Author Topic: favorite .308 load?? (Read 2070 times)

ida83704 · « **on:** June 28, 2010, 09:22:29 PM »

What are your favorite .308 loads? particularly with 175 SMK's or 178 AMAX?

brass
primer
powder
projectiles
etc.

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2010, 05:29:26 AM »

175smk
45.0 varget(can vary by lot, looking for 2690ish in my 24")
CCI BR2
Winchester Brass

ida83704 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2010, 09:58:23 AM »

I've got a ton of Federal brass that I'd like to use up.

Any comments on Fed brass? other than most prefer Win brass?

mjmcmahon · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2010, 10:31:34 AM »

175smk
39.5gr Reloder 15
Federal 210m
Hornady Match brass

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2010, 12:05:13 PM »

I use the winchester primarily for case capacity and availability.

I'm confident that I could tune a Varget load that would shoot in my rifle using Federal brass.

45.0 of varget in a Rem case is too hot. Same for Lapua.

J Mack · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2010, 09:03:46 PM »

Quote from: ida83704 on June 29, 2010, 09:58:23 AM

I've got a ton of Federal brass that I'd like to use up.

Any comments on Fed brass? other than most prefer Win brass?

Be careful and work your loads up slowly with F-C brass.
They will pop primers long before you reach max loads

Nomad · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2010, 09:58:12 PM »

44.5gr Varget 155 Amax 210M win Brass
44gr Varget 165gr spbt Hornady 210M Fed Brass
44gr Reloader 15 win cases WLR 165gr spbt
45gr Varget 175gr smk Win 210M
168gr Nos Varget 44.5 210M lapua
M1A 168gr NOS 40.5gr H4895 LC brass WLR
M1A 168gr NOS 41.5 Reloader 15 win cases WLR

ida83704 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2010, 10:23:09 PM »

How 'full' is a .308 case with 45gr of varget? or 42 gr for that matter?

Any other powder better with temp sensativity than varget? RL17 proll'y won't work for me

thanks

luckypunk · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2010, 11:46:58 PM »

44.5 grains comes almost to the bottom of the neck rem brass & will crunch slightly as I seat 155/175, but it will settle & still hear loose powder in there, so I don't think it's fully compressed

J Mack · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2010, 07:16:53 AM »

Quote from: ida83704 on August 24, 2010, 10:23:09 PM

How 'full' is a .308 case with 45gr of varget? or 42 gr for that matter?

45gr of Varget =107% and 42.04= 100% according to quick load

Any other powder better with temp sensativity than varget? RL17 proll'y won't work for me

Look at VV N-540

44.2gr Vihtavuori N540, Wolf Primer, Lapua brass, 175 SMK, 2.830 OAL, = 2730 FPS from my 18" barreled 308.

FYI; this load will pop primers with FC brass but shows no pressure signs in the Lupua.

Nomad · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2010, 07:26:44 AM »

The new Hodgon's Manual page 115 list the 45gr of Varget as max 48,600 cup pressure
using Win brass and 210M primers.
As always work up your loads........

birddog1989 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2010, 09:09:28 AM »

49 grns Varget, 110grn Hornady V-max or 44.5 grns Varget, 168 grn Hornady A-max. 20" Savage hvy barrel.

mjmcmahon · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2010, 10:44:19 AM »

Swift6Six and I have been experimenting with IMR 8208XBR and we've had some impressive results with it. I'll get details together and posted this evening.

tgibson · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2010, 09:54:37 PM »

The Sheepdog Ammo 168 A Max's!!
Adios,
TG

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2010, 09:03:04 PM »

Did a little chrono work yesterday with my new gas gun. Not so surprisingly, the .308 load I listed above shot well.

175smk, 45gr Varget, CCI BR2, Win Brass, 2.815 OAL, I could see the group developing and pulled a couple of fliers so I knuckled down and shot this 100yd group. Not too shabby off of a rolled up blanket!

The load shot so well that I decided to take it out to 1k. Two sighters in the same spot then 13 rounds on a 36" gong and a 20"gong. 39.75 MOA to get to 1K.

