ISO .308 loading tips

[Austin Smith]

OK so I'm new here so ill start by saying hello.

I am looking to maybe improve/refine the process of reloading my .308 ammo.

Current Rifle is a Savage model 10 24inch barrel in a Choate stock with burris XTR ii 3-15
Current load is 44.5gr 4064, 175gr SMK, BR4 primers , FGMM brass and OAL I don't have at this moment.

this set up has shot under half MOA at 300 yards in 5 shot groups so I think it does fairly well. I'm also a firm believer in if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I was wondering if there could be some improvement in my process. I recently purchased my own stuff to reload previous I reloaded with my father in law sharing brass and equipment. Now I will be doing all of this on my equipment.

So first off dies. We used the RCBS competition FL sizer and Micrometer bullet seater. My interest in this is maybe changing how I size. The brass will be all mine and fired strictly from the above rifle. Should I look into a neck sizing die or just use the FL in the RCBS die set? Its something I don't fully understand which may be of a benefit for accuracy. I do use a comparator to measure currently and load everything .020 off the lands. Any ideas on which might work the best?

 

[SheepDog]

Try everything you hear, one change at a time, and keep good records of all the changes in your reloading technique.
Only your gun can tell you what it likes and you need to remember what works and what doesn't in your gun.
I don't shoot long range and I am a hunter, so what works for me in my guns may not work for you in your gun.
One of my guns never shot well with factory loads. I found accuracy early in my reloading by neck sizing. The chamber in that gun is over diameter but not overly long (head space gauges - go & no go - show it in specs). It has a very long (eroded) throat. I found my best accuracy comes from moderate loads (about 97% of max) seated at book lengths with a partially sized neck only. I use a neck sizer adjusted to leave part of the neck unsized so it is centered in the chamber. The unsized case fits the chamber without interference even though I don't size the body at all. That worn out old 03A3 in 3006 still shoots under 1 moa consistently. My brass simply doesn't wear out. it has been fire much more than 20 times without needing to "bump the shoulder". Before I started neck sizing I was getting "J" splits (vertical body splits) after as few as three reloads. I have never had neck splits except for some old military brass that used corrosive primers initially. I use a lot of different brands of brass and it all holds up well.
I do remove the flashing inside the flash hole and separate the brass by weight after the first trimming.

 

[Fast14riot]

Keep meticulous records on everything. Extreme consistency in everything. Trust but verify everything you find.

Basics are brass prep, neck tension, charge consistency. But, sometimes the gun and barrel will only do so well. Keeping records of what you change and when you change it is important.

Don't forget to keep records of everything.

That being said, .308 is a mature round and there is lots of very good info out there regarding accurate loads. I'm not a .308 guy, but I am a competent reloader and metrologist by training, so when I started looking for .308 loads for my nephew's new gun, I will apply all standard practices to proven loadings. I.e. 4064 or Varget under 175smk in consistent brass.

 

[A_Gamehog]

I have a 3 ring binder on targets and loads on every rifle I own. Notes on the target include changes in:
Brass used
Times sized
Trim length
Dies used
Powder used and charge
Temp
Primer used
Bullet and COL

To be able to duplicate a known good load is the goal, single digit e.s. is what we search for.
It helps to have OCD.

 

[Austin Smith]

I am pretty happy with my accuracy .5 moa for a basically factory rig is impressive. My biggest issue I guess is what dies ive seen all this about neck sizing and stuff vs. full length sizing which one is best. Ive also been told if I fire this brass exclusively from my rifle trimming and sizing are almost non existent. Also being a Marine I always keep a data book every time I shoot for each rifle. I always keep my data when shooting especially during a load development.

 

[Comrade Terry]

Also being a Marine

Semper Fi, Sir!