LOAD DATA HELP: Sierra MatchKing Boat Tail Hollow Point 30 Cal 168 Grain #2200

[Bruce_in_Oz]

How fast do you want to go?

My "tree-ware" Sierra manual, 5th edition, 2003, lists a lot of loads, one of which uses good-old 3031. The test rifle was a Savage 12VSS, 26", 1:10" twist.

39.5 grains of 3031 got them to 2600 FPS and with "normal" pressure. 41.1 gn of 3031 is listed as MAX.

TWO reasons for that, I suspect: Pressure signs on the fired brass and the fact that it gets fairly tricky to get that amount of powder in a .308Win case and then stuff in a long-ish bullet and seat it such that it will run through all magazines. AND fit the throat of a "standard" .308 chamber. I also suspect the 155 Palma was invented to specifically work within the constraints o the .308Win / 7.62 NATO ammunition AND rifle specifications. Also, be aware that some of the longer, "slinkier" bullets may NOT stabilize sufficiently when fired from a 1:12" twist .308 Win, because even in a 26" barrel, the muzzle velocity achievable may not provide a sufficient spin rate.

The 168gn Sierra in a .30-06 can be safely driven to 2800 fps with a variety of powders.

Barrel length, chamber throating, case capacity, etc. all come into critical play when you start trying to "push the envelope".