.

308 Winchester
.308 Winchester

I had torrid romances with the .338

and .300 Winchester Magnums back
when their ballistics were considered
mystical and spell binding. Neither
caliber ever failed to end the hunt
when the time was at hand.

To become proficient with any

firearm, one must practice
religiously. I was tired of the
excessive tenderizing of my shoulder
with two or three 50-round sessions a
month with the .338 or the .300
magnums, hence, my move to the
.308 Winchester.
My elk load consists of a Barnes 165-grain X-Bullet powered by 46
grains of Varget. The bullet moves out at a little more than 2,700 fps
and groups rather well. I have trusted this load out to 250 yards,
which, no matter where you hunt, is a long shot for elk. Within 250
yards and with proper bullet placement, the .308 Winchester will
down elk with aplomb. Some folks think one needs "laser-like"
trajectories and 3,000 fps plus from a 180-grain bullet to slay a
mature elk, but even on moose, I would opt for the 180-grain XBT
fueled by a dose of IMR-4350.
Would I trust the .308 Winchester if I couldn't load Barnes bullets?
Probably, but I wouldnt be near as
confident.
0.3435
G. Todd Fowler

20

2.015
1.7116
1.560

Case:
Winchester
Primer:
Federal GM 210M
Barrel:
24"

0.473

Parent Case:
None
Trim To:
2.005"

.308 Winchester

BULLET DROP
COMPARISON

300 Yards

W/200 Yard Zero

100 Yards
250 gr.
220 gr.
200 gr.
180 gr.
165 gr.
150 gr.
140 gr.
130 gr.
110 gr.

+3.84
+3.46
+2.66
+2.34
+1.92
+1.72
+1.57
+1.47
+1.29

-6.35
-6.86
-7.10
-7.54
-8.09
-9.38
-10.48
-14.33
-14.91

110 gr.
130 gr.
140 gr.
150 gr.
165 gr.
180 gr.
200 gr.
220 gr.
250 gr.

-19.02
-20.30
-20.82
-21.98
-23.31
-26.84
-29.95
-42.82
-43.26

400 Yards

BULLET ENERGIES
muzzle

3000

110 gr.
130 gr.
140 gr.
150 gr.
165 gr.
180 gr.
200 gr.
220 gr.
250 gr.

200 yds

2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
110gr

130gr 140gr 150gr 165gr 180gr 200gr 220gr 250gr

Powder

110-grain XFB
S.D. .166

B.C. .322

Suggested Bullet Use

110-grain Solid
S.D. .166

B.C. .337

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 7
RL 15
H335*
H4895
BL-C(2)
H380
H414
IMR 3031
IMR 4895
IMR 4320
IMR 4064
VIT N133
VIT N135
Win 748*
Win 760

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

46.0
47.0
37.0
46.0
45.0
45.0
48.0
49.0
50.0
43.0
46.0
47.0
45.0
42.0
45.0
48.0
50.0

3030
3056
2941
3015
3102
2913
3012
2722
2826
2980
3090
3033
2958
3025
3002
3040
2833

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

50.0
51.0
41.0
50.0
49.0
49.0
52.0
53.0
54.0
47.0
50.0
51.0
49.0
46.0
49.0
52.0
54.0

3294
3316
3259
3277
3378
3172
3263
2944
3052
3257
3359
3291
3221
3313
3269
3293
3060

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

Powder

125-grain Solid
S.D. .188

B.C. .372

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 7
RL 12
RL 15
H335
H4895
BL-C(2)
H380
H414*
IMR 3031
IMR 4895
IMR 4320
IMR 4064
VIT N133*
VIT N135
Win 748*
Win 760

Powder

130-grain XBT
S.D. .196

B.C. .374

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 7
RL 12*
RL 15
H335
H4895
BLC 2
H380
H414
IMR 3031*
IMR 4320
IMR 4895
IMR 4064*
VIT N133
VIT N135
Win 748
Win 760

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

45.0
46.0
37.0
44.0
45.0
43.0
43.0
48.0
49.0
50.0
41.0
42.5
44.0
44.0
40.5
44.0
46.0
49.0

2891
2941
2810
2915
2856
2873
2902
2907
2754
2743
2870
2814
2800
2858
2860
2872
2835
2746

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

45.0
46.0
37.0
44.0
45.0
43.0
43.0
48.0
49.0
50.0
41.0
44.0
42.5
44.0
40.5
44.0
46.0
49.0

2891
2941
2810
2915
2856
2873
2902
2907
2754
2743
2870
2800
2814
2858
2860
2872
2835
2746

