308 Hunting Rifle Load Development

[@nt_wicked_bunch2717]

Man that’s hard theory for people to get. As a gun builder I get guns back frequently that shoot just fine. I send them a video of it being shot and they can’t take the brutal honesty.

[@Thestripper1]

Thank you for this. I know that a lot of us are hunters and we watch a lot of videos by target competition shooters to get an idea of how to get more accurate with our hunting rifles. Our weapons are usually quite far from the target style rifles and we need a different approach so again, a big thank you!

[@JimWooddell]

I really appreciate Strelok Pro. Igor did/does a great job with it. Been using almost since it's beginning and it has not let me down.

[@davidmerriott7356]

Just found this video. I love your long range help, but I’m just a hunter so this was perfect! Thanks for making this simple for those of us who just want to dabble in hunting handloading.

[@mematyi]

Great video Keith! I'd love to see the resizing die setup for factory rifles topic you promised us some weeks ago :) Keep the good work up and have a nice day!

[@noahmercy-mann4323]

Proof it doesn't have to be difficult to find a great hunting load. I've been using 180 grain Ballistic Tips in 308 for hunting for years. Rifle is a Winchester 70 Heavy Varmint, and it prints groups only a little larger than those in the video. The BTs perform well...reliable expansion at any reasonable "field" distance even on small deer and pronghorn, great penetration, and little meat damage. Loads are near max, but all pressure signs are good (wish I had a strain gauge, but alas...). I think one of the greatest virtues of the 308 is that it has such modest velocities that wunderbullets simply aren't necessary. BTs, GameKings, and other cup & core designs perform well on game, and some are economical and accurate.

[@lovetoflylovetofly3843]

Excellent video Keith, thanks for your time on this one. Don't know what it is about 2650 and 308, but it always seems like a match made in heaven. Then up around 2730-2750. Looking for to the hunt harvest!!!

[@briankelly2886]

I have found the various Barnes X bullets the most accurate in all my hunting rifles so far. Performance on game is excellent.I use them almost exclusively now.

[@JeffinTD]

Excellent video. Impressive to see what a working person’s factory hunting rifle is capable of (in the right hands).

[@samuelberryhill2804]

Thank you for the video man.i enjoyed it for sure I'm a very big 308 fan and it is a great hunting round for sure.i do hand load for my hunting rifles and my target rifles and for me even when loading my hunting ammo I do use a chronograph at all times when I'm loading and I firmly believe a chronograph is just as important as a good loading press when handloading and I thank everyone one should have one when loading ammo or your basically loading blind.thanks again for the video and God bless

[@dozer1642]

I’m new to your channel and you are impressing me. Im trying to be better than my rifle. ✌️👍

[@zeke1eod]

Very well done, thanks for all the effort you put into this. Would love to see follow up during hunting season real world terminal performance lol. Love the seriousness you bring with your videos, very no nonsense to the point, I've been reloading since 80's and learn from you. Stay safe and God bless

[@gregshuttleworth4465]

I been watching your content for a few months. It’s great! It was nice to see in this vid how the load development went. It what I do for my hunting rifles and it works

[@paulhalvorseth4465]

Thank you, great stuff. You are a great communicator, you separate out the white noise fluff down to the essentials. Other KZbinrs should take note.

[@patrickflynn6704]

Hi Keith really enjoyed watching your video and videos I'm glad to see someone out there is putting together not only PRS but is also putting it out to people to see how it also works with traditional hunting rifle today it seems like everything is all PRS AR-15s etc if others would follow like you are providing more information on both hunting and PRS I think they're videos would be watched more often but until then I don't think I'll be watching too many more of their videos unfortunately thank you for your time and effort you put in to this video which was very well liked and all your other videos I watch over and over again also I don't want to miss anything haha keep up the good work

[@yabba5696]

I load that same bullet in a 30-ought 6 and it is a absolute Hammer of a load

[@scottzipperer6146]

You seem to be logical and spot on thanks

[@mjirvin010]

Enjoyed the video Keith! Perfect timing as I just happened upon some non-yellow boxed hunting bullets myself. Will be trying TSX for 284 and Nosler's E-Tips for 264. The world of hunting bullets is an interesting phenomenon. 95%+ of internet, or even real world conversations revolve around someone's bad experience with "x" bullet. Yet, there's not much conversation regarding the thousands of game successfully harvested each year with the usual Cap & Core. No agenda here, just something I find interesting and I'm looking forward to trying out these new (to me) monolithics.

