308 Win and 175s

[xswanted]

Hi guys,

Obviously a pretty bread and butter type combo. 308 running 175 SMKs propelled by Varget.

24” medium Palma barrel.

What speed should a guy go for?

I’m shooting these right about 2550 depending on temp. They seem to hold vertical pretty well at 600 yards.

Informal F-TR rig for informal F Class shooting.

Thanks

 

[rijndael]

That's probably the lower node, 2650-2675'ish another one.

Was your load around 43 grains?

 

[xswanted]

That's probably the lower node, 2650-2675'ish another one.

Was your load around 43 grains?

Yep I believe so I’d have to look at the label to be sure but it’s 43 and a couple tenths I believe.

 

[rijndael]

OK. Then the other node is in the 44.x area, but weak brass won't like it.

These days, I prefer the lower node because brass life is a concern.

 

[xswanted]

OK. Then the other node is in the 44.x area, but weak brass won't like it.

These days, I prefer the lower node because brass life is a concern.

Sounds good.
I’m using Lapua brass so I may give a shot a hotter load but for what I’m doing I think this will work.

Thank you!

 

[rijndael]

Lapua Brass ... you'll probably find it smack in the middle, 44.5
It's definitely on the warmer side, so work up.

 

[WAMBO]

Yep, I 2nd the 44.5 gr load, it's what I shoot, around 2700 fps with Lapua brass in a 24" Rock 5R barrel.

 

[Rob01]

24" barrel you should easily be able to get them over 2700fps with Varget. My 20" shoots 178s at 2695fps with Varget.

 

[dc.fireman]

OK. Then the other node is in the 44.x area, but weak brass won't like it.

These days, I prefer the lower node because brass life is a concern.

My load with Nosler 175's:

Federal Brass, annealed, neck turned, F/L bushing sized;
Federal 210 M
Varget @ 44.3 gr.

2.820" COAL

These run right around 2680-2690 in a Tikka T3 Sporter, with a 23.7" barrel.

 

[Sniper338]

Thats mt 308 combo.. 10 twist barrel.

 

[JB10]

I got a 26in 308 shooting 175gr bergers. With imr4064 im getting 2,670. Lapua brass large primer.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Hi guys,

Obviously a pretty bread and butter type combo. 308 running 175 SMKs propelled by Varget.

24” medium Palma barrel.

What speed should a guy go for?

I’m shooting these right about 2550 depending on temp. They seem to hold vertical pretty well at 600 yards.

Informal F-TR rig for informal F Class shooting.

Thanks

Out of my 24" Krieger barrel I have a sweet spot for the 175 SMK's with Varget at 43.6 grs giving me an MV of ~2674 fps with a COAL of 2.860 and that was when the barrel was new with only 40 rounds through it.

Here's some more info you might find of some interest for 175 SMK's and Varget:

308 Winchester Load Development: 175-grain Sierra Matchking and Varget

308 Winchester Load Development I headed to the range to do some load development for my custom Remington 700 chambered in 308 Winchester with a 22″ long barrel (my previous load was a NRA Hi…

rifleshooter.com

 

[DirtySteve]

I had a 5R Rock Creek 1-10 M24 contour that really like 44.1 grs Varget with the 175. Speed was 2650. I used to use 44.5 but backed of due to pressure signs when I changed lots.. That was many years ago.. Then stayed with the lower charge load from about 2005 till I swapped out the barrel last year..

 

[miningshawn]

From a box-stock RPR (20" 5R) using Hornady 178 ELDM's, Starline cases, CCI-BR4's, 44.5gr Varget and a COAL of 2.920 I observed 2662 with an ES of 16 and a SD of 6. Not a 175SMK - but close. Of note: RPR's have a generous chamber and a long throat.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Lapua brass 175 vld berger i was in the 2700-2740 range with 44-44.2 gr varget in a 26” tube, but gun wouldnt shoot the bergers well at all.
Its a hunting gun so i went with 180 gr ballistic tips with power pro 2000 and 47.3 gr same brass got me 2713 fps and excellent accuracy.

 

[Bill Norris]

The group on the left was out of my .308 700 Custom Build 1 - 11 Tw. 24 " barrel with a 175 gr. Sierra TMK on top of 43.0 gr. of Varget - 210M Fed primer in Lapua once fired brass @ .010 of the lands. I think it would probably stand 44.0 gr. with no issues.