308 win load help...

[Sniper338]

22 inch 10 twist heavy varmint brux barrel


I've been trying berger 155 VLDs. Tried out Varget, and it didnt like it at all. I just got done trying Reloader 15 and it was better... It liked the 44.5-45.5 range, groups tighened up some with each increase... no bug holes , 3 touching and the other 2 shots somewhere around it, inch overall groups... 200 yards...

I'm going to tinker with Reloader 15 a bit more as I did have a lovely fiance with me that kept saying "are you almost done, ugh" so my barrel was pretty darn warm shooting the last few strings, but even with the hot barrel they were my best groups...

Question is... IF reloader 15 doesnt get them bug holeing.... What is the next powder to try thats shown yall lots of fantastic results in a 308? AND I am pondering on switching to a little bit heavier bullet, I'm not sold that this 10 twist likes the lighter 155s... I think it may like some more meat..

Whats yalls opinions...


PS. interesting note... recoil felt like it was cut in half with the reloader 15 vs the varget... varget kicked like a mule. Reloader 15 was much smoother... just interested me because I noticed it first shot, big difference..

 

[ShootDots]

For those "light" bullets in the .308, give IMR 8208XBR a try. I have never heard of where someone was not T-Totally impressed with that powder in the light bullet class. Additionally, a broad range of seating depth changes could very well make that necessary difference you are looking for. But T-Rust me, 8208 is THEE TICKET for those lighter bullets..

 

[Sniper338]

For those "light" bullets in the .308, give IMR 8208XBR a try. I have never heard of where someone was not T-Totally impressed with that powder in the light bullet class. Additionally, a broad range of seating depth changes could very well make that necessary difference you are looking for. But T-Rust me, 8208 is THEE TICKET for those lighter bullets..

10-4 I got some of that powder laying around somewhere

 

[K22]

IMR 4064 and Varget has worked very well for me with 150 grain bullets using Federal 210 match primers.

 

[gaboon]

Try imr 4895 it works good.

 

[wolley]

Varget needs a lot more barrel than 22" to burn properly. Try a faster powder such as 8208 or 3031. Even IMR4895 would be a better choice than the Varget. If you try 8208 be aware that it is a very Peaky powder. It creates a lot of pressure very quickly.(very low velocities for the pressure it makes) It can go from OK to WTF! with just a couple of tenths or a 15 degrees temp rise. N135 would also be a good choice.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Varget needs a lot more barrel than 22" to burn properly.

Are you sure? I know a lot of guys with 20" barrels running Varget and the speed is right on par with other powders. I am not a big 308 shooter, but this doesn't sound right.

 

[wolley]

Are you sure? I know a lot of guys with 20" barrels running Varget and the speed is right on par with other powders. I am not a big 308 shooter, but this doesn't sound right.

Varget in a standard load with 155s will burn about 96% of the powder. Load it stupid hot and it will go to 97.5%
8208 is 99.8%. 3031 is 100% at 15"
I've got a couple of short heavy barreled rifles and they will always do better with a faster burning powder than Varget.
For my LR sling rifle(30" barrel) Varget is King.

 

[missed]

I have run Varget and IMR 4166 behind the 155 hybrids. My barrels either liked them either touching the lands or jumping 0.120" This was out of a 16", 20" and 24" barrel they all liked the seating depths on one extreme or the other. The ones I was jumping 0.120" in the 24" barrel was 46 grains of 4166 and over 3000 fps, but that barrel was LONG throated, like 0.250" from fitting in an AICS mag.

 

[JHardy]

You may be on the money here. Scott Parker has done a lot of testing in the .308 with 8208 and it has been very impressive form an accuracy, ES and velocity point of view (but has not tested in a short barrel). It is sure worth a try.

Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shot: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960

 

[dalej]

Varget seems to improve accuracy as charge is increased. 155 gr bullets, 47 gr Varget with Lapua Palma brass and CCI-450 primers gets me 3070 fps in a 1:12 30" Kreiger barrel.

 

[amlevin]

Varget seems to improve accuracy as charge is increased. 155 gr bullets, 47 gr Varget with Lapua Palma brass and CCI-450 primers gets me 3070 fps in a 1:12 30" Kreiger barrel.

My experience has been that Varget does well when it fills the case. Less than a full case, not so much.

The IMR 8208 XBR may be great for the 155's but I find it does pretty darn good with 175 gr bullets as well. Faster speeds than Varget using same case, primer, and bullet. But maybe that's just my rifle.

 

[r bose]

Never could get bugholes with any 155's with my 10 twist 308, 24" barrel. It wanted 168 sierra's w/43.0 g IMR-4064, 175 sierra's with 43.0g RL-15 and 46g of RL-17 with a 208 AMAX. All in a LC match case w/ winchester primers.

A different bullet might help.

 

[Sniper338]

Well I got some loads worked up with imr 8208 xbr - we will see what happens. Found out I got a bit of a neck tension issue among a batch of brass, where as the other batch is fine. But, its all brand new unfired so I think I will get it all right second round of case prep. I loaded up .5 increments from 41.0 to 45.0 - where as 45.0 filled the case... I'll have to pay attention for pressure signs for sure just in case...

 

[nastynatesfish]

If you can find it look at some ARcomp. I run 175s in a 22" and it shoots them pretty well. Also ran them in my 16" recon.

 

[cjmac]

Always wondered about 8208 in a 308 . Seems like it dosent fill the case very well .

 

[william5409]

Try imr 4895 it works good for me!!

 

[Sniper338]

Always wondered about 8208 in a 308 . Seems like it dosent fill the case very well .

8208 filled my cases plenty at 44.0 to 45 gr.... my gun didmt quite seem to like that much thoigh... it doeant fill to crunching powder any at all... 45gr is max load published..

 

[amlevin]

Always wondered about 8208 in a 308 . Seems like it dosent fill the case very well .

This is why I like it for longer bullets I want to load short enough to "magazine feed".

 

[rtpnc]

If you can find it look at some ARcomp. I run 175s in a 22" and it shoots them pretty well. Also ran them in my 16" recon.

If you don't mind, can you share your load?
I did an initial OCW w/AR-Comp in prepped LC brass, SMK 175s, and got nothing worth pursuing in my 20" 1:10 AAC-SD so far.