[@jmkhenka]

In sweden Barnes has been used alot since they came to market here in the 90's.. 10's of thousands of moose, deer and bear has ben shot. There are storries of "failed bullets" but so does every other bullet. 99 times out of 100, a failed bullet is due to shot placement not the bullet itself.

[@jamesshaw89]

I've been chain watching your videos, they are excellent. am thankful you are sharing all this knowledge and experience with us.

[@DummyRound]

I'm still learning to drive 🎯

[@ExF1Guy]

Any chance we will get a video of this rifle in the field of you get out hunting? I really liked your enthusiasm in this video!

[@airborne350g]

Great video. That is how I developed my loads before I had a chronograph. StrelokPro works great to figure out velocity and BC.

[@wayneschenk5512]

Great advice.

[@robertmeyers1557]

Thanks. Really like barns ttsx for hunting please keep up the good work.

[@wolverinekut]

Thank you Sir for.308 vid 👍

[@tinfoilsombrero1439]

I’ve had good experiences getting Barnes bullets to shoot accurately. Their performance on deer sized game when shot with a magnum round is lackluster. I swapped back to my trusty Sierra Pro Hunters so I don’t have to crawl behind tiny blood trails to find a deer.

[@rdsii64]

I hear those Berger hunting bullets are pretty match grade.

[@teo59]

Can you do a detailed video about quick load? Thanks in advance

[@mikecrafar6276]

Nice work and great results. Thanks.

[@scottkessler186]

Outer Edge projectiles appear to be generation 2 copper solids and Barnes appear to generation 1.

[@echofoxtrotwhiskey1595]

Yeah, no one cares.

[@aaronirizarry979]

Kenton industry makes a custom turret works amazing with back of the box ballistic.. smoke the 10 ring at 600y first shot.

[@texpatriot8462]

Would love to see you set it up for "point blank range" on your scope.

[@mikenavy360]

I would not see Keith using this method of slinging a bullet in a circle. Just a guess. He probably has a particular vertebrae picked out behind the scapula at 425 yards. LOL

[@andy347495]

Thanks for the video. When you were showing the groups at the beginning you mentioned you were going to come back and talk about them and you didn't end up doing that. It seems like an abbreviated video of your method and we missed out on the good info that would help us with our load development. Is there going to be a video with a little more detail?

[@earlcahn3688]

Another great teaching video. Thank you. Keep them coming.

[@AleAlonso1]

Excellent video for us hunters, Keith. I’m so proud I did the same process BEFORE watching the video and WITHOUT your huge knowledge in the subject that now I believe in my load development skills. Just joking, it was pure luck in my case.

[@ericrumpel3105]

Thanks fer sharing, now get off the bench into hunting positions & verify ability aswell, meanwhile practicepracticepractice in different positions. I suggest this for everyone aswell as myself most importantly - "one shot/one kill".

[@stephendwyer4659]

Totally agree with you about field shooting but during load development and sighting in I do everything I can to remove the biggest variable, me, from the processes. I use sandbags and shoot prone to confirm everything and then get out and practice shooting over my day pack, off fence posts and over logs on the side of hills. It's all an big bad learning experience that never seems to end.

[@jmkhenka]

Most solid bullets are really good accuracy wise. They are turned on a lathe and is extremely well balanced. But the drawback is the BC, copper is about 15-20% lighter then lead so you get longer lighter bullets for the same weight. This also causes issues with barrel twist. Not so much with 308 wich often comes in :10 to :12 twist. They are also really good terminaly, as long as you keep up the velocity. One advantage people never talk about (atleast in the states) is the performance at diffrent ranges. They might have a shorter MAX range, but any distance inside this they will work wonders. 25 yards? 300 yards? they will pass thru and deal great effect. Unlike the soft lead-nose or BT bullets (eld-x for instance) wich will become dust if fired at 25 yards. Additionaly, there is less wasted meat. You can eat the meat right up to the wound channel - unlike with lead that can spread lead particulates 10's of inches from the impact point (if you dont belive me, google xrays of lead shot animals and you will see there is marginal diffrence between a bonded premium lead bullet and a shotgun blast..)

[@gilream]

This is the best comment. When you compare stability thresholds the mono-metal bullets are always lighter than the lead core counterparts. This is because bullet length and NOT weight determines whether a bullet will stabilize in a given twist rate.

[@randomidiot8142]

Barnes are mostly stamped except for the turned solids. Most of the monolithic big box bullets are stamped. The grooves are rolled in. They haven't been turned for a while.

