308 pistol load

gamerabbit63 · Rookie Member Joined: Oct 23, 2009 Posts: 5

Looking for a load for my encore pistol in 308 15inch, I like 165g interbond.

gamerabbit63 · Rookie Member Joined: Oct 23, 2009 Posts: 5

I am new to site and have now found reloading database lot of loads to try..

SingleShotLover · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:05 am Post subject: Re: 308 pistol load

Not having loaded .308 for pistols, I am just going to offer what most shooters found out years ago with .30-30 Winchester loads in pistols. Many shooters thought that since they were loading for shorter barrels, faster powders were the answer. Accuracy usually left a great deal to be desired and used .30-30 Contender barrels suddenly started appearing in the local gun shops as people lost hope. Eventually it dawned on the serious die-hard shooters that the same loads that worked so well in their rifles worked just as well in their pistols. The shorter barrels only meant that they experienced lower velocities (of course) than in their 20-24" barrels on their rifles.

The reasoning was (and as far as I know still is) that since combustion and pressure curves with smokeless powders occur within the same amount of space regardless of barrel length (only within a few inches at most), the "secret" is in accuracy and performance of the proven, properly balanced loads rather than trying to custom load just because the barrel is shorter. That balance relates far more to the cartridge characteristics than to the barrel length.

Sorry to get long winded, but I would suggest trying good "rifle" loads in your Encore before going too far afield in your search.

Grumulkin · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: 308 pistol load

SingleShotLover wrote:

Sorry to get long winded, but I would suggest trying good "rifle" loads in your Encore before going too far afield in your search.

You are entirely right and I load for a 308 Encore handgun as well as other rifle cartridges to be shot in handgun barrels.