308 with Varget powder and 165 gr. SGK

[Shakeber]

New stick! It is a Rem LTR in 308. Has a 20" barrel with 1:12 twist. Looking for a shortcut to an OCW. I would like to use Varget powder. It will be used for hunting so I am using Sierra Gameking bullets. Does anyone have a similar setup? I would like to shoot long distance so I would like a relatively hot load. I did an OCW for my 5r and ended up with this bullet on 42.5 gr. of RL15 with a coal of 2.77. It shoots great in my 5r, but only get around 2400 fps from the 20" barrel. Not hot enough. Any recipes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[pdog06]

No, its not that it aint hot enough. You have a shorter barrel so it will be slower. period. You want more velocity get a longer barrel. It isnt smart or safe to just pick somebody elses max load and try it in your gun.

I shoot a load in my 308 that is not hot(IN MY GUN)(Load up to it in yours), using 43.5gr Varget and 165 Nosler BT's. I get just over 2700fps out of my 26" barrel, but that will put your 20" still around 2400 or so probably.

 

[FryeGuy]

not the same gun, mine is a T/C Icon. I use Sierra 165 hpbt gamekings, they grouped better than the sbt, but not much. My load is on the hot side, but I can tell the nolser 6th edition lists 46.0 grains for the 165 bullet. varget varies like crazy, so you may want to start at 44.0 and work up. when I switched lot numbers, I had to go up the 0.5 grain and accuracy came right back. I think my velocity was around 2700-2800fps. I can look it up and get back with you. the post above is correct thou, barrel length is killing you.

 

[Shakeber]

Thanks for the replies. I realize that the short barrel is affecting the velocity and I also know not to load anyone else's max load. I was just trying to shortcut to general load idea. Currently I am using 44 gr. of 748 and getting ~2540 fps. I was trying to get there using Varget. Thanks again to all that have responded.

 

[jo191145]

If you want to shortcut an OCW test try the original ladder test. Just a thought.

http://www.desertsharpshooters.com/manuals/incredload.pdf

 

[Shakeber]

Thanks for the input Jo, however, I was looking for a shortcut. The reason I did an OCW was because the ladder test is so demanding. I do not have access to the distance required to perform the ladder test properly. I was hoping someone had done this before and was willing to give me their results. If someone needed a fantastic load for say a Rem 700 5r in 308, I would suggest 42.5 gr. of RL15 with Win primers in Hornady match brass seated to 2.77 c.o.a.l.. The ladder is definitely the way to go but time consuming. Thanks.

 

[jo191145]

I shoot all my Audettes at 200yds. Of corse I'm not a long ranger to begin with. 300yds is max for me. Want to shoot further in my State and you'll need to commandeer a shopping Mall hallway. They surely do frown upon such things here. ;D
What i've learned is(not much) any load that will shoot at 200yds will still shoot at 300yds.
Loads that shoot at 100yds are not quarenteed to shoot at 200yds :'(
You can shoot an Audette at 100yds if you use a seperate bull for each shot. Its pretty simple to see the nodes at 100yds in such a fashion.
The pain is there is no quarentee it will hold together at 2-300 yds.
Its not often you'll see me throw out a specific load on a forum. Thats just not how the game works. Yes, sometimes it does but usually not.

 

[Alaska Bush Man]

Thanks for the replies. I realize that the short barrel is affecting the velocity and I also know not to load anyone else's max load. I was just trying to shortcut to general load idea. Currently I am using 44 gr. of 748 and getting ~2540 fps. I was trying to get there using Varget. Thanks again to all that have responded.

45.0 of 748 is what worked for me with 165gr in 308 Win. In WW brass and WLR primer
44.5 of IMR 4064
45.5 of Varget
45.0 of RL 15

 

[Bat Rastard]

I have been very pleased with 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and Varget