Need .308 load info

[muleman69]

Have new 26" criterion coming 1-in-10 twist and need to no where to start ? The action is an older 700 with new trigger tech set at 2.5#. With all the new components that are available I thought it would be best to ask what is working for whom?

 

[Bill K]

Consult your loading manual or a site like Hornady's data site. Starting load for various powders and bullet weights, so it will depend on what you have on hand or want to buy/try and then what works best in your rifle. h4895 is a good powder to start with and the new CFE223 works well also.

 

[ballisticxlr]

155gn Lapua Scenars & Varget. You can run them pretty darned fast, 3000fps from a 26" pipe isn't hard and they have a great BC. They don't kick as hard as the 168's and 175's. You can stay supersonic with them well in excess of 1000m. Flies like a .300wm but doesn't kick/cost/kill like it.

 

[chkunz]

You did not say what the application is. I assume target shooting but more specifics will get you better information.

 

[muleman69]

155gn Lapua Scenars & Varget. You can run them pretty darned fast, 3000fps from a 26" pipe isn't hard and they have a great BC. They don't kick as hard as the 168's and 175's. You can stay supersonic with them well in excess of 1000m. Flies like a .300wm but doesn't kick/cost/kill like it.

Sounds good,I did pick up a box of 155 Sierra's that are Called Palma match. I will look for some Lapua as I'm a Lapua fan. Thanks

 

[muleman69]

You did not say what the application is. I assume target shooting but more specifics will get you better information.

Gong's as far as I can get and paper to 300

 

[Ned Ludd]

Assuming the rifle is chambered with sufficient freebore, 185 Juggernauts over Varget is a very solid and typically easy to tune combination. Seating depths from about .015" to .030" off the lands are the norm, whereas charge weight will depend largely on COAL for the load.

 

[6MMsteve]

Varget shot best in my 308 with 178 hbthp 43.0 grs I think start lower

 

[JFrank]

Sounds good,I did pick up a box of 155 Sierra's that are Called Palma match. I will look for some Lapua as I'm a Lapua fan. Thanks

I've worked with 155 Sierras and H4895 in the Tikka
You can find a node quite easily.
Addendum-the ladder was from .005 off a hard jamb, 44.2-44.3 is the node however I chose to start seating at 44.0 then work up to the powder charge indicated.
(Conservative approach)

 

[joshb]

You can use 125s at 1-200. They’re cheap and accurate up close. 155s and 168 will work to 600. Varget and h4895 are what I use most but I’ve also used 4064 a lot. It’s an easy cartridge to load for. I found magic with Viht 135 and the Sierra 168 but that powder is getting pretty expensive when the others work almost as well. I woulda dumped some 125s in your box, had I read this before I taped it up!

 

[DirtySteve]

44.2 grs of Varget and either 175 Sierra MK or 175 gr Berger should get you 2650 fps and if it does not shoot throw your gun a way.. I have never seen this load fail to shoot well in any rifle. Maybe not fantastic but it will show if the gun has potential.

 

[shooter65]

Varget shot best in my 308 with 178 hbthp 43.0 grs I think start lower

This.

 

[Billy 30-06]

You may want to start with some Fed. GGM 168 and 175gr factory loads to break in the barrel. You may be surprized how well they shoot and give you something to work for with your handloads.
I would get some Lapua brass, 210m primers and some 175gr SMK bullets. You will want to try some Varget and IMR 4064 and H-4895. Some barrels will like one over the other. I use fed. brass to work up loads but have shot my tightest groups and get lowest SDs using Lapua brass. I like to see 5-8 fps SDs for 5 shots.
Billy

 

[argrendel]

I have a Rem PSS. I searched long and hard for something that would get me under 3/4” at 100 yds. It was very fussy. Ended up trying Lapua brass, N-140 and Scenar 167s. Outstanding! Many 3 shot 1/4-3/8” groups and 1/2” 5 shot. Has shot 1/2 MOA out to 700. Tried it in two other Remingtons and it also shot well.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

42.0 IMR 4064 with a 168 or 175 bullet. 168 on paper at 300. 175's out to 800 maybe farther in your rifle.

 

[Andy Legg]

I like the 175 SMK with 42.6 grains imr 4064 but I do have trouble keeping super-sonic out of a 26" barrel at 1000 in cooler temps. It shoots very well...but the Shot Marker electronic targets fail to pick it up(at 1000). I think its going sub sonic just before impact.

Looking to try the 185 Berger Jugs w/IMR 4064 soon.

 

[muleman69]

What great info, whole lot better than a stack of manuals. Thanks everyone

 

[M14AMU]

46.5 grs. Varget behind a Sierra Palma 155 gr. bullet is hard to beat!!

 

[rammac]

What great info, whole lot better than a stack of manuals. Thanks everyone

Maybe, but with manual loads your chances of damaging your rifle are far less - you never know what some people think is a safe load.

 

[Zero333]

You should find 2 nodes somewhere between 44 and 47 gr of Varget capped with 155 SMK or Scenar.