.308 win. load development for new rifle

[Frawg]

it's not factory. I'm .010 off the lands at 2.880. Thats why I built it on a long action to run it out and still fit in the mag. thanks!

 

[Frawg]

anymore advice, tips, or help?
Thanks again!

 

[minnesotamulisha]

I don't have any input, but thanks to Praveen for that load data. I have the same rifle and am now shooting 168 SMKs over IMR 4064. This load shoots just over 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. This is at a length of 2.384" to the ogive using the Hornady Comparator. I have rounds loaded to test different COALs, but have yet to fire them. I don't have the data in front of me, but I want to say this is .005" off the lands.

 

[jhord]

Because there are so many loads that will shoot well in a .308. I have a Rem 700VS, that- thank my lucky stars- refuses to shoot any load poorly. Establish a baseline with Federal GMM and work from there. For me, a 168SMK on top of 43.0 Varget (or RL15) with a BR2 primer, Lapua brass, hammers into nice ragged holes. Mag length, jumping a mile. 2600fps just like the GMM.

So many books that all say something different. Thanks,

 

[DennisH]

Several good loads are recommended above.

42.5 to 43.9 Varget always seem to work for me.

See below, but I have several target pictures that look the same with other bullets.

 

[Sullivan]

I did load development for months before I found the magic for my rifle. It's a factory Tikka T3 Varmit with an 11" twist. It likes to shoot me slower. At 41 grain of Varget does well out to 300 Yrds havnt tested at 500 yet. Anealling the brass, for me ,has made a huge difference. My best tip would be to eliminate as many variables as possible. Same powder. Same case set up. Same primer. So you only have to worry about COAL ( I use -o-give length). And powder charge.
Another time saver would be to find a guy at the range with same make and model rifle. See what he or she is doing. Your ideal load won't be the same but will be closer than a load from a totally different set up. That alone could save you a months worth of range time

 

[Joe R]

jhord said:

Because there are so many loads that will shoot well in a .308. I have a Rem 700VS, that- thank my lucky stars- refuses to shoot any load poorly. Establish a baseline with Federal GMM and work from there. For me, a 168SMK on top of 43.0 Varget (or RL15) with a BR2 primer, Lapua brass, hammers into nice ragged holes. Mag length, jumping a mile. 2600fps just like the GMM.

I agree with your suggestion. Here's the data that I got using an Oehler 35 chrono. My rifle has a 30" Krieger.

 

[dreever]

Just for what it's worth. GA Precision Hospitaller 24 inch Bartlien 1-11 twist I use the following:

Lapua brass
CCI 250 primers
!75 Berger OTM
43.3 grains of Varget
Bullets seated to max AI mag length of 2.895
Velocity 2610 fps

In my rifle super accurate out to my range maximum of 800 yards. 100 yard five shot groups 1/4-3/8 inch all day long. You don't need max loads to shoot tiny groups even in a Tactical rifle like the GAP. Moderate load, long brass life, super accurate I'm happy.

 

[DennisH]

@ dreever . . .

Interesting load.

My favorite load using 185 Berger Jag's, 43.6 grains Varget, WLR primers, bullet kissing lands or .001 off, Velocity 2,725

This load is not hard on my brass. I am going on my 15th load with my current set of brass.

I might give your load a try just to see. I know my rifle also loves 168 smk's for some reason, in fact I wonder sometimes why I don't use them in match's.

See my above picture with the 168's. And if I could shoot better, the groups would be tighter!

 

[Frawg]

Those are some good looking targets and some loads.
I shot 43, 43.5, and 44 of re15 today and none of the three did anything impressive. Guess i'm going up a little more for tomorrow afternoon and then going to varget.

 

[chkunz]

Those are some good looking targets and some loads.
I shot 43, 43.5, and 44 of re15 today and none of the three did anything impressive. Guess i'm going up a little more for tomorrow afternoon and then going to varget.

You are at or above the max load listed in the loading manuals at 44 grains of RE15. You say that your are going up "a little more" tomorrow. I would recommend that you rethink where you are relative to a safe load.

 

[Frawg]

Alliant powder has 45 as max and my speer manual has 45 as max? Now my sierra book says 43.6 is max? All for the 168.

 

[chkunz]

Alliant powder has 45 as max and my speer manual has 45 as max? Now my sierra book says 43.6 is max? All for the 168.

And the Hornady manual has 44.3 so why are you at 44 and planning to go "a little more"? Because 44 is not working? Others are telling you that they are above 44 and all is well. There are a lot of variables and a lot of tolerances and then sometimes unexpected things. If you fully understand the risks and decide to accept them and press on with one foot over the line that is your decision, folks do it every day and get by with it. But you probably will not hear about the failures. I am not being critical; I am just advising caution.

 

[DennisH]

Those are some good looking targets and some loads.
I shot 43, 43.5, and 44 of re15 today and none of the three did anything impressive. Guess i'm going up a little more for tomorrow afternoon and then going to varget.

Start a new thread and post pictures of your targets. (I don't want to hijack this thread) Give details on your exact loads.

Try .080 off the lands and move closer to the lands, see what difference it makes. A few grains of powder and COAL makes a difference, at least for me it does.

 

[Frawg]

OK guys, still not much luck. I worked up RE15 to max with the 168 berger. my best group was at max at about 7/8" group all other groups were 1" at 100 yards. I'm .010 off of the lands.
So, go to .020 off of lands and work up again with the same powder? Suggestions
thanks,

 

[chkunz]

OK guys, still not much luck. I worked up RE15 to max with the 168 berger. my best group was at max at about 7/8" group all other groups were 1" at 100 yards. I'm .010 off of the lands.
So, go to .020 off of lands and work up again with the same powder? Suggestions
thanks,

These groups are about as good as you can expect with the gun that you have and certainly good enough for the application that you state. You will see others with a similar set up quote better groups but they usually are talking about the best three shot group out of several groups and they throw out the "fliers". If you are getting an honest 1" group at 100 yards with a ten shot group or even a five shot group and this is not just a cherry picked group then stop using up barrel life and components and enjoy shooting an accurate 308.

 

[Frawg]

I found a good load today. It was Varget with the 168 at .005 off of the lands. It shot .4" at 100 yds. I started at 43 and went up. The higher I got the better it grouped. Still no signs of pressure. Now I can start tweeking it and start shooting on out there.
Thanks

 

[barefooter56]

12rdad,
Email the Berger Techs at techsupport@bergerbullets.com . And we would be glad to send you our "Making it shoot" instructions the VLD bullets. It will cover both target and hunting seating depth testing and load testing instructions. Hope this helps!
Take care
Phil Hoham
Berger Bullet tech

 

[spclark]

N140 is also a good powder... However, I think N540 might be a better powder..

N140's good, maybe best in a barrel shorter than 28" but N150 is a little less "peaky" at elevated temps. My experience is with <156gn bullets in 30-inchers keep in mind.

Both might be hard to find until the new owners of VV and Hodgdon's US distribution gets sorted out. Word is Kaltron-Pettibone's gone.

 

[joshb]

If you have some Viht-135, try 37.3 grains, with a 168. Not fast but very accurate load in my guns. Otherwise RL-15, Varget, and 4064 are my other favorites.