.308 win. load development for new rifle

[Frawg]

OK, I'm new here (first post), and I would like some suggestions on my new .308 win. Its a brand new custom gun, lilja barrel, jewel trigger, Nightforce, etc., Lapua brass, berger VLD 168 grs. is what I have and want to load, RE15 and Varget powders. It will mainly be a hunting rifle, but I have a range in my back yard that I can shoot 500 yards.
My question is where do I start on my loads? And the best way to go from there? I'm looking for accuracy not just speed. So many books that all say something different. Thanks,

 

[ShootDots]

Both powders are excellent.. However, I used to shoot a .308 with 168 Berger B/T's.. I found, invariably, that with 168's 44.0grs of RL-15 will give you absolutely SUPERB accuracy.. I am quite sure that Varget will produce excellent results also, however, RL-15 will be VERY difficult to overcome. Use CCI BR2's.. I used to shoot rarely over 1.25" @300 yards and MANY, MANY groups (5 shots) under 1/2"! I got about 2860f.p.s. with e.s.'s in the single digit range! Phenomenal load..

 

[tiny68]

For Varget, start at 42.5 gr and start working up to see what your rifle likes with that lot. I run the 168 VLD with 44.0 gr "in my rifle"-disclaimer. Start about 43.0 gr with the RE-15. My experience is that RE-15 performs best need the max load, which will be unique for your rifle. I use only Fed 210M primers. Clean well before switching powders. Also it seems to me that RE-15 burns very dirty until the load warms up.

Either is an excellent choice. Glad you already have some. Luck, Tim

 

[tiny68]

I have pushed them to 2700 fps in my 26" barrel. But 2860? Not me.

 

[ShootDots]

What Tiny stated about cleaning very well between powders is EXACTLY right... Varget is one powder that does not like to run over other powders..

I was just about to correct my TYPO>>> 2760f.p.s.>>> Sorry about that!

 

[Frawg]

Thanks shootsdots,
CCI BR2's is what I have and use also. What about seating depth? right now for my starting point I backed off of the lands just a little. Also, what are thoughts on N140 for this?

 

[ShootDots]

Thanks shootsdots,
CCI BR2's is what I have and use also. What about seating depth? right now for my starting point I backed off of the lands just a little. Also, what are thoughts on N140 for this?

Most (there is never a written in stone rule in a lot of reloading) but MOST VLD's like to be in the lands about 10-15K.. N140 is also a good powder... However, I think N540 might be a better powder..

 

[Frawg]

Thanks,
I didn't know that about Varget. my barrell is 27.5". I already shoot RE15 in my son's rem. 700 .308 with 155 Bergers and it shoots well. it's just been so long since I had to work one up.

 

[ShootDots]

Thanks,
I didn't know that about Varget. my barrell is 27.5". I already shoot RE15 in my son's rem. 700 .308 with 155 Bergers and it shoots well. it's just been so long since I had to work one up.

With the 155 class bullets, try IMR 8208XBR.. I never shot lighter bullets but my 'smith used to and in his estimation 8208 is THEE powder for the lighter bullets in the 308.. I believe he is correct..

 

[Chappy]

Thanks,
I didn't know that about Varget. my barrell is 27.5". I already shoot RE15 in my son's rem. 700 .308 with 155 Bergers and it shoots well. it's just been so long since I had to work one up.

With the 155 class bullets, try IMR 8208XBR.. I never shot lighter bullets but my 'smith used to and in his estimation 8208 is THEE powder for the lighter bullets in the 308.. I believe he is correct..

8208 is an excellent powder. +1

 

[CJ6]

Thanks,
I didn't know that about Varget. my barrell is 27.5". I already shoot RE15 in my son's rem. 700 .308 with 155 Bergers and it shoots well. it's just been so long since I had to work one up.

With the 155 class bullets, try IMR 8208XBR.. I never shot lighter bullets but my 'smith used to and in his estimation 8208 is THEE powder for the lighter bullets in the 308.. I believe he is correct..

8208 is an excellent powder. +1

++1

 

[Frawg]

Back on the 168's, in ya'lls opinion, so start around 42.5 on varget and 43 on re15? Pressure shouldn't be a problem? going up .5 each time? Anything else you can think of? Thanks,

 

[chkunz]

There has been a lot of IMR 4895 and 4064 shot in the 308 in competition over the years so a load that will get you to around 2500 fps to 2550 fps with either one of these powders would be worth considering. Also, the accuracy loads listed in the Sierra manual are a good place to start.

 

[chkunz]

Back on the 168's, in ya'lls opinion, so start around 42.5 on varget and 43 on re15? Pressure shouldn't be a problem? going up .5 each time? Anything else you can think of? Thanks,

Both of these loads are near the max load listed in the Sierra manual so you should take a look and probably start lower if you are going to go up in .5 grain increments.

 

[Frawg]

i've got plenty of IMR 4895, just never shot it much, something else to try. I also have some 760 but no luck with that in my other guns in the past. thanks for the info

 

[Down South]

My hunting rifle load is 44 gr Varget with Fed 210M primer with Lapua brass and 168 VLDs.......Avg. 2650 with a 10 twist 22 inch factory barreled TC Icon......It has a long throat, im jumping .120 to the lands, seated to fit in the mag at 2.810 OAL and it shoots really well.......I actually tested seating depths single feeding it loaded long and it shot better jumping a mile........YMMV

 

[chkunz]

OK, here is the answer in the back of the book. Load 41 grains of IMR 4895 with 168 Sierra Match Kings and any standard primer and shoot three ten shot groups at 100 yards with your best bench rest technique. Do not do any load "tuning" yet. Do not throw out any "fliers", all shots count. Measure the mean radius of each group (not extreme spread). Mean radius will take a little longer than extreme spread but provides much better data. Average the mean radius of the three groups and that is your base line. If the gun will not shoot this load well you have a gun problem not a load problem. Now you can tune or try other loads for comparison to this base line to see if you can improve on it. Now here is the bad news, you can not shoot three shot groups or even five shot groups and know if you have a belter load than the base line, mother nature is a bitch. If you have a load that you think is better than the base line and have three ten shot groups for comparison study the groups for both loads and consider the shape of the groups not just the size. I like groups that are more uniform and I make a subjective call on that but get statically significant data first.

 

[praveen]

I run 44.1 gr of Varget with Nosler Custom competition 168gr bullets, seated 20 thousandths off lands.
The rifle is stock Savage 12 FTR with a 30" barrel and that gets me a MV of 2860 fps. That's a match winning combo out to 600 yards.

 

[Frawg]

Thanks everyone. Keep the loads and advice coming. I'm always willing to learn. Ya'll have posted some data that looks good. I just checked and my OAL it is 2.880 with that 168 Berger. I had the rifle built on a 30-06 action. We have some cold weather coming this weekend so I'm really getting ready to start but still haven't made my mind up on which and where to start.

 

[tiny68]

If it is a factory tube, don't be afraid to reach out for the lands. In my factory M700 I run the 168 VLD at 3.005" oal. That is a still a 0.007" jump in my rifle but the groups really tighten up. Tim