Recommendations on Hunting Load for .308 - 165 gr SGK HPBT, Varget, 22" Barrel

[bulletpruf]

Fellas - I have a R700 receiver, 22" Faxon M24 profile barrel (SAAMI throat) with 1-10 twist, SilencerCo Scythe can.

Rifle shoots really well with 43.0 gr of Varget behind a 168 gr SMK about .020" off the lands, using Federal 210 primers and Federal brass. I'll be loading to 2.800 so I can use the magazine for these.

Gun season for deer starts next weekend and I'm still doing load development for my 168 gr SMK, so I'm hoping to do an abbreviated load development for the 165 gr SGK.

FYI - typical shot is 100 yards; I want something accurate, but I don't plan to spend a bunch of time trying to shoot .5 MOA groups.

thanks

Scott

 

[RegionRat]

Since you are in a pinch of sorts, I wouldn't agonize over a 100 yard shot with a rig you know shoots the 168 SMK very well.

The 165 SGK will shoot very close to the same, or I should say close enough with that same recipe that you should not have any excuse for missing.

Start with that same load seated at the same CBTO, or the magazine limit, and see if any further work is even needed. Odds are you are done.

Good Luck and in for the game photos!

 

[bulletpruf]

Since you are in a pinch of sorts, I wouldn't agonize over a 100 yard shot with a rig you know shoots the 168 SMK very well.

The 165 SGK will shoot very close to the same, or I should say close enough with that same recipe that you should not have any excuse for missing.

Start with that same load seated at the same CBTO, or the magazine limit, and see if any further work is even needed. Odds are you are done.

Good Luck and in for the game photos!

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm thinking, too - go with 43.0 and if I can consistently shoot at or better than 1 MOA at 100 yards with 5 shots, call it good.

 

[RegionRat]

You are using a known good rig with good components; you are 95% of the way there.

If you ever take it past say 400 yards, then double check everything.

I have shot 168 SMK in match rigs for a long time. I hunt with the 165 SGK. Now and then, there is an occasion when I am far from home and if I have that hunting ammo, I will put it through the match rigs and most times it shoots to 600 on the same DOPE. YMMV

 

[1ofU]

for deer hunting
I use 165 SST in a 20" bolt gun and a 16 " gas gun
load for me 44.0 Varget . 16" @ 2550 fps and 20"
@ 2660 fps. both @ moa @ 100 yds both using a
YHM RK can .
165 SST
44.0 Varget
2800 aol
CCI 250 M primer

 

[thatguyshm]

I think you can load up 10 with the 165 after you find your load and shoot three for scope data, save the other seven for the season. Remember, most public deer hunters shoot less then a box of ammo a year. If you can get 1-1.5" groups, you're more than good to go with your stated range.

I'm happy with 2" out of my 308 model88. I shot two this year to make sure I can hit steel at 100, plan to only bring out Grandpas M88 on good weather days. I won't bring that rifle out to the corn fields, but for 150 yards and in, I don't fret about 0.5" loads.

 

[Gary in MD]

Fellas - I have a R700 receiver, 22" Faxon M24 profile barrel (SAAMI throat) with 1-10 twist, SilencerCo Scythe can.

Rifle shoots really well with 43.0 gr of Varget behind a 168 gr SMK about .020" off the lands, using Federal 210 primers and Federal brass. I'll be loading to 2.800 so I can use the magazine for these.

Gun season for deer starts next weekend and I'm still doing load development for my 168 gr SMK, so I'm hoping to do an abbreviated load development for the 165 gr SGK.

FYI - typical shot is 100 yards; I want something accurate, but I don't plan to spend a bunch of time trying to shoot .5 MOA groups.

thanks

Scott

View attachment 1706060

No doubt, those Sierras are going to shoot accurately out of your 308. That 165 is known to be just a little on the “hard side”. I’m sure it will kill your deer but I’d go down to the 150 grain Sierra or a 150 ballistic tip for quicker kills and maybe less tracking.
Good luck with your hunting

 

[D-4297]

Just a minor suggestion ; but if you are using SRP Brass , you might try Rem 7-1/2 BR Primers with your current loads . They are a little hotter , meaning higher Brisance , and should increase velocity without changing anything . Been my F-Class primer for six years now .

