Need Varget Min and Max loads for Berger 185OTM and 200 hybrid 308

[nfngun]

Ok I'm cheap and don't want to buy the Berger manual for just 2 bullets can anyone tell me the min and max loads for 308?

 

[marwitz89]

I'll get you information tomorrow morning if nobody else does.

Joe

 

[Scott Harris]

the manual is very conservative and I assume it is for mag-length rounds. Their max loads were usually several grains below what I ended up with...found the data pretty useless for F-Class shooting where much longer cartridge lengths are used.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Email berger. They will give you the data your looking for.

Aaron

 

[XTR]

Ok I'm cheap and don't want to buy the Berger manual for just 2 bullets can anyone tell me the min and max loads for 308?

Do some research on the 200s, maybe you will find an answer, the same goes for the 185, but you can find info. Searching, whether with the search function here, or over on Snipers Hide, or just using your favorite search engine will find you a bunch of info.

That said, you need to get some more information out there before anyone should start tossing out their F-TR loads.

What brass?
Primers?
How long are you seating them? Are you are 2.80 for mag length or something longer?
Jumping or jammed?

One of the reasons that the manuals will give max loads that are below what we find we can load in our rifles is that they can't take all of that into account and then account for you leaving your ammo in the car in Phoenix in August, and if you think that heat doesn't make a difference I've blown primers with a load that was well below what you are going to see as a normal competition load with a combination of a mag length load and ammo that got hot between relays.

All that said, loading the 185s, if you keep your load under 44.0 to 44.5 grains max with mag length bullets and don't put the ammo in the car in July you should be ok, BUT YOU NEED TO WORK UP YOUR LOAD! Start low and figure out what works. (For the record, I have blown primers with WW brass and 44.7 seated to 2.835OAL two yrs ago). Get a chrono and start testing. Assuming you have an F-TR rig with a 30" barrel when you get above 2700FPS start looking for a node. If you are using a shorter barrel subtract about 25FPS per inch to figure out where to start looking for your high node.

Don't be lazy, search, there is a lot of info out there, but nobody but you, or someone you pay to do it, can work up a load for your gun.

Oh, and if you are really that cheap, then this may not be the game for you. At about 50¢ a shot it adds up really fast.

 

[marwitz89]

Direct from the Berger Manual in regards to 308 Winchester:

185 Grain - Varget Minimum is 37.5 and maximum is 41.6

Oddly enough, there is not data listed in the manual for 200 grain bullets. Here is information for the 190 and 210.

190 Grain - Varget minimum is 37.0 and maximum is 41.0

210 Grain - Varget minimum is 37.0 and maximum is 39.1

Hope this helps,
Joe

 

[nfngun]

Thank you gents

 

[barefooter56]

nfngun,
The 200 grain Berger min and max loads for Varget are 35.5 min , 39.9 max. If you need anything else please let us know.
Take care,
Phil Hoham
Berger Bullet tech