Need your help guy... looking for some advice/experience

[LRNEWB]

Yesterday I went to the LGS to get some Berger 185 Juggernauts or Hybrids but there were none so I picked up some Hornady 208's for my .308. I'm shooting a savage 10t 24" 1:10 barrel with a shallow chamber/throat so seating these bullets has the majority of the bearing surface in the case. I'm pretty sure this will be the case with the Bergers as well but I'm wondering about how this will effect pressure in the case. I have loaded up a OCW test with Varget starting at 38.1 up to 40.6 (max from Hogdon is 41.5). Right around 39.6 I could hear sounds of powder compressing as I seated the bullet. I have them seated at 2.250 CBTO with a COAL of 2.895 I've never shot a compressed load so I'm just looking for some experience or advice with these before I shoot this afternoon. I'm plan on taking as much time as needed so I can inspect the cases for pressure signs as I go.

 

[watercam]

Since you are starting low and working up you should be fine. I shoot compressed loads most of the time. Since you are seating shorter than 'book' loads you can expect pressures to build sooner. If you have a chronograph use it to help find your max compared to the loading manual. Check for pressure signs with each load and stop if they become apparent. If you are using Federal primers they will start to flatten sooner than others with harder cups. Also bear in mind that load development at this time of year means possible adjustments when the weather warms.
Have fun!

 

[waldo1979]

Compressing a load is perfectly normally. In his book "Competition Handloads" Zediker warns that compressed loads can sometimes back out and should be checked for C.O.A.L. 12 hours after loading. Friends have also warned me about this but I've never seen it happen.Varget is pretty tolerant of compressed loads.

im guessing you're pretty close to the lands and don't have must wiggle room. My 155gr Palma SMK load is 2.252" CBTO (1:10 24" Benchmark Barrel). I'm running 46.0gr of Varget and IIRC it's something like 108% case fill. I'm using Lake City LR cases which have about the same volume as Lapua.

Also, Unless you need to shoot over 400-500 yards those heavy bullets are a waste.

 

[LRNEWB]

Compressing a load is perfectly normally. In his book "Competition Handloads" Zediker warns that compressed loads can sometimes back out and should be checked for C.O.A.L. 12 hours after loading. Friends have also warned me about this but I've never seen it happen.Varget is pretty tolerant of compressed loads.

im guessing you're pretty close to the lands and don't have must wiggle room. My 155gr Palma SMK load is 2.252" CBTO (1:10 24" Benchmark Barrel). I'm running 46.0gr of Varget and IIRC it's something like 108% case fill. I'm using Lake City LR cases which have about the same volume as Lapua.

Also, Unless you need to shoot over 400-500 yards those heavy bullets are a waste.

Yeah I'm pretty close to the lands. I'm shooting 600 yards on a normal basis and 800 and 1000 yard FTR. I want to try the Bergers but like I said there was none so I just grabbed these. With my chamber being so shallow I don't think I can get the fps needed to hit the 1000 yard mark. I'm just gonna order some Bergers from bullets.com or powder valley.

 

[LRNEWB]

Since you are starting low and working up you should be fine. I shoot compressed loads most of the time. Since you are seating shorter than 'book' loads you can expect pressures to build sooner. If you have a chronograph use it to help find your max compared to the loading manual. Check for pressure signs with each load and stop if they become apparent. If you are using Federal primers they will start to flatten sooner than others with harder cups. Also bear in mind that load development at this time of year means possible adjustments when the weather warms.
Have fun!

I did chrono them and I'm not gonna be able to use them for FTR matches. I didn't have any pressure signs out 40.6. I may load up some 41.5's which is the max on Hodgon's website to see what the I get for FPS. 39.1-40.1 looked to be the range to work with but at 39.6 i'm getting 2500 fps. I'm just gonna order up some 185 Berger hybrids and go from there.

 

[Hummer]

Are you hearing weird sounds when you seat the bullet? If so you might pull bullet and examine the powder so see if you have crushed/flattened any.

Powder burn rate is determined by the surface area and if you increase the surface area by crushing....it burns faster. If you have a chronograph you may see a SD increase which is going to be most evident at long range.

 

[broncman]

Call PTG and get a throater. Extend your throat to where you want it and then you can have the boiler room you need to shoot the heavies.