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

49.0
50.0
41.0
48.0
49.0
47.0
47.0
52.0
53.0
54.0
45.0
46.5
48.0
48.0
44.5
48.0
50.0
53.0

3148
3197
3114
3180
3110
3140
3172
3149
2979
2962
3150
3079
3055
3118
3142
3133
3082
2970

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

49.0
50.0
41.0
48.0
49.0
47.0
47.0
52.0
53.0
54.0
45.0
48.0
46.5
48.0
44.5
48.0
50.0
53.0

3148
3197
3114
3180
3110
3140
3172
3149
2979
2962
3150
3055
3079
3118
3142
3133
3082
2970

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester
Powder

130-grain XLC BT
S.D. .196

B.C. .374

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2230
RL 7
RL 15
H4895
BL-C(2)
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064
WIN 748*

Powder

140-grain XBT
S.D. .211

B.C. .398

Suggested Bullet Use

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

42.0
36.5
46.5
44.0
51.5
44.0
44.5
44.5
47.5

2888
2761
2938
2929
3058
2898
2884
2921
2981

Charge
Weight Velocity

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 12
RL 15
H335
H4895*
BL-C(2)
H380
H414
IMR 3031
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064
Norma 202
VIT N135
Win 748*
Win 760

(grains)

(fps)

43.0
44.5
41.5
44.0
40.5
41.5
46.0
48.0
49.0
40.0
41.0
43.0
42.0
41.5
42.0
45.0
49.0

2749
2821
2717
2824
2681
2759
2787
2607
2703
2719
2675
2766
2721
2724
2725
2786
2677

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

46.0
40.5
50.5
48.0
55.5
48.0
48.5
48.5
51.5

3154
3053
3182
3186
3288
3152
3134
3175
3224

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

47.0
48.5
45.5
48.0
44.5
45.5
50.0
52.0
53.0
44.0
45.0
47.0
46.0
45.5
46.0
49.0
53.0

3005
3075
2979
3081
2946
3025
3029
2824
2924
2991
2936
3023
2980
2987
2985
3034
2896

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

Powder

150-grain XFB
S.D. .226

B.C. .386

Suggested Bullet Use

150-grain XBT
S.D. .226

B.C. .428

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 12
RL 15
H335
H4895
BL-C(2)*
H380
H414
IMR 3031
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064*
Norma 202
VIT N135
Win 748
Win 760

Powder

150-grain XLC BT
S.D. .226

B.C. .428

Suggested Bullet Use

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

41.0
42.0
41.5
43.0
39.0
41.0
44.5
47.0
47.0
39.0
40.0
43.0
41.0
40.0
41.0
45.0
47.0

2522
2650
2670
2713
2538
2555
2683
2615
2606
2669
2638
2709
2634
2575
2595
2753
2581

Charge
Weight Velocity

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 15
H4895
Varget*
BL-C(2)*
IMR 4895
IMR 4320
IMR 4064*
Norma 202
Win 748
Win 760

(grains)

(fps)

40.0
44.0
43.0
42.0
43.5
46.0
42.0
42.0
42.0
40.0
44.0
50.0

2747
2854
2745
2727
2768
2855
2742
2731
2744
2660
2830
2788

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

45.0
46.0
45.5
47.0
43.0
45.0
48.5
51.0
51.0
43.0
44.0
47.0
45.0
44.0
45.0
49.0
51.0

2768
2902
2927
2965
2798
2804
2924
2838
2828
2943
2902
2961
2891
2832
2848
2998
2801

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

44.0
48.0
47.0
46.0
47.5
50.0
46.0
46.0
46.0
44.0
48.0
54.0

3014
3106
2993
2979
3015
3096
2995
2983
2998
2918
3080
3005

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester
Powder

165-grain XFB
S.D. .248

B.C. .456

Suggested Bullet Use

165-grain XBT
S.D. .248

B.C. .505

Suggested Bullet Use

Charge
Weight Velocity

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 15
H335
H4895
BL-C(2)*
H380
H414
IMR 3031
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064*
IMR 4350
Norma 202
VIT N135
VIT N150
Win 748
Win 760

(grains)

(fps)

38.0
41.0
41.0
38.0
39.5
42.0
45.0
46.0
37.5
39.0
41.0
39.0
45.0
38.0
38.5
42.0
42.0
46.0

2326
2485
2545
2432
2554
2506
2472
2525
2503
2496
2550
2495
2499
2414
2414
2488
2540
2565

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

42.0
45.0
45.0
42.0
43.5
46.0
49.0
50.0
41.5
43.0
45.0
43.0
49.0
42.0
42.5
46.0
46.0
50.0

