How to develop an accurate load for 308

[Machinist]

I have a Rem 700 .308 Win with the 5R barrel. This is a factory gun that Remington offers and I have not had any work done to it. I plan to shoot it until the barrel wears out or to a point where my shooting gets good enough to justify a match barrel and blue printing the action. Right now Id like to get the full potential of what I have and save a few dollars,over factory Match) by reloading, besides lets all face it we like to reload anyway . I have reloaded for some time for pistol cartridges and AR15's. But instead of loading for quantity I need quality. What is the best way to go about developing an accurate load for a bolt gun? These will not be for hunting.

 

[thane]

Load...Record....shoot....record.
repeat.
repeat.
repeat.

 

[constructor]

Read "Precision Shooting"s reloading guide when you get a chance.

 

[tripcrow]

Machinist, I’d suggest you’d buy a Lee Collet die, a Forster FL die set, and use them to work on developing a load based on the info in this site’s 308 load guide. It’s on the home page in the tabs on the left.

 

[dnirode]

Machinist, I have been working with the same rifle. Have had the best results with 175 gr. SMK's, Hornady Match brass,prepped) and IMR 4895. It will be necessary to seat the bullets longer than magazine length as the throat in your rifle is probably reamed long. 15/1000ths off the lands has been giving 1/2 moa groups at 2635 m/v using WLR primers with 44.0 grains. Would like to hear how some of your loads are performing. dd6

 

[AlNyhus]

machinist:

The first thing you need is a couple of windflags. Two at 100,@ 20 and 60 yds. or so) and add at least one more for 200 yd. work. You can make your own for about $10 each.

Lapau brass is the way to go. The throats on these factory 308's are cut way long, so you'll probably be best to load at magazine length if that's how you intend to use the rig. Besides the factory bullets mentioned, I would try some BR quality flat based 150's in it...I've been amazed by how well factory 308's shoot with a good flat based 150 over WW748 and RL15. Berger 150's are the most easily available high quality 150. The standard Fed 210 or Winchester WLR primers work well.

Have fun...enjoy you new rifle. -Al

 

[CoyoteVision]

Have the same rifle. I've been loading 175 gr SMK with 41 gr of IMR4064.,2500 fps) Another load I've found to work well is the Hornady A-max 168 gr - IMR4064 44 gr,~2700 fps)
Have a friend with same rifle that shoots 175 SMK and BLC,2) but he shoots it past recommended max load, so you may test with it.

I've shot the Varget load list above by CatShooter and it's excellent. I just found myself on a 90+ degree day, cranking my car with the air on to cool the barrel so I could shoot it again.

PS - Read a lot that the 168 gr does not work and should not be used anywhere past 600 yds.

 

[reloader243]

Machinist: i'm in the same boat, different gun. Mine's a Savage target action F-T/R in .308. Just put 50 rnds down it for breaking in the barrel. I used out of the box unprepped Win Brass, 44gr Varget, Sierra 168 gr Match bullet,Fed 210 primer seated to length in the Sierra manual. Shot and clean for total of 50 rounds. It shot a .411 average of the 50 runds, best group of 5 was .302, so I got some load develpoment to do as well. Keep posted your results,and Good luck with your gun. Never had so much fun outa bed...lol

 

[Ksmirk]

It seems the load around here is 44gr. Varget and the 175SMK drop the load a few grains and work up! I have good results from either 44gr. of RL-15 and a 168SMK or 46gr.,compressed) or IMR-4064 but like always reduce and work up. I seat all my 308 loads to 2.810 COL and so far everyones 308 seems to shoot either load very well. Whatever record all your load data it will help when you start forgetting things Later,

Kirk

 

[sidbell]

I sent my 700 R5 .308 to R.W Hart and got it accurized. I use 168gr A-max along with IMR 4895 and mine shoots in the 1's at 100 yards. I shot a .342 at 300 yards also. A very good rifle!!!

 

[sidbell]

I left a few things out "I'm New",I use Hornady Match brass and CCI large rifle primers. and 42.5 grs. of IMR 4895. I set the bullets so the lands mark on the bullet is half as long as it is wide. Hope this helps!