 

[bulletpruf]

No doubt, those Sierras are going to shoot accurately out of your 308. That 165 is known to be just a little on the “hard side”. I’m sure it will kill your deer but I’d go down to the 150 grain Sierra or a 150 ballistic tip for quicker kills and maybe less tracking.
Good luck with your hunting

I thought about 150 gr, but was hoping to hit the "easy button" with the 165 gr SGK since it's so close in weight to the 168 gr SMK.

Thanks

 

[GotRDid]

I take my long time Hunting Buddy’s 88 out at least once per year.
He has been gone for 5+ years, but took his biggest Deer with this rifle at age 85.




Good Luck, BulletPruf!

 

[K22]

Varget, IMR 4064, and IMR 4895 are powders I have used with considerable success with bullets ranging from 150 to 165. While I prefer 150 grain bullets for eastern white tail, I do not envision a reason why 165 - 168 grains will not also work. My best friend has taken a bunch of deer with 180 grain Remington factory ammo. Personally, I think that is too heavy, but his results show otherwise.

In the quality system that you have, it should be relatively easy to find a load combo that groups at least 1 moa which is more than adequate for deer at 100 yards. Even 2 moa would be adequate in my experience. So, I don't think you have to spend hours on the bench in load development.

As you probably already know, it's all about shot placement. The 308 is a perfect deer cartridge at reasonable ranges. I took my two largest bucks with a Rem 700, 308 using 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter, no frills bullets. It does not take a lot to drop them IF the shot is placed properly. I've shot more deer with a 243 Win than any other cartridges and never lost one with the 243 Win if I hit it.

 

[BP1]

I’ve always liked that rifle.

 

[bulletpruf]

Varget, IMR 4064, and IMR 4895 are powders I have used with considerable success with bullets ranging from 150 to 165. While I prefer 150 grain bullets for eastern white tail, I do not envision a reason why 165 - 168 grains will not also work. My best friend has taken a bunch of deer with 180 grain Remington factory ammo. Personally, I think that is too heavy, but his results show otherwise.

In the quality system that you have, it should be relatively easy to find a load combo that groups at least 1 moa which is more than adequate for deer at 100 yards. Even 2 moa would be adequate in my experience. So, I don't think you have to spend hours on the bench in load development.

As you probably already know, it's all about shot placement. The 308 is a perfect deer cartridge at reasonable ranges. I took my two largest bucks with a Rem 700, 308 using 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter, no frills bullets. It does not take a lot to drop them IF the shot is placed properly. I've shot more deer with a 243 Win than any other cartridges and never lost one with the 243 Win if I hit it.

I have IMR 4064 on the shelf as well, but I think I'm going to stick with 43 grains of Varget.

I agree that even 2 MOA would probably be sufficient, but I don't think I would feel very good about shooting reloads that shoot worse than factory ammo.

Thanks for the input.

Scott

 

[6MMsteve]

The Varget powder will be great in the cool weather some people forget about the cool weather and the magnums not going down to a little faster burning powder for the cold days, like I have done a few yrs in a row and scratch my head and wonder

 

[bulletpruf]

The Varget powder will be great in the cool weather some people forget about the cool weather and the magnums not going down to a little faster burning powder for the cold days, like I have done a few yrs in a row and scratch my head and wonder

Good point! It was very cold here today in San Antonio - high temp was only 90 degrees!

 

[Savagenut71]

43.5 to 44.5 of varget in my rifle with 165's is .25 moa I would start lower and ease up but even with 180's 43 grains of varget is .25 in my rifle.

 

[6MMsteve]

Good point! It was very cold here today in San Antonio - high temp was only 90 degrees!

 

[jlshaw]

I would load those 165s just like the 168s for starters and load to very conservative mag length.
You should have way more accuracy and energy than necessary at that distance. I just throw in the 155s I loaded for my palma gun. Bambi doesn't like those much.
And congratulations on the retirement.

 

[bulletpruf]

I would load those 165s just like the 168s for starters and load to very conservative mag length.
You should have way more accuracy and energy than necessary at that distance. I just throw in the 155s I loaded for my palma gun. Bambi doesn't like those much.
And congratulations on the retirement.

Thanks, I plan to load them to mag length and not worry about the jump to the lands.

Scott

 

[S Miller]

No doubt, those Sierras are going to shoot accurately out of your 308. That 165 is known to be just a little on the “hard side”. I’m sure it will kill your deer but I’d go down to the 150 grain Sierra or a 150 ballistic tip for quicker kills and maybe less tracking.
Good luck with your hunting

This has been my same experiences. I switched to the Sierra 165 spritzer game king(2145) and had a much better performance.