308 load development for 200 & 215 great Berger s

[Nature Boy]

The main reason I haven’t made the switch to Palma brass is I have ~9k of Fed 210M primers on hand.

Plus, I’m only shooting 185 hybrids with a very accurate load that’s getting the job done at 600 yards. I’m getting around 8-10 reloads before the pockets get too loose

 

[Papa Charlie]

The main reason I haven’t made the switch to Palma brass is I have ~9k of Fed 210M primers on hand.

Plus, I’m only shooting 185 hybrids with a very accurate load that’s getting the job done at 600 yards. I’m getting around 8-10 reloads before the pockets get too loose

I am having equal results. I got over 20 firings out of the set of Lapua Winchester brass shooting high pressure loads and 185gr Juggernauts. I have already ordered another 100 of the same brass as I am now replacing them. This will give me over 200 cases with 0-5 firings. I also have 700 BR-2 primers.
The main range I shoot at is 500 yards. I am looking to explore 1000 with the heavier rounds, but that will be a small percentage of matches over a season. I may convert to the Palma small primer cases after these. But for now, I will make use of what I got.
I do appreciate the advice and will take that to heart for the future. Right now, my concern is developing the loads that I will use.
While I will be doing my own development, working up slowly to prevent over pressure, I do find it interesting the loads that others are using, they are higher than I would have expected. The speeds I expected. This will give me some idea of where I may end up. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[swadiver]

The main reason I haven’t made the switch to Palma brass is I have ~9k of Fed 210M primers on hand.

Plus, I’m only shooting 185 hybrids with a very accurate load that’s getting the job done at 600 yards. I’m getting around 8-10 reloads before the pockets get too loose

things are a bit more forgiving at 600 yds vs 1000 yds for the .308. the 185gr class of bullets is great for 600 yds

 

[Ned Ludd]

FWIW - people's definitions for "high pressure" loads can vary widely. SAAMI MAX for .308 Win is listed at 62,000 psi. A typical F-TR load with 185 gr bullets running in the 2750 fps range (+/- 25 fps) are going to come in under SAAMI MAX according to QuickLoad, maybe around 57 - 61 K psi, dependent on freebore length. Those loads are not what I would really consider "high pressure" and it may well be that standard Lapua brass will handle those loads for quite some time. However, most people running the 200+ gr bullets are pushing pressures to something more like 62K to 64K psi, or even higher. I can tell you from personal experience that the primer pockets of standard Lapua brass will not take that kind of pressure for more than 1-2, maybe 3 firings before the primer pockets are gone. On the other hand, Lapua Palma brass can take those loads for quite a while. So it really boils down to the average pressure your loads are running. If they are relatively mild, standard .308 brass works just fine. If you're pushing them hard like a lot of F-TR shooters do, the Palma brass is the better choice, long-term, that's all.

 

[dcali]

That's my experience as well. I've never gone over about 65ksi (by QuikLOAD's measure), and at that pressure I started to get sticky bolts, but no other pressure signs. Large primer brass did not survive this treatment. Palma brass does. Generally, I avoid these loads, as there's not usually a good reason for them. My best juggernaut load shot well at 58ksi, which suits me fine. I could not get 215s to shoot well even at higher than comfortable pressures. Just depends on the bullet and rifle.

 

[Down South]

FWIW - people's definitions for "high pressure" loads can vary widely. SAAMI MAX for .308 Win is listed at 62,000 psi. A typical F-TR load with 185 gr bullets running in the 2750 fps range (+/- 25 fps) are going to come in under SAAMI MAX according to QuickLoad, maybe around 57 - 61 K psi, dependent on freebore length. Those loads are not what I would really consider "high pressure" and it may well be that standard Lapua brass will handle those loads for quite some time. However, most people running the 200+ gr bullets are pushing pressures to something more like 62K to 64K psi, or even higher. I can tell you from personal experience that the primer pockets of standard Lapua brass will not take that kind of pressure for more than 1-2, maybe 3 firings before the primer pockets are gone. On the other hand, Lapua Palma brass can take those loads for quite a while. So it really boils down to the average pressure your loads are running. If they are relatively mild, standard .308 brass works just fine. If you're pushing them hard like a lot of F-TR shooters do, the Palma brass is the better choice, long-term, that's all.

+1

 

[LVLAaron]

Palma brass also has a much smaller flash hole.

 

[JohnKielly]

Palma brass also has a much smaller flash hole.

If you leave it as the factory made it, and with good reason, I suspect.

 

[LVLAaron]

Yes. I dont monkey with them. My FTR load is 44g Varget.

In a palma case the primer looks like new after firing. In a large primer case the primer is 100 percent flat and will "etch" the bolt face.