[@twintwo1429]

There is no proof that anyone ever died early or got sick from eating lead killed game. SO WHAT IS YOUR POINT?

[@marcoscomeau4571]

Keith this was such an interesting video, I love my 308, keep these videos coming!

[@gilream]

Very interesting video...thanks for posting. I have talked to Barnes (they are very helpful), They state that their bullets are designed to expand down to 1500 feet per second. All of my experience with them has been on whitetails at less than 200 yards. I'm a double lung shooter so they all run between 30 to 50 yards in my experience with a tremendous blood trail. I've never recovered a bullet and I've never bit down on a piece of shrapnel while eating a hamburger. There is a tag at the top of the video that warns of a paid promotion...kind of hard to believe that Barnes is not paying you for that glowing assessment of their product.

[@chipsterb4946]

He does mention several other products in the video. Specifically QuickLoad and another ballistics calculator. He also explicitly says “this is not sponsored content. Barnes didn’t pay me…” Openly admitting potential confirmation bias - I was happy to hear his positive comments about the Barnes 308 TSX bullets since I have a few hundred here ready to start load workups. And I can add the phone tech support from Barnes was as good as it gets. Warning: they are expensive little buggers!

[@gilream]

@@chipsterb4946 You are correct...he did deny that he was paid. I don't know the man personally but lets just say that I am skeptical. He also said in another video, "Now... I'm not THAT smart" ...translation...i'm pretty damn smart...smarter than you.

[@chipsterb4946]

@@gilream and you are right to be skeptical of everything on YouScrewed. Everything presented by big tech really. There are so many ways to get paid, and “invisible money” is the best kind of income. At least that’s what a very unscrupulous SOB I worked for long ago once told me.

[@jamesgilner5880]

All I can say is great job on picking the components. I am assuming you didn't know which powder to pick at first? I don't recall you saying what powder you chose. I am happy to see a hunting rifle video with a LD! Even though this was quick, I kind of wish you had more pains lol.

[@jordonvizer9638]

I'm 4,500.00 and probably a hundred hours of loading cleaning testing into a hunting set up that started out supposed to be great shooting from the factory im almost out of all components and have to settle for what it is the goal was a 600 yard 300 win mag but still can't figure out why I have a es of 40-50 with 8 shots i even had a brux barrel put on it and it shoots fine now but nothing i do helps the es so im not shooting long range anymore everything with the bolt and spring looks good iv tested every combo i possibly could and they all show the same thing es 40-50

[@DanielReyes-hz1qk]

What chamber on the barrel? Who did the chambering and who installed the barrel on the action? What brass are you using? Do you sort bullets by length? That's really high ES and usually even the basics (by good components, sort bullets by length, weigh powder charges to the tenth) will get you well under 40 ES

[@jeffreywilson690]

You might want to look at the 130 grain tipped option to give you way higher velocity you just have to work out the math the weather and energy and the range you want to shoot work you won't catch one in a whitetail deer

[@gilream]

Many of the Barnes TTSXs are unobtainium right now

[@tainflyfishing9302]

Thanks for making this video,you have helped me make my rifle shoot great again, 👍 👌

[@LCdonkeyshow]

My go to meat maker is a browning A Bolt in 300 WSM. I can't find a sweet spot in terms of bullet seating depth. It seems to like whatever I feed it.

[@edwardabrams4972]

300 wsm is one of the very best! I might know because after hunting,reloading and collecting hundreds of guns over 60 years it’s my go to caliber in a Sako Finlight! You have chosen wisely my son🤔😳😂

[@LCdonkeyshow]

@@edwardabrams4972 LOL. Thank you, sir.

[@charlestucker5903]

Excellent video!

[@leonardogarcia2506]

Your buddy has it all wrong! I watch all your videos and Erik’s videos and other pro shooters videos and buy all the tools you guys recommend and gadgets and do all the precision reloading the way you guys say because I want to be the best shot I can be when hunting! I don’t plan to ever compete in any matches, but I want to be the best shot I can be when I send a bullet to fur not paper.

[@juliusjames5577]

Good video, don’t let it go to your case head!

[@javiersp01]

Thank you !

[@69mwhite]

Great info and presentation

[@emmaliddell8507]

Great item to have and easy to maintain.

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

Awesome video, I have a bergara b14 hmr 300win and it's been a blast to do load development with it but powder sucks trying to find what my rifle likes to eat

[@trumpie5399]

Have the same rifle and Cal 180gr Nosler BT or AB IMR 4831 @ 74.0 WLR primer WW brass

[@calebmartinez3805]

I reloaded for 18 or so years and I never get the accuracy you get with this bullet maybe is the barrel? My best group from a hunting rifle was 1 1/4 to 3/4 in good day great video!