 

[Johnboy]

hello have the same rifel.the rifel was developed with a 1:11 1/4 twist to shoot 168g bullets.we shoot 44-45gs varget at 2.800.also with the 175 43-44gs varget.brass lapua or rem works primers are br2 cci.try this and see what happens.also it may take some more time at the range to really break it in.i have friend that has shot around 500 rounds and shoots 1 1/2 groups at 500yrds with the 168er.

 

[crbrumbelow]

I am shooting a rifle built on a 700 action with a shilen select match #5 contour barrel cut to 24". I shoot 168 gr Berger VLD in front of 46 gr pf varget with the bullet just touching the lands. Well I tried for 30 minute to upload a pic of a target I shot with this load but it will not let me. Anyhow it shoots in the .1's, with a 9 power scope. Believe it or not.

 

[jeg9792]

I just bought a 5R too. Did any of you guys have trouble breaking in the barrel? Right now it's taking me forever to get the barrel clean. I've only put two rounds through it,had to stop because of rain), but it is very hard to get clean.

I've read a couple articles on other forums that say SMK 175's, 42gr Varget, OAl of 2.80 is the way to go. I haven't started reloading yet, so I have no data of my own to share.

 

[bootlaceb]

Machinest, I dont know your rifle, but the principle remains the same;
Use the bullet weight the guys know works, and the powder they know works. Then load 3 rounds of ea weight through-out the min-max range, example 44.1, 44.3, 44.5 etc. Work through the range, and mark them clearly.Set up a target with various smaller targets on it. Start shooting at 300yrds, it gives you a much better indication at this distance) at each target, one load at a time. Make sure you dont cook the barrel...ie, patience. You would be amazed at the different groupings you see happen.
With this method,you would see how your groups either open or close as it gets to your rifle's 'sweet spot'
Once there, you can go 1gr up or down, and play with your bullet jump. Use decent primers, and dies as the guys have already advised upon.
This is a once off, pain in the ass method, but well worth the effort.

Cheers

 

[snd]

Machinist - My 5R shoots 175SMK's with 42g Varget very well ... Win brass, fed210m's loaded to 2.8". I had gone up as high as 44g with poor results. This is definitely the best out of the box rifle I've ever owned.

 

[jrmercer]

machinist - FYI,second hand info)

Don't necessarily blame yourself or the reloads if it does not shoot tight groups. A friend bought a NIB 700 sniper .308 synthetic. Wouldn't group. Loads didn't help. Typical light 'smithing didn't help. He called Remington and they said not to worry - the 2-3" groups were within specs.

He didn't give up. Had the long-throated barrel set-back and then it shot well ... until he shot-out the barrel.

I was disappointed Remington was that relaxed with their standards but I suppose that does make the case easier for custom barrels, etc.

Just a thought.

~ jr

 

[XmarksSpot]

I have a 5R also. I have found you don't have to seat to the lands on this rifle. If you do a search on the net of the 5R,Remington 700 5R) many others will agree also. COAL of 2.800 - 2.810 works the best for my rifle. Try 175 SMK w/Varget 42.3 // 155 SMK Palma's w/Varget 44.7. Try + or - a few 10ths and you should have not a good load, but super load. And you can load the magazine full of them.

 

[tuck2]

Over the years I have owned some Rem 700 rifles. To get a few to shoot smaller groups the rifle was given a tune up. That is glass bed the action, free float the barrel, adjust the trigger pull, lapp the bolt locking lugs, and recrown the muzzle. At times their quality control standards are not the best.

 

[222Rem]

Load development is the same for all rifles regardless of price,$ 5000.00 or $500.00) At the end....... most of the time only difference is group size. ALL rifles are individuals. Loads that will shoot 1/2" groups in said rifle....... will look like shotgun pattern in next.
That said only way to get best results from your rifle is lots of range time with different bullets,powder,primers combination unless you settle for "That's good enough".Other then that there is no shortcuts .
Just my thoughts.