll look into comparators and try to figure out why I'm missing.