Some 16" data, since it seems to be scarce online. All ten shot averages;

Load listed above = 2498fps, For comparison, this shoots @ 2695fps in my 24" FN SPR A3G
150 Hornady fmj-bt, 45.5 Varget, LC brass = 2629fps
150 Hornady fmj-bt, 46 Varget, LC brass = 2680fps
150 Hornady fmj-bt, 46.5 Varget, LC brass = 2683fps
150 SP, Fed Power Shock Factory =2612fps

These were shot @ 2900' alt, 80deg F, Don't use the Varget load in anything with less case capacity than Winny brass. Don't forget the standard reloading safety disclaimer.

ida83704 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2010, 10:48:41 PM »

RG,

What do you think about running CCI magnum primers in a .308?
I'd like to keep it simple with components between .308, 30-06 and .300WM.

Also any thoughts on 208grain AMAX with Varget in a .308 w/ a 26inch tube?

Nomad · « **Reply #16 on:** September 15, 2010, 05:25:17 AM »

With the 208gr Amax you may want to look at RL-17 in win brass...
Lots of information on Snipershide and long range hunting web sites.

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #17 on:** September 15, 2010, 05:26:11 AM »

Quote from: ida83704 on September 14, 2010, 10:48:41 PM

RG,

What do you think about running CCI magnum primers in a .308?
I'd like to keep it simple with components between .308, 30-06 and .300WM.

Also any thoughts on 208grain AMAX with Varget in a .308 w/ a 26inch tube?

I don't see why you couldn't use the magnum primers. Magnum primers tend to be hotter. The benchrest crowd tends to go with milder, more consistent primers. If you can work up an accurate, consistent load, I would go for it.

I haven't tried the 208 AMAX. If the numbers work to the distance you want to shoot and you can find something accurate and consistent...

208gr sounds heavy for most .308's. The twist rate might be a killer once you get out a bit.

Nomad · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:03:37 PM »

Did some reloading ladder work using Reloader-17 with 180 Speer btsp.
Had real good results, very surprising over the course of testing......
Sub min group out of a custom built 308 22" barrel 03 action.....

WTF · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2010, 12:28:22 PM »

Anyone have any load data using 308 168gr Amax's with Ramshot Tac powder? I can't seem to find much info, Thanks in Advance!

Boise_Tactical · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:56:22 PM »

178 amax
lapua brass
Fed 210m
46 gr 2000-mr
2600fps +-15

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2011, 11:29:04 AM »

100 yds prone - harris bipod

24" FN SPR A3G

Percy · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:24:37 AM »

45 gr. Varget, once fired rem/win brass, 168 gr. SMK BTHP, on CCI primers. Very sweet out of the Remington 700 SPS Varmint 26" barrel. Half MOA on a good day.

44.5 shot well, too, but 45 produced the most consistent group.

Grumblecakes · « **Reply #23 on:** March 10, 2011, 10:01:36 AM »

ive been using 168 smks and amax over 46gr of varget just of the lands, max load so work it up if you use it. dont have any targets to post but its groups about as well as i can shoot, which isnt as impressive as the targets posted here. my brother has shot this load in my rifle with great results

JRM · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2011, 11:13:39 PM »

Rem 700 SPS Tac AAC-SD
178 Amax
Lapua brass
varget
cci200
Mag length 2.850 coal
2550fps 10 string average

I recently did a OCW test with some Berger 190 vlds but they didn't like being seated out to mag length. Might try some 208 amaxes if I can find some.

mjmcmahon · « **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2011, 09:07:38 AM »

Well it took over 6 months, but I FINALLY got Chrono data on the 8208XBR:

   String 1   String 2   String 4   String 5   String 6
Shot 1   2573   2550   2647   2633   2579
Shot 2   2572   2550   2643   2663   2597
Shot 3   2554   2561   2664   2661   2641
Shot 4   2564   2565   2645   -   2687
Shot 5   2551   2560   2641   2662   2685
Shot 6
Std Dev   9.02   6.11   8.25   12.58   44.23
ES   22   15   23   30   108
Avg   2562.8   2557.2   2648   2654.75   2637.8

Load data:

Powder: IMR8208XBR
Charge: 42.0grn
Bullet: Sierra 175grn SMK
Primer: Federal 210M
Brass: Hornady Match
2.795 OAL

First two strings were LC Match brass which may account for some of the velocity differences. Best group with this load (to date) has been a 5-shot sub 1/3" group at 100.

