[JT7771]

I have a Remington 700 SPS in 308 Win. I am interested in using it for long range Coyote hunting. I wanted to work up a load using Hornady Match cases and 125gr Speer TNT bullets.. Anyone have any proven powder/bullet combinations to use as a good starting point? Also, I use Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[MontyF]

Welcome to the site.

Although I haven't worked up coyote loads, my M70 will shoot 125 grain Sierra spitzers into one inch or very slightly over groups @100. The powder charge is 52.0 grains of W748, which is a maxiumum listed by Hodgdon. Next most accurate was with 46.0 grains of the same powder. I've heard good things about 308s and Varget but haven't tried that yet. Does your 308 like the speer bullets? Mine didn't so I've been working with Sierra and Noslers.

Not knowing your reloading background, just thought I'd remind you to start your load low and work up. The Hodgdon site didn't list a minimum charge of W748 however Sierra's manual says 43.2 is the minimum, so that is what i started with.

 

[MikeG]

I'd try 4064 or Varget myself. I have used both of those powders with 125gr. BTs in the .30-06 with good results.

Hope that helps.

 

[MontyF]

Just gonna add a second thought on powder. Besides what Mike recommended IMR 4064, IMR 4895 and BLC-2 all has worked well. Cool thing about the 308, it don't seem too fussy about what's in the case.

 

[land&groove]

308 Win 125 gr TNT loads

I have the same Gun, and have tried 125 Nosler Ballistic Tips and Speer 130 Hollow Points. Tried Win 748 and BLC-2(which by the way I think are about the same powder), and Varget.
Nosler #6 lists 51.5 as Max for 748, using 125 gr. Ballistic Tips. My SPS shows no signs of excessive pressure with that load, however I don't use magnum primers in any of My .308 Rifles. All the 748 powder completely burns with Federal 210 Match Primers. This load gives Me sub 1" moa @ 100yds and just under 2"@ 200. Varget also works great out of My Remington SPS, but its splitting hairs as to which powder is more accurate. They both shoot more consistantly than I do. Every Gun is different and you may well find the most accurate load WELL below max. The majority of Shooters search for a combination of components which when properly assembled, yield a high degree of ballistic uniformity(accuracy) with a minimum of wear and tear on the firearm and Shooter. Sometimes the best load just happens near Max, but that is not necessarily sought after.
Be carefull and have fun!

 

[Saskshooter]

What other loads do you already have worked up for that rifle? The reason I ask is that I have quit loading special varmint loads for my "deer guns", simply because they have proven to offer no real advantages over the good deer loads I have for those guns. My .270 will do horrible things to coyotes no matter how light the bullets; in fact, there is sometimes less hide damage from a good deer bullet than from the old 100 grain bullets I tried when I thought speed was essential to shoot varmnts. I also see virtually no difference in my ability to hit things at distance with my deer loads compared to my old varmint loads.

So, I am asking to suggest that, unless this is a project you want to do for fun, a .308 with a good deer load that it shot well, would make a devastating long range coyote rifle as it is.

There is no real magic in the light for caliber bullets in any caliber IMO. I use the 55 grain in the .22-250 rather than the lighter/faster bullets as well.

Just trying to save you some money and work. If that is irrelevant to this particular question, ignore me.

 

[Davers]

While most of the powders suggested here are fine for the .308; I like using IMR-4320 or WW-748 powders for loading 125 grainers. These two powders seem to deliver the best accuracy in my .308's.

 

[dmsbandit]

I have never used the 125s, but the 130 Speer HP over IMR4895 is a one hole load in my 308. I would imagine the same load would work well with the 125 TNT.

 

[Rocky Raab]

Now THAT is a fine group!

I load lighter bullets at less than maximum speed mostly for the reduced recoil, but they still work like a small nuke on varmints. I find that if I match the muzzle speed of my big-game load, the trajectories are very close and I don't need to make major sight changes - if any. I also benefit from practice with the same hold-over as my deer load. That is no small advantage, IMO.

Load your bullets to 2800 or so (whatever your regular load delivers) and enjoy all the advantages noted.