Powder and Bullet Load Sequence

[USAFRet]

the cheapest plan is to buy a box of premium ammo, and use it as a benchmark.
not cheap hunting ammo..PREMIUM

Doing that today. Thank you!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I believe your Ruger has an adjustable gb, make sure you are running at the lowest setting that will function correctly. Upper settings are for suppressor. I would start on the second setting. As mentioned find some premium hunting ammo(since you will be hunting with it) and then "copy" the load if it shoots well. We are all assuming you are using a compatible rest and shooting technique. And watching wind conditions, if not than your groups are well what they are.

 

[Webster]

Question: When you are testing, do you choose a bullet to stick with and try different powders or pick a powder and try different bullets. The latter is much easier as you just have to change the die setting. Former, you have to clean and reload the hopper. However, I don;t want to do convenience, but the best way to find an accurate load.

Ruger SFAR 308 Win

Bullets on hand :
150 Grain Speer Gold Dot (Did not do well with Varget and have some loaded with IMR 4064 for testing)
150 Grain Hornady SST (Have some loaded with Varget for testing)
152 Grain Lehigh CC (Have some loaded with IMR 4064 for testing)
165 Grain Nosler Accubond
168 Grain Nosler ABLR
168 Grain Nosler E-Tip
168 Grain Sierra TGK

Powders:
Varget
IMR 4064
IMR 4895
TAC
Big Game
H335

The bullet I would like to work is the Speer Gold Dot (Hunting and self-defense). I have IMR4895 and H335 I can load for more testing. But, was thinking along the path of loading IMR4895 for the Speer, Hornady SST and Nosler ABLR and testing those in an outing.

Check out the 308 load map on this website: https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/

I guess I am lucky and got a good barrel. You can put a lot of bullets down a barrel trying to force a given bullet to shoot small. I think you have to decide what's acceptable and stay with it. I would pick one powder and shoot one group with one reasonable safe powder charge and see if one particular bullet is better than the rest, then adjust the powder charge then the seating depth for best results. I wouldn't spend to much time and money trying to shoot very small groups with a factory hunting rifle. You cannot evaluate groups if you don't have good shooting skills.

 

[K22]

For me, I've always selected a suitable powder first that is compatible with the weight of the bullet that I desire, the caliber, and the twist rate of the rifle.

There are exceptions of course, but in my experience, it is the bullet that is the most significant variable in achieving serviceable accuracy.

Of course, if I have invested in a box of bullets and they are not working with the powder I have selected and have some other suitable powder lying around, I will test a few loads with this other powder. But invariably, it will usually prove futile. Some rifles just won't shoot a particular bullet well.

 

[USAFRet]

Ruger SFAR
308 Win
Case - Norma
Primer - CCI 200
Powder - 38 Gr Benchmark
COAL - 2.80

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

38 gr is a start load for 175 Sierra. So you have some tuning flexibility if that load doesn't hold up at your max hunting distance.

 

[USAFRet]

38 gr is a start load for 175 Sierra. So you have some tuning flexibility if that load doesn't hold up at your max hunting distance.

I probably wont be hunting with this load. It was some loads I made up for a buddy who just target shoots. I grabbed a box for today's range session. 168 Accubonds with IMR4895 were unimpressive. I have some TGKs, Lehigh CCs and some Hornady SSTs still to test. But the SMKs shows what the rifle is capable of.

I got some factory Federal Premium 165s to test a baseline and they shot very unimpressive groups as well.

Caliber	308
Rifle	Ruger SFAR
Bullet	168 Grain Accubond
Powder	IMR4895
Primer	CCI 200
Case	Norma
COAL	2.800
Powder Charge	Average Velocity	ES	SD	Group MOA
40.0	2466 (Test Seat Depth)	17​	6​	1.84​
40.5	2467	54​	26​	1.39​
41.0	2478	65​	24​	1.55​
41.5	2542 (Pressure Signs)	48​	19​	2.49​
42.0	2542 (Pressure Signs)	57​	22​	2.93​

 

[Walt Krafft]

If nothing shoots in it, it sounds like a gun problem.

 

[USAFRet]

If nothing shoots in it, it sounds like a gun problem.

Did you see the grouping from the SMKs? The gun shoots, just need to find a hunting load it likes.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Any gun of mine that is that picky about ammo is broke.

 

[USAFRet]

Well, I know it has been a good while. Bought several boxes of match ammo and still getting the 1.5 - 2" groups. I may find a load eventually, but if that's the case this rifle is super picky. Just sold a rifle and may be taking this one to sell as well. Looking at maybe taking the money and getting a PSA Sabre.

 

[mgunderson]

I personally find the 308 gas guns very difficult to shoot well. Don't rule the bullet moving when the bolt drops on a loaded round. The bigger cases seem to want a little more neck tension to keep the bullet in place.

308s react well to a seating depth test. Have you done that?

 

[USAFRet]

I personally find the 308 gas guns very difficult to shoot well. Don't rule the bullet moving when the bolt drops on a loaded round. The bigger cases seem to want a little more neck tension to keep the bullet in place.

308s react well to a seating depth test. Have you done that?

Next step before I give it up. I have a few powders to try so I am going to do some ladder tests after hunting season. I was just at the range today because I don't like hunting in mid-80 degree weather. Thanks for the input.

It likes heavier bullets. The 175s have given the best groups so far. Only ones I had were for a buddy.

Just ordered some 180 Partitions.