.308 win 600yd loads

[wi50]

I am going to try my first F-class match which is held at 600 yds. The rifle has a 26 inch 1 in 10 twist barrel, .308 Win Any ideas on loads? I have had good luck with 168 SMK but would the Lapua 155 Scenar be a better choice, less wind drift. Or the 175 SMK. Was going to get some and try to work up a load. What do some of you use?

 

[chuckw2]

Marty,
Welcome to forum. Go to our home page and hit 308, a lot of great information is available there.

What kind of rifle do you have...do you shoot at Lodi?

Chuck

 

[Forum Boss]

If you are on the forum page within the frame, you can also navigate to the .308 page by clicking on the left Nav bar: "308 Win Info Page"

or here: http://www.6mmbr.com/308win.html

 

[wi50]

Thank you, I have checked this site many times and always found it to be helpful. I like the feature pages and have read them time after time.

Chuck,
It is just a Savage model 10 FP in a Stockade SVT stock. In about 2 weeks it is making a little trip to Stockade for a Sharpshooter Supply trigger, action trueing and timing and a new Benchmark barrel.
I know one should build something other than a Savage in .308 win but there is nothing like being the underdog and I already have a good supply of premium reloading supplies and equipment for it. Besides a guy needs a 308 around anyway. I will probably buy or build a 7mm WSM or 6.5-284 if I get into this and really enjoy it which I think I will. I do not think that the .308 will be too much of a hinderance at 600 yds but at 1000 it may be a different story.

I may shoot at Lodi, I just do not know yet, but I will shoot at Eau Claire the end of april, it's only about 1 hour away for me.

 

[memilanuk]

...I know one should build something other than a Savage in .308 win but there is nothing like being the underdog...

I wouldn't sell that 10FP short just yet. Stop apologizing for your gun. It hasn't done anything wrong yet.

I'm shooting a 10FP. Started life as a 10FP-LE2,26" barrel) to be exact. For a long time, the *only* upgrades were Final Finishing the barrel and changing the stock out... a Stockade Woodchuck,same stock as the SSS Varmint/Tactical ), no bedding, nothing, topped w/ a SS16X42 scope. Found a couple loads it liked, one in particular being a 155gr Nosler over Varget & CCI BR2 primers. 46.5gr in a Lapua case, 47.5gr in a Winchester case,touch on the warm side). After that, I quit chasing loads for it and just shot. And shot, and shot, and shot. The gun shot well enough to place pretty well in a number of matches it's been shot in,including a few wins). Last fall it found it's way to SSS for tuning/trueing, and acquired a 6mm BR barrel. This winter it got a scope change, and somewhere in there it picked up a Rifle Basix trigger set in the couple-ounce range. Incremental upgrades, and while it's more accurate now, I'm not entirely sure how much is the gun's more accurate, and how much is just it's easier to shoot now. Bottom line is, get the gun shooting half-minute or so,shouldn't be too hard) and then leave the loads alone and go shoot... a lot. Short of pure BR, it's more you than the gun anyway, that causes dropped points.

YMMV,

Monte

 

[chuckw2]

I love my Savage rifles!!!!\


Chuck

 

[30378]

Try 46.5 to 47gr of IMR-4064 with the 155 Sierra Palmas. Lapua brass, Federal 210M primers and seated to 2.88"OAL. My 308 just loves that recipe.

 

[Jonny]

Try 45g of Viht. 140 with a Sierra 155. Throw away the 168s!

 

[Travelor]

wi50, before you send your rifle off, take a look at Mr. Larry Racine's website: www.lprgunsmith.com/lpr_palma_rifle.htm

I had him do this modification to my Savage and at 600 yards it shot a 1596-106x out of a possible 1600-160x. I cannot say enough for the quality of his work or his honesty in giving a time to expect the work to be conpleted. Needless to say, I am a true fan of his work and highly recommend him.

Incidently, I would shoot the 175 gr SMK with 45 grains of Varget seated .020" off with your factory gun. ,Work up to this load as you would do anyone's suggested load).

Good luck and may the winds always be fair for you,
George

 

[M700]

I've shot factory loaded 168 grain Federal match ammo into sub 3" groups at 600 yards, from a bipod... The stuff works!

The 175's typically do better than the 168's at longer ranges, and in the wind though.

Standard load for 'em anymore is pretty much 45 grains of Varget and a 175 SMK. Gotta work up to the load though - it's a mite stout for some rifles.

The .308 shoots real nice at 600. Regards, Guy

 

[Forum Boss]

As to the 45gr load with Varget. There have been significant lot to lot variations with this powder. You really do need to start low,42.5 or so) and work up. Some guys will max out at 44gr with the faster lots of Varget.