2571
2727
2793
2688
2813
2745
2692
2745
2770
2752
2799
2751
2721
2668
2665
2725
2782
2788

165-grain Solid
S.D. .248

B.C. .481

Suggested Bullet Use

Powder

165-grain XLC BT
S.D. .248

B.C. .505

Suggested Bullet Use

168-grain XLC BT
S.D. .253

B.C. .476

Suggested Bullet Use

Charge
Weight Velocity

AA 2230
AA 2520
RL 15
H4895
Varget*
BL-C(2)*
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064
Norma 202
VIT N150
Win 748
Win 760

(grains)

(fps)

40.0
44.0
42.0
42.0
42.5
45.0
42.0
42.0
42.0
40.5
44.5
43.0
49.0

2648
2716
2640
2650
2639
2703
2639
2605
2669
2568
2681
2701
2701

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

44.0
48.0
46.0
46.0
46.5
49.0
46.0
46.0
46.0
44.5
48.5
47.0
53.0

2905
2956
2884
2895
2880
2936
2883
2846
2916
2814
2915
2945
2915

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

Powder

180-grain XFB
S.D. .271

B.C. .511

Suggested Bullet Use

180-grain XBT
S.D. .271

B.C. .552

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2520
AA 2700
H4895*
H380
H414
H4350
H4831
IMR 3031
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064*
IMR 4350
Norma 202
VIT N150
Win 748
Win 760

Powder

180-grain XLC FB
S.D. .271

B.C. .511

Suggested Bullet Use

180-grain XLC BT
S.D. .271

B.C. .552

Suggested Bullet Use

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

40.0
45.0
36.0
43.0
43.0
43.0
45.0
36.0
37.0
39.0
37.0
43.0
36.5
40.5
39.0
44.0

2345
2401
2220
2262
2251
2247
2290
2296
2274
2360
2345
2276
2292
2355
2333
2325

Charge
Weight Velocity

AA 2520
AA 2700
H4895
Varget*
H380
H414
H4350
IMR 3031
IMR 4895*
IMR 4320
IMR 4064*
IMR 4350
Norma 202
VIT N150
Win 748
Win 760

(grains)

(fps)

41.0
48.0
40.0
40.5
49.0
47.0
47.0
36.0
39.0
40.0
40.0
46.0
38.0
41.0
40.0
46.5

2450
2568
2433
2402
2576
2484
2459
2323
2377
2360
2425
2389
2328
2387
2407
2484

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

44.0
49.0
40.0
47.0
47.0
47.0
49.0
40.0
41.0
43.0
41.0
47.0
40.5
44.5
43.0
48.0

2580
2614
2467
2472
2460
2456
2494
2551
2520
2602
2598
2488
2543
2588
2572
2536

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

45.0
52.0
44.0
44.5
53.0
51.0
51.0
40.0
43.0
44.0
44.0
50.0
42.0
45.0
44.0
50.5

2689
2782
2676
2639
2786
2695
2668
2581
2621
2596
2667
2597
2573
2620
2648
2698

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester

.308 Winchester
Powder

200-grain XFB
S.D. .301

B.C. .550

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2520*
AA 2700
RL 15*
H380
H414
IMR 4064
IMR 4350
Win 760

Powder

220-grain Solid
S.D. .331

B.C. .305

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2460
RL 15*
H380*
H414
IMR 4064
IMR 4350

Powder

250-grain Original
S.D. .376

B.C. .417

Suggested Bullet Use

AA 2460
RL 15*
H380
H414
IMR 4064
IMR 4350

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

38.0
42.0
37.0
42.0
42.0
35.0
42.0
42.0

2233
2179
2193
2109
2211
2146
2220
2248

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

35.5
35.5
40.5
41.0
33.0
40.0

2109
2083
2064
2078
2031
2117

Charge
Weight Velocity
(grains)

(fps)

32.0
34.0
38.0
39.0
31.0
39.0

1841
1915
1935
2000
1864
1959

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

42.0
46.0
41.0
46.0
46.0
39.0
46.0
46.0

2468
2387
2430
2310
2422
2391
2431
2462

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

39.5
39.5
44.5
45.0
37.0
44.0

2347
2318
2268
2281
2277
2329

Maximum
Load
Velocity
(fps)

36.0
38.0
42.0
43.0
35.0
43.0

2071
2140
2139
2205
2104
2160

XLC Coated X-Bullet data cannot be used with other bullets, including non-coated X-Bullets.
Maximum loads should be used with caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads.
* Recommended powder