Nomad · « **Reply #26 on:** April 05, 2011, 06:37:58 AM »

mjmcmahon Thanks for the post and information
Did some reloads for a friends M1A 41.75gr of IMR 4064 210M FC military cases shot a 1.1 in
group which thought was good........
Looking to try some 8208 in it.........

mjmcmahon · « **Reply #27 on:** April 05, 2011, 11:38:16 AM »

I'd tossed around the idea of trying 4064 or 4895 but, frankly, both require more powder than the 8208. I think I'll stay where I'm at.

ManOnFire · « **Reply #28 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:59:52 PM »

Winchester brass. (rcbs full sized, trim to 2.006, Weight sorted)
SMK 175 seating at 2.820"
CCI BR2
H4895 42.5(42.8 for Nosler brass)

First found the load in a Rem sps tac. Just happen to work up to the same exact load for my Rem 5R as well. The load seems to have a quite large node from 42.2-43.0 all being capable of .4-.6. 42.5 has gotten a a couple of .3's. IMR4895 has similar results with smaller node and temp sensitive.

Steve N · « **Reply #29 on:** April 05, 2011, 07:36:57 PM »

Magnum primers tend to be hotter.

I did an extensive test, with chrono, a year or so ago with Magnum primers and found zero difference between them and regular primers - even micing the primer cups I found the companies lie about thickness and such -

41.5 grns 4895 in a Federal Match case, regular primer (winchesters), and 168 grn Nosler bullet. My M-14 shoots sub 1/2" groups all day with that and I took my Ishapore Lee-Enfield out today and shot the same load. Using a sling and peep sights at 90 yards (some yoyo was shooting a 22 pistol on the only 100 yard section) and was 2 1/2 inch grouping.

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #30 on:** October 04, 2011, 10:59:30 AM »

45.0 Varget, 175smk, CCI BR2, Win brass - this is a load worth working up to.

Thanks to Sawtac, I had a new 20" LMT barrel to check out.

I was shooting over the chrono on with the bipod on the concrete bench using a jacket for a rear bag. I think they'll all go in a little tighter shot prone with the bipod in the dirt. I'm sure I pulled the unmarked flyers but they weren't called. There's 8 in about .75". Damned gas guns, anyways...

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2011, 07:01:26 PM »

This one is for Hans Cholo. 20" plate at Parma.

The one group I have on a freshly painted piece of steel at 1k, with a 16" LMT chrome lined bbl and 175smk. Yeah, Varget again...

han_cholo · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2011, 07:06:35 PM »

^^^^WIN!!! Thanks for the good intel. After hearing the impressive results of your 16" barrel, I'm leaning more towards that length now. Now just trying to decide between the PWS or the LMT.

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #33 on:** October 30, 2011, 07:22:21 PM »

Quote from: han_cholo on October 30, 2011, 07:06:35 PM

^^^^WIN!!! Thanks for the good intel. After hearing the impressive results of your 16" barrel, I'm leaning more towards that length now. Now just trying to decide between the PWS or the LMT.

I'm totally pleased with the LMT. The barrel swap feature as well as the Brits and now New Zealand adoting the rifle for DM duty were deciding factors.

Don't dismiss the Larue OBR. It is a solid performer. James at Ambush has one. I'd be willing to bet he'd let you fondle it if you stopped by the shop.

han_cholo · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2011, 07:52:27 PM »

The Larue is a solid solid rifle, but the LMT and PWS are way more affordable. I work for the state, so my funds are very limited lol!