favorite .308 load??

[ida83704]

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

brass
primer
powder
projectiles
etc.

[RGinIdaho]

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

[ida83704]

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]

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

[RGinIdaho]

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]

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]

 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]

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]

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]

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]

 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]

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

[mjmcmahon]

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]

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

[RGinIdaho]

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]

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]

 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]

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]

 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]

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]

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

[RGinIdaho]

100 yds prone - harris bipod

24" FN SPR A3G

 

[Percy]

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]

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]

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.