I need some advice for my .308 load for 1000 yd. load, how hard can I push a load with out damage. I am loading lapua small primer brass, with 43 grains of varget, on a 175gr. long range boat tail berger bullet,28inch shilen heavy match barrel 2685 fps. my first match I ran out of elevation adjustments by 8 moa, I purchased a 30 moa rail but I would like to bump my load some, any advice, ( 15-42 bench rest night force scope only 30 moa adjustment travel)
308 f -tr
- Thread starter jdugas003
- Start date
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
How do your primers look,can you post a picture? Have you found the optimum pressure yet by just working one load at a time to find the highest usable pressure.You have to measure just above the extractor groove on each load till the pressure rears its ugly head.If the primers are flat with just a splash where the pin hit your primer,that is probably the hottest load ,If the base measurement GOES OVER SAY A .001 and the primer is flat you hit a spot where you have to reduce that load.I have heard of others running a little more of varget but you should try IMR 4064,REL15,h4895,and others till you find a load with enough speed to get you to 1000 yds effectively.Check out the home page and look at the cartridge list on the left hand column of the screen and there is a .308 cartridge on the list.Click on it and there is a lot of imfo on loads that other long range shooters have posted. Remember to start low and work up.Remember the guide is a guide.
All good points by Jonbearman. I had good luck with H4350 in my Palma rifle with 185s. With a 32" barrel I made it to 2800 (barely) but backed off a bit for a more accurate load. With Varget you may be able to make 2750-ish with a 28" barrel but follow the above advise and try and test on warm days so you won't get caught with over the top loads at a match in summer time.
OP, Where are you on barrel whip ?
i would also order a set of signature zee rings with plastic inserts for some more MOA with the limited travel of the benchrest scope.
But going with the load development a accurate load load is what you need but i would stop at a load that you can shoot with consistency and repeatability. And what i mean by that is recoil, and ability to remain on target. Most of all being comfortable behind the gun for a 20 shot string.
But going with the load development a accurate load load is what you need but i would stop at a load that you can shoot with consistency and repeatability. And what i mean by that is recoil, and ability to remain on target. Most of all being comfortable behind the gun for a 20 shot string.
OP, Eric has given sound advice. To expand on my above post, you may get lucky and find a node where your barrel is near the top of the whip, giving you both a bit of positive compensation as well as a 2-2-1/2 MOA higher impact at 1 K, despite only a marginal increase/decrease in pressure/MV. As above, you are the launch platform, so you must be able to handle the load, preferably without recoil even crossing your mind. The load must not be sufficiently disruptive to require time lost fiddling with re-establishing position, as the position must be THE SAME. Seymour
thanks for the advice. now that the weather is getting better i will spend some more time at the 600 and 1000 yd. range, I am not showing any signs of pressure, I am just a little timid about bumping over any standard high charge limits, but I will keep using varget powder and I just received 1000 lapua 175gr secnar l bullits so I can shoot for a bit longer
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
My experience with small primer brass is that it doesn't show pressure signs until you are way beyond where you want to be. (i lost the primer pockets on 60 Lapua Palma cases last yr after one firing, don't ask, but needless to say it was too hot)
With Varget and 175-185 gr bullets you should be good up to the range of 44.0 to 44.5 at least. Find the node there and load in it. (As they used to say in USPSA, you can't miss fast enough to win.) That should put you in the mid 2700s for MV.
If you see ejector marks or have a sticky bolt you are too hot by at least 0.5gr, maybe more. Primers will not tell you much before then.
With Varget and 175-185 gr bullets you should be good up to the range of 44.0 to 44.5 at least. Find the node there and load in it. (As they used to say in USPSA, you can't miss fast enough to win.) That should put you in the mid 2700s for MV.
If you see ejector marks or have a sticky bolt you are too hot by at least 0.5gr, maybe more. Primers will not tell you much before then.
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