308 load for long range

[slm9s]

If you were going to set up a mag fed 308 for LR accuracy . . . .

I have a new to me 308 on the way, after having swore off the cartridge for a few years.

It will mostly be a range toy, but like all of us I want the most accuracy I can get. Its a Surgeon 591 w/ 30" 10 twist barrel. I'll be using it in a chassis, so AICS mag length is all I can go, 2.85-2.9"

The seller has a load worked up for 175 TMKs, I'll have to try to find a box. I do have a bunch of the RDF 185s I was going to try and see if they do well. I also have a ton of custom comps in 155, 175, and 190; and 208 amaxs.

I was going to try RL17. Any other favorite powders that give good velocity for long range accuracy?

Can I fit a 208 amax in a 2.9" 308?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SS GO DEVIL]

26'' Bartlein 5r barrel 1:11 twist, Lapua brass, Varget or H4895 using 175 Sierra SMK or 175 Berger Long Range were the best combos I ever had. 1/2 moa accuracy at 1k matches around 2750 fps. The key I found with a 308 was keeping it just above mach 1.2 at 1K.

 

[Ned Ludd]

If you're going to load to mag length, stick to the lighter pills (175s, maybe 185s). However, why not simply single feed rounds that you have seated longer? With a 30" 10-twist barrel, you could be loading any bullets up to and including the 208s with no trouble. At mag length, way too much of the case will be occupied by bullet shank with those long pills seated deep, which usually means high pressure and poor velocity. If you single feed rounds with the longer, higher BC bullets, you won't be giving up so much of the intrinsic potential of the rifle by being constricted to loading mag length rounds. Below are some other choices that would also work:

Berger 168 Hybrid, 175 OTM Tactical, 185 Juggernaut, 200-20X

The powder of choice for .308 Win is typically Varget or H4895, especially with heavier bullets. Personally, I'd avoid using Re17, it's quite temperature-sensitive and the transition at the top end of the pressure curve from "satisfactory" to "overpressure" can be very abrupt.

 

[Trevor60]

Evening

You have two opposing systems mag feed and 30" barrel

If you are going to shoot F class single loading like the other have said is the way to go (and required) BUT you will need to find out what your freebore length is to see if you can run 200 class bullets.

If you are relatively new to F class go with the 185 bergers they are really easy to tune and you can get 1/3moa or better at 100 will little effort.

185's varget or n140, lapua small primer brass and fed 205m

For PRS or shooting steel and mag feeding i would highly recommend the 168 berger they shoot flatter then 185 for unknown distances and give up very little wind bucking until 800ish yards.
I haven't shot 175 TMK to compare them against.

I have shot 155 lapua scenars in the same rifle and prefer the 168's for precision matches.

168's IMR8208, Norma 308win large primer brass, CCIBr2 and get single digit ES.

all the best
Trevor

edit i haven't tried any of the Nosler but if i was mag feeding the 155's are fun and for F class the 190's single feed.

 

[1611]

185 Berger juggernauts loaded down with some IMR4064 or some varget at 2.810” coal. Push em as fast as you can out the muzzle without pressure signs and maintaining sub moa 10 shots groups is what I’m doing

 

[slm9s]

Thanks guys. I won't be competing with this, like I said it will mostly be a range toy. My main interest these days is medium/long range bolt guns. I'll mostly be shooting this at 500 to 1000, mag fed, prone off a bipod or off a bench. I was just wondering what combo might give me the best results.

 

[284winner]

I agree with the 175-185 bullets. I'd choose the 185s personally. I compare the 175 vs 185 out to beyond 1000 yards and the 185s have better numbers over all. I used the 185s in a prairie dog shoot and hit dogs beyond 1000 in wind. They were very accurate and did real well in wind. They were Berger 185 VLDs. Loaded long single fed in a bolt gun. Ran RE 15 with good results. Good luck.

 

[muleman69]

Evening

You have two opposing systems mag feed and 30" barrel

If you are going to shoot F class single loading like the other have said is the way to go (and required) BUT you will need to find out what your freebore length is to see if you can run 200 class bullets.

If you are relatively new to F class go with the 185 bergers they are really easy to tune and you can get 1/3moa or better at 100 will little effort.

185's varget or n140, lapua small primer brass and fed 205m

For PRS or shooting steel and mag feeding i would highly recommend the 168 berger they shoot flatter then 185 for unknown distances and give up very little wind bucking until 800ish yards.
I haven't shot 175 TMK to compare them against.

I have shot 155 lapua scenars in the same rifle and prefer the 168's for precision matches.

168's IMR8208, Norma 308win large primer brass, CCIBr2 and get single digit ES.

all the best
Trevor

edit i haven't tried any of the Nosler but if i was mag feeding the 155's are fun and for F class the 190's single feed.

I would like to try your load using the 168's with IMR 8208, I have some lapua brass is all? what would be a good starting load? Barrel is a 10 twist x26"

 

[Trevor60]

Good day

Checking Hodgdon reloading site i am above max, so i am hesitant to share

- I moly coat and used an Obermeyer reamer with leade of .085
- Using Norma brass I have a little more internal volume over Lapua
- My Barrel is a 26" Rock Creek 11.25twist 5r

I am able to reach 2840fps and experience no pressure

You could start with 39gn and increase by .3gn until your load levels out or you see pressure signs, and start fine tuning.
When testing I always seat bullets with a hard jam.
I test at 300yards as the vertical spread is more visible between shots.

All the best
Trevor

 

[dsinfour]

Just go with SS Go Devil above data and just run with it because it will work. I use the same data and it works for me . Also with a 308 shooting anything bigger than 175 grains won't get you anything that the 175 can't do and not beat you up. Enjoy

 

[Bamboolongbow]

The 178 Hornady's were magic in my .308 with a 1 in 10 twist. I ran both Varget and IMR8208. My primers were CCI BR and Federal Gold Medal Match with Lapua brass. I tried the 155 Hybrids and nearly drove myself crazy trying to get close to the .260

 

[lloydx2]

185 jug using accurate binderless mag