Thread: 125gr from a 308?

Hi, I was looking at the speer tnt 125gr as a varmint rnd for my 308. Has anyone tried this using adi2206h. My rifle has a 1:10t and a 23" barrel.

I just dug up my old reloading data for my 308 and I used to run the Same powder and projectile. I had a 16.5" barrel and with 49grs of 2206h using a magnum primer (Winchester brass and COAL 2.72")it use to leave the barrel @ 2984fps(3 shot avg from data). Made a goats head disappear as well as the odd plover. You could get really loose with a load like mine in a barrel like yours. Note my load was spicy so you would need to work upto what your rifle likes and is safe

what sort of groupings were you getting?
A lot of commenters on other sites are saying too small for deer but it seems like a normal round for a 243 and twice as big as a .233 which has killed MANY deer and a few pigs all over NZ. My mate uses a 223 for everything on the face of NZ including pigs and big red stags. Never an issue for him to get a consistent kill and he is using a 55gr pill.

P.S. What does COAL stand for? I am very new to reloading and still pretty ignorant about some of the terms.

I use 125gn Seirras in my 308 pushed with 2208. I shot Thar, Reds, Sika, Fallow and Goats no problems.

COAL is cartridge overall length.

A 55gr 223 bullet designed for large game will be a better option for deer than a 125gr 308 varmint bullet.

Originally Posted by Cigar

COAL is cartridge overall length.

A 55gr 223 bullet designed for large game will be a better option for deer than a 125gr 308 varmint bullet.

That’s why I use a Seirra Pro Hunter. I wouldn’t try a varmint bullet on Deer etc.

That was an MOA load. Nothing special but was not my main load. If I wanted a 'small' load for a 308 I would go with a 125gr Sierra pro hunter or a 130gr hornady soft point as they are cheap and good killers, well their cousins do!

Originally Posted by Shootm

That’s why I use a Seirra Pro Hunter. I wouldn’t try a varmint bullet on Deer etc.

Yip and the 125 accubond aint no slouch either

I used to run 130ttsx I think out of my 16" T3 308. They haul ass and work pretty well. I've recently switched to 168gr ELD-M in the same gun. They're even better. Everything I have shot from 60 - 300 meters has just dropped on the spot. Couldn't be happier.

I use the 130ttsx in my 14.5” barrel. Also have four or five other brands of 125gr to try one day. In my experience the Barnes needs to hit bone for that emphatic take down as it’s a lot less frangible than the standard jacketed projectiles.

Years ago an old mate of mine used the 125 gr Noslar Ballistic Tip on deer and it worked well. I think on a big rutting stag I would rather a tougher bullet like Gibo said an accubond.

Originally Posted by sambnz

I used to run 130ttsx I think out of my 16" T3 308. They haul ass and work pretty well. I've recently switched to 168gr ELD-M in the same gun. They're even better. Everything I have shot from 60 - 300 meters has just dropped on the spot. Couldn't be happier.

How do those eldms go? What speed you running them at?

Been using 110g Barnes ttsx in 308 bush pig for a while now,no issues but not tested on big stags yet,kills yearlings and hinds well tho.

Come on guys he specifically asked for a varmiting projectile not a deer hunting projectile..
I would be looking at this
https://www.reloaders.co.nz/shop/Rel...x100+2005.html
Almost always shoots very well and stoked up hard will vaporise little critters....can also be used with caution on Fallow/yearling reds if you treat it like a 223 and place your shots.

I used to use those Speer 130gr HP in my 30/06 at about 3000 fps. They were dynamite on goats in the bush. DRT with shoulder shots, even on big billys. But no good on the old Texas heart shot. The Sierra 125gr sp worked nearly as well.