308win 208 AMAX Need Quick load help

[eric32]

Hello Gentleman

I have done some business with some of you in the past here on this website. Now I need some help I am about to come home and with being able to shoot again i have decided to work up a new load for the new barrel I got for my 308win. I have crunched all the numbers Via JBM to get me a load that will reach 1k with some force for my F-T/R matches. After reading, Mr. Germán A. Salazar articles on the 308win load development. And the magical 1.2 mach at which he uses as a standard for velocity.

I have come to the conclusion that at the following weather condition which i normally shoot in:
Temperature: 90.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 50 % Altitude: 700.0 ft

I need to launch a 208gr AMAX at a mild 2500 FPS in order to be at the 1.2 mach speed that Mr. Salazar described in his articles. But I have no clue on what powder will give me the 2500fps I need and I need temperature stable powder to use.

So I am asking someone that has QuickLoad to work up of pressure and powders and velocity. So i can start in the gathering of materials to make this happen.


Brass : Winchester brass
Primers : WLR or CCI BR2 primers

gun description is as follows

Pac-Nor 26" 308win 1/10 twist (varmint barrel pre-fit with a barrel nut)
Remington 700 Long Action(blueprinted but threads left alone)
Mcree stock
Centershot bi-pod
SS 20X scope
MAX50 rings
20MOA base

 

[Johnboy]

go with Varget and work up to or past 43gn.No you'll have to load them long but with the win brass you will be OK.Many are already loading this combo so it's a given load.I hate to post about another site when on a great site already but take a look over at snipershide.Many have been there and done that with or even still do with the 208gn A-max.Just search it and a hudge write up will be at your fingers.

I will even add that most are useing a 20 inch barrel to get what you are wanting.So your 26 inch barrel should get what you want even more.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Varget can work, but I feel it is a lil on the fast burning side for the 208 Amax. Might want to also consider H4350 or RL17. If you have gone through all of German's info, you will have seen that he has had good results with RL17. This not saying that you will, but I will garner to say that something that is slower burning than RL15 is something to look at.

 

[MrMajestic]

I agree with Froggy. If you run out of space for 4350 try H414/Win.760. You may want to use Lapua Palma cases for a little more meat in the case head for higher pressures, I do and it works. Laurie studied this and maybe he'll chime in. I get 2450 fps with a 20" 10tw and no pressure signs.

 

[eric32]

Well that is good to know about H4350/Varget but what do i go with for starting charge weights??? and a OAL in relation to the lands.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Don't bother with H4350. I tried it and couldn't get enough into the case to make 'em go good.

I used Varget with 208's last year. I was running them pretty hot at 43 grains. There was a good accuracy node at 41.5 or so, but the velocity (26") was a tad short of what I wanted for 1k.

I can run the QL for you, but it won't mean anything because Varget varies from lot to lot.

I also tried RL17, but I only got about 50 fps more than Varget before blowing primers (something I've never done with Varget)

The optimum powder is probably Varget *if* you aren't shooting coated bullets. Coating them creates a bit of a problem - you can't even get enough Varget into the case.

 

[eric32]

what was the velocity in your 26" barrel? i only need 2500fps to be at 1.2 mach at 1k

 

[Keith Glasscock]

With the 26" barrel and 43 grains, I was banging on the door of 2575. 41.5 grains was ~2485.

 

[eric32]

So as long as i am in the 43 to 44 charge weight wise i should be good hopefully i got a roomy throat to touch the lands.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

So as long as i am in the 43 to 44 charge weight wise i should be good hopefully i got a roomy throat to touch the lands.

NO!

43 is absolute MAX (and probably over) in my rifles. I'm using a really long throat and Win brass. My data was developed with a jump to the lands, so touching will increase pressure. When I tested a load touching (shot no better) I had to reduce the charge a lot (like back to 41.5) to keep the pressure down.

Please, start low (below 41.5) and work up SLOWLY.Pressure builds fast and it is really easy to hurt stuff.

Be safe and have fun,
Keith

 

[eric32]

Yes of course safety when reloading this round combo is very important. i guess i should have clarified that if i end up in the 43 to 44 grain range safely then ill be able to hit my 2500FPS goal. I promise i will not just jump straight to 43 grains with out doing some work for it.


what about IMR 4064?? or H380 ?? any experience

 

[FroggyOne2]

I re read this tnread, after thinking about it. There is one part of the triange so to speak that has been left out of the discussion, the barrel. The OP says he is running a 26 inch barrel. They way I am looking at this, in order to help the OP safely get closer to his magic number of 2500 fps, the barrel is too short. If the OP was using maybe a 32 inch barrel, the possibility of attaining his goal safely may be possible. Maybe with RL15.

Also, after testing 2000MR in my 223, I feel I am going to be a believer in it, but my testing with it is not complete and prob will not have a better feeling on it till after I shoot it through the spring into the hot summer heat here. Not suggesting to the OP to try it, it is new and not enough feedback has come in about it in higher temps.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Froggy,

No problem. I ran that combo (26" barrel and 208's with Varget) all last year for long range F/TR. It shot well enough to win a few matches. I was getting 2550+ fps depending on lot of Varget.

The 308 with heavy bullets and Varget is a surprising combo. I was launching 215 grain Berger Hybrids earlier this year at 2550 with a 30" barrel.

I have to say, the recoil was rough. On the other hand, it did shoot plenty well enough for F/TR.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Just consider the fact that you may have a fast bbl and the OP. May have a slow bbl.

 

[eric32]

So what i am getting is a chronograph is going to be my best friend on this particular combo of power and bullet. With it being a pac-nor barrel i dont think its going to be as tough as someone using a factory barrel to attain the FPS i need.

With the Powder being Varget, does IMR 4064, or H380 stand a chance???

 

[eric32]

Update to my project


Its getting a new CBI 28" barrel with a Bostrom barrel tuner the barrel will be nitrided as well


Now i am running into another issue, i need to select the best powder that is temp stable i like the speeds of reloader17. But i live in GA/AL and the weather doesn't always agree with shooting in the summer time.

I just need to get to 2500 -2550 on the FPS and trying to get near 100% case fill, hopefully not trying to beat up brass to bad

Core Components are

Winchester brass
CCI BR2/WIN LR
208amax
I have Varget and IMR4064 on hand

COAL 2.981 @ lands (maybe thinking of using a .20 jump)

my plan is to load up in .3gr increments until i hit pressure signs and then use the barrel tuner to make it shoot

 

[Longshooter70]

I also live in AL and when I tried RL 17 and the 208 AMAX I had bad consistency problems from day to day in the heat. Another problem I had was from lot to lot. Maybe that is fixed now, I don't know but I do know due to the problems I had I will not be re trying it. YMMV...

Good Luck!

John

 

[eric32]

If you dont mind me asking where do you shoot at??

 

[Longshooter70]

This past year I shot at AEDC in Tullahoma, TN... ORSA in Oak Ridge, TN, and MSSA in Memphis, TN, and a small community shoot in Demopolis, AL. This coming year I plan on shooting the places I mentioned plus Blakely, GA and Butner, NC.... I'm a member of a small private range in North AL, close to Albertville...



John

 

[eric32]

when you shoot at blakely let me know it just a 1hr 30min trip away