[@josipkardum5196]

Hello, I really like your channel. I would like to ask you a few questions regarding reloading hunting ammunition. 1) Why do you only test three shots on the target? Isn’t it true that the first shot from each new load isn't counted as relevant, or am I mistaken? 2) Why wouldn't you accept the group you achieved (in the video, between 6:50-7:03)? 3) Do you always perform the Ladder Test first and only then the bullet seating? Thanks in advance, and keep up the great work. Thank you.

[@winninginthewind]

@josipkardum5196 • 1) The first shot for every combination is relevant in a hunting rifle if you are using the same powder. 2) the POI moved significantly, suggesting that the barrel was transiting. Those rarely if ever work out. 3) On a hunting rifle, I usually only need to do powder charge to find a good load. If the result after powder isn't good enough, I work the seating depth.

[@josipkardum5196]

@@winninginthewind Thank you for the response. 2) Do you have a video somewhere explaining what POI actually is? And how to evaluate a group to know if it’s good or not? Any book recommendations? Thanks!

[@mattharris2018]

Thanks. I enjoyed that. You’ve gained a subscription

[@kfranklin308]

You should try hammer bullets if you haven’t already. I like Barnes but the hammers are even more accurate and very forgiving on powder and seating depth.

[@stevegraves8416]

I’m new to your content but find it interesting. I also find myself asking, “why the 308?” I’m not knocking it. It’s what I hunt with but you are obviously more in tune with the 284 Win, which is also an excellent hunting cartridge and arguably even better than the 308. Why switch cartridges to hunt?

[@KirkA0906]

EXCELLENT!! Where do you find the information about the reamer that is used to manufacture the bore? I have a Winchester XPR. Curious to know the reamer for it.

[@jamesgilner5880]

I believe he said the barrel was custom and that's why he knew.

[@joshwebb609]

You are a good smart fellow

[@fenwelder2474]

excellent video.

[@northernsky6117]

Main thing with Barnes is to make sure the bullet opens up correctly at distance. Therefore 308Win hunting distance is pretty much limited to around 330 yards with copper bullets like Barnes. But then again I think thats plenty of yards. This my opinion only ofcourse 🙂

[@iamsomebodynobody]

Great video Keith. Just wonder when shot the load development rounds, do you maximize the scope magnification or something under 20x is enough for 100yard? And do you shot 3-5 rounds to find the low/lowest SD node first?

[@winninginthewind]

I run magnification as high as it will go, to maximize aiming precision. Without a Chronograph, Nope. With a chronograph, Nope.

[@AgileK9TopDog]

The Barnes solid will not obturate like the SMK.

[@simplemanoutdoorsman3437]

When u pull a bullet to change powder do you do anything to the neck…? Wondering if that would change your neck tension I’ve always resized, but am I wasting my time?? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@davidunderwood3605]

Yes sir. Around here 150 yards on average in normal long distance and 50 to 100 average al day on deer. So 300 to 350 is a good distance to check drop dope.

[@chipsterb4946]

Barnes tech support told me 1,900 fps minimum a couple months ago.

[@andrewowens6754]

Wonder how he gets his primers..........

[@markchester7584]

Oh dear! The difference between cant and can’t is important (especially for someone touting precision).

[@winninginthewind]

Where did the apostrophe go?

[@12390erock]

if you did have to do seating depth tests for this rifle, what increments would you use?

[@jonasbruzas2651]

hi Keith ,whats ballistic program you using?

[@winninginthewind]

Strelok Pro for this video.

[@gilream]

did you watch the video?

[@garyself9213]

Where do you start off mag length isn't an issue

[@winninginthewind]

Depends on the bullet design, but .010 off the lands is a good spot for me to start on a hunting rifle.

[@sethlarson5110]

Just a novice shooter/ hunter but Barnes bullets have always shot well compared to other manufacturers for me.

[@ChrisEdling]

130 grain barnes ttsx at 3150. Will take anything from white tail to grizzlies out to 500 plus

[@echofoxtrotwhiskey1595]

Have you shot a grizzly at 500 with that load?

[@jasonhouseham6404]

Hi keith what is the program you used in this video you popped up

[@tylerthorson491]

Does your barrel need to be the same length as the test barrel to get similar velocities? If so, is there a way to determine relative velocity to attempt calculating bullet drop?

