N-140 in the .308 pushing 155's??

[RCurtis]

Friend of mine is looking to try some N-140 here in 85-95 degree temps and is looking for a good starting load to work up. Any suggestions??

Thanks,

Rick Curtis

 

[Bamban]

Rick,

All year through the Texas summers years ago when I had plenty of N140 I used 44 grains pushing the 155 Scenar Silver Jacket. The max I ever used was 45.2, different lot, different chamber and different barrel. These loads were shot in my double lugged M1As. The load shot well in my 26 inch bolt gun.

YMMV.

Nez Rongero

 

[RCurtis]

Thanks Nez, appreciate the info.

Rick Curtis

 

[savageshooter86]

N-140 I've been told by someone who knows said it is not temp sensitive. Along the lines of Varget as far as temp sensitivity

 

[sparker]

I use 46.5 grains in Lapua ceses. Mitch Maxberry used to shoot this load as well. John Whidden was shooting 47.0 grains of it last time I talked with him.

Scott Parker
Bekaresfield CA

 

[memilanuk]

Haven't used N140, but used a *bunch* of N150 (starting last time Obama got elected and Varget became unobtanium) and it works great in .223 (B82BTs) and .308 (B155.5BTs). A little more expensive than Varget... but if you can't *find* Varget at any price, then that becomes somewhat immaterial...

 

[RCurtis]

Savage, thanks I was hoping it would be ok in the heat.

Scott, thanks for the shared info. Having only ever used Varget and the Russian stuff I didn't have a clue what to tell the guy.

Monte, my friend is in the process of moving here to the valley and had expected to be back in Chicago by now to get another moving truck filled. He's coming by to load this 140 as he doesn't have his press here yet and this VV is the only powder he has here.

Rick Curtis

 

[Bamban]

When I shot at Blair Atholl, Scotland in '98 the popular load they used was 45 grains of N140 on bare 155s. I was loaned a Musgrave TR and shot that load in their prone course from mid range through 1000 yards. The ammo shot real well.

 

[Joe C]

I use 43g of N140 behind a Hornady 165g SP in my 788. It kills deer dead as a door nail. Never shot it in warm weather but in the fall it does very well.

 

[Laurie]

I use 46.5 grains in Lapua ceses. Mitch Maxberry used to shoot this load as well. John Whidden was shooting 47.0 grains of it last time I talked with him.

Scott Parker
Bekaresfield CA

That's pretty well the 'standard' UK load where N140 is most probably the most used powder behind 155s in 308W. Note - it's WAY above Viht's maximum in its loading data. Don't know why, but the company's own data is really conservative for this cartridge.

Personally, I'd suggest start at 44gn and work up from there in Lapua (large primer) brass, from maybe a little higher in Winchester, Norma, or Lapua 'Palma' small primer cases.

 

[RCurtis]

Laurie and all,

Thank you for the information, we will start low and work up as recommended!

Cheers,

Rick Curtis