.308 Win load?

[bowhunthard]

Hello guys,

First post. What would be a good starting point for a .308 Win load in a 20-22" barreled rifle,700 VTR). Probably Varget or IMR4895, with 178gr AMAX or 168gr SMKs. Thanks.

 

[7stwhunter]

i know alot of guys are getting good results out of the 168smks and varget in the 43-45gr. range just work it up slowly in your rifle

 

[usngunner]

I use 43.5 gr of Varget under a 178 AMAX, lapua brass, fed 210 primers in my Savage 10FP,24" barrel) seated .010 off the lands.

It shoots real well, but work up as always.

 

[lawndart]

Gotta work it up with every lot because Varget varies more than it should, but over the years I have had very good success with 45.5 Varget in good brass with 210M primers and decent 168 grain bullets. Good for 600 meters and less.

With the excellent 175 grain bullets,think Bergers new BT Match) I drop down to 42.2 grains and work for 44.2 grains.

I use a 1995 Palma chamber, so the brass doesn't have a chance to really move much. I even get decent case life out of the Federal Gold Medal Cases I ratted away.

With a slightly more forgiving,i.e. "tactical") chamber, I use the same charges, but go to tougher brass; Lapua, IMI and Winchester in descendind order.

Lately, I worked up some loads for a military unit to try out. The big change was I switched to TAC, and added a taper crimp to the case mouth. If you can find one of the early Ramshot give away load data pamphlets, the loads are a touch warmer than what is on the website now. I would slowly increase until your velocity matches the Black Hills match load. The numbers are about the same for RL-15/N203-B. I use that in LC Brass. Primers are personnal preference. Obviously milspec primers for real world applications. I'm happy with Federal, CCI and WLR primers.

The biggest trick is loading the stuff straight. For experimentation I always us a Wilson Micrometer inline seater. For production, a worked over Dillon 650 with really good dies may very well suprise you in a happy way; it certainly will out to 600yards/550 meters. For stick powders,which don't enjoy as much advantage over ball powders as they used to), I use a JDS unit to measure. It is not as rugged as the vaunted Prometheus, but it is as accurate; no bridging and no kernel cutting.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

45.0 BL-C2 with FC brass and Fed primers. 168 SMK's .015 off lands. My 20" barrel likes the little longer jump.

 

[bowhunthard]

I am still going thru barrel break in, and haven't loaded any "good" ammo yet. But I just shot a group that measured 0.983" with Rem brass, 168gr SMK, and 38gr of IMR4320. Not real impressive, but not too bad for a load that hasn't been worked over at all.

 

[harrys]

I am getting great groups with my Rem 700 VLS with imr 4064 @44.5 grains with hornady 168 gr BTHP match bullets.

 

[GerryM]

Here's two that i use with good results in my 12 in Pss and my 12 twist hart barreled 700. They also work in my 14 twist bench rest rifle. 41.5 gr H4895 168 sierra into lands .010
43.5 grs H4895 150 sierra match.
I use federal match brass neck turned to a uniform .015.
This is a bit heavy for federal but i found some.
The necks on the hart rifles are 340. The Remington is close to sami specs. I use CCI br2 primers and federal match primers to light them up. Both work extremely well. I have shot 5 shot groups at 200yds in .500 . I know other who use this load with success Good luck shooting and i hope this help you

 

[bowhunthard]

I'm gettin' really good groups with my 700 VTR now with: 178 gr A-MAXes, 41 gr Varget, CCI BR2, COL-2.882". Shot a 3-shot group @ 100 yds the other day that measured 0.089" center to center.

Thanks for the help.

 

[CGSHOOTER]

All right... I am just getting into reloading for my Savage .308. I have a 10FP in a McMillan stock, 24' barrel, I dropped a Leupold Mk IV on it. It has been a great shooting gun with factory ammo but I want to really start shooting out at long range 500-1000yds. I have always been a CQB Operator and wasn't afforded the opportunity to do a lot of long range stuff... so forgive any statements I may make stemming from lack of experience. My first load I put together was 168gr. speer MHP, win. brass, 44gr of varget, and CCI LR mag primers. I loaded about twenty and shot them at a 100yds, I was getting 5 shot 1' groups consistently. I am getting ready to try some new loads using the MIL-SPEC 168gr BTHP, but I cant find any good data for mil spec bullets and varget powder. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Any advice on reloading with Mil Spec bullets would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[scout1]

CGSHOOTER, if they are the mil-spec 168's from Wiedeners they are awsome. Use the same load info as you would for the Sierra 168. I weighed approx 150 pcs from a bag of 500 and they were all within a tenth of 168 grns. Not to Shabby!!!
I am getting good results with them and 45 grains of Varget, CCI-Br2, and Rem brass. Shooting them out of a Rem 700P 26' 1/12 twist loaded to 2.81 COAL

 

[scout1]

lawndart,

I decided to order a couple pounds of Ramshot Tac myself due to the shortage of Varget. My supply of Varget is getting low and I will be switching over to Tac in the next week or so.
How about throwin a fella bone. Any load data would be appreaciated. From what I have read the burn rate is supposed to be between Varget and Benchmark. I also hear its an extreamly small granual, alot like ball powder, what kind of case fill are you experiencing.

Thanks, Jon

 

[CGSHOOTER]

Use the same load info as you would for the Sierra 168. I weighed approx 150 pcs from a bag of 500 and they were all within a tenth of 168 grns. Not to Shabby!!!
I am getting good results with them and 45 grains of Varget, CCI-Br2, and Rem brass. Shooting them out of a Rem 700P 26' 1/12 twist loaded to 2.81 COAL

Scout1, Thanks for the info I'll give it a whirl. And yes they are the 168's from wideners. I am also loading some 62.5gr M855's with 23.2gr Hodgdon Benchmark, LC brass, and Rem. 7 1/2 Small rifel primers. Has anyone used much benchmark for the M855's for an M4? Does anyone have any preference for powders with the M855's?