[@bobbygreen2291]

On solid bullets ,,you must do as the manufacturer says ,,they tell shooters to start way back off the lands ,,60 thousandst off the lands an as cortina says move forward at three thousands increments,,my rifle all like from 50 thousands to 30 thousands off the lands.

[@85ZERO17]

IS THAT AN XR700?

[@steveparks5030]

How is the PPU brass? Is it considered good brass?

[@winninginthewind]

I don't, but that's just me...

[@glennwood3912]

When you pull and reload the bullets,do you resize the case neck.

[@winninginthewind]

Yes

[@tonydevich7937]

Keep the truth is good

[@jamesmooney5348]

That rifle shoots

[@Seek.YouWillFind]

Anyone know where i can find the target he uses. Thanks

[@jcjustice3786]

👍

[@davidstallworth4800]

How would H4350 work with 308 in 178 gr ELDx? Load data?

[@charltonlwalker]

H4350 is not an appropriate powder for 308.

[@davidstallworth4800]

@@charltonlwalker why?

[@charltonlwalker]

@@davidstallworth4800 burn rate is too slow.

[@shanesmith6815]

don't think I have ever owned a rifle that didn't shoot better than I can.

[@fomerbu]

Hunting? I'm not say you don't need data but one shot cold bore is the only group you need and you need to know your second shot variation. Cold bore one shot groups.

[@jmkhenka]

Amen.. when you have found a load that works to your requirements (spread, velocity) you need to do cold bore shot. Preferably with the support you use in the wild. There is no point having a 0.5" inch group at bench, if you shoot it from a bench with bag support. One truth about hunting - the first shot is all that counts. 500 yards is also optimistic. I would never shoot past 100 unless its wide open terrain and i know i can see the animal for miles. Loosing a animal due to bad hit is way worse then not taking the shot. At 200 yards, there is substantial travel time for a bullet and animals never stand still, your POI can shift inches if you are unlucky.

[@diywithjonandpebbles]

Nothing wrong with knowing your equipment is capable of 1/2 MOA and have the round development to support it.

[@emddoctor8671]

What do you need a one shot cold bore group for? Are you gonna wait 10 minutes in the field to let your barrel cool down before taking a follow up shot?

[@lawrencestanley8989]

Quickload? What's that?

[@winninginthewind]

A computer program that simulates internal ballistics.

[@georgekelagis647]

matchking for hunting ????? why

[@dannywarren5204]

I need to say this... I've tried seating depth testing .. and even tho I'm a novice I understand it... it's quite a simple thing to understand..and I call bullshit it doesn't work... I've done the tests and shot great groups.. and then tried to repeat them a few days later... with absolutely terrible results... not one good group would repeat... anyone got anything to say on this comment

[@MichaelMiller-ww9iy]

Dan Newberry would say the amount of powder you are using is not the OCW (Optimal Charge Weight). Also, if you stick to Winning in the Wind channel, you can find a video titled "Ruined for Life - Picking a Node". Your powder charge might be in a Type 4 node.

[@ChrisEdling]

Bro get disappointed with a .4 inch grou 😂😂

[@Mark-qq7io]

Spindrift at a hunting rifle are you serious it's been drifts at 80 to 100 yd seriously that's ridiculous

[@jtee9548]

Surprised that a tech savvy guy like you would hunt with a (bit of a boat anchor) wooden stock and a thumbhole at that. You can shave 1/2lb + easily off the carry weight with a credit card and a hand tool.... You could have a heavier taper barrel for the same overall weight😁😁or carry an extra bottle of water or a big assed sandwich.

[@MrMalicious5]

308 is not light for anything in North America, lol.

[@Mark-qq7io]

You can spend all week listening to this video not being mean but you're shooting a deer not the top of a pin

[@dannywarren5204]

Yea champ your good at what you do... but you nerderd out a long time and don't seem to be able to make a simplified layman's instructions video that normal people can understand 😂

[@roddecker1900]

Hunt with bullets that don't need that speed am happier/

[@gilream]

2650 fps is not considered high speed is it?

[@stevenwalker7928]

Coriolis effect is nonsense that depends on what direction you shoot

[@Mark-qq7io]

Way too much information for a hunting load you're making this harder than it is

[@Mikzone-zb6jk]

.308 too light for elk? I've killed alot of elk, bear and countless whitetail with .308....

[@emddoctor8671]

Many many moose have been taken down with a .308 where I in Canada. Like he says, everyone needs to learn how to drive their rifle...