Sako 85 .308 Win Reloading

[Carel_The_RSA]

Hi all.

I recently got into the reloading life and I having some troubles.

Firstly, My rifle is a Sako 85 Varmint Stainless.
Twist Rate is 1:11" (Yes i know the twist rate is weird...)

The problem is that i dont know what bullet weight i should be shooting and also Which type of bullets. I started off at 143gr then went up to 168gr. Some say i should go lower, others say higher.

I have also seen that my gun works very well with old Surplus 7.62x51 NATO ammo. The groupings are all <1" @100m.


Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Martin52]

Hi all.

I recently got into the reloading life and I having some troubles.

Firstly, My rifle is a Sako 85 Varmint Stainless.
Twist Rate is 1:11" (Yes i know the twist rate is weird...)

The problem is that i dont know what bullet weight i should be shooting and also Which type of bullets. I started off at 143gr then went up to 168gr. Some say i should go lower, others say higher.

I have also seen that my gun works very well with old Surplus 7.62x51 NATO ammo. The groupings are all <1" @100m.


Any advice would be appreciated

You might find this article good reading since as you say you only recently got into reloading:

http://www.6mmbr.com/JGcaseprep.html

An 11 twist is fine, particularly for 155-185 gr projectiles.

What type of shooting are you wanting to do ?

 

[Carel_The_RSA]

I am planning on shooting Game from 100-300, and target up to 800. I am currently on 300m max

I want to haev different loads for both occasions.

 

[nockhunter]

Sierra 165g game kings shoot very well in just about any rifle in .308win. You don't hear many complaints about them.

Mike

 

[chkunz]

1:11 is good, once it was said to be for those who could not make up their mind between 1:10 and 1:12. Take a look at the Sierra Reloading Manual and look at the "Hunting load" and the "Accuracy load" for some of the 308 bullets. That will give you a good place to start. I have found the accuracy loads to be hard to beat. I do not hunt so I can not comment on the hunting loads.

 

[JackT]

I have a Sako 85 308 Varmit. I shoot either a Berger 155 w/Varget or a Nosler 150 w/RL 15. Both very accurate loads. Great to rifle, congratulations on your choice.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Try some 168gr Berger Hybrids and/or 168gr Hornady HPBT's, haven't found a 308 that wont shoot those 2

 

[FryeGuy]

I have a Sako 85 finnlight in .308. it has shot everything I have put thru it so far fairly well, except really light bullets. The light bullets still did pretty good (still around 1" groups), but I didn't play with them a whole lot. Mine particularly likes the 165 gamekings by sierra. Both the SBT and the HPBT. But honestly I haven't had a .308 that didn't like one of those bullets. I use Varget, Lapua brass, fed match primers. I love the way the HPBT gameking works on deer.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

165 Nosler Accubonds or Sierra GameKings for Hunting. 175-185 What ever your gun will shoot for the long range stuff.

 

[Carel_The_RSA]

Try some 168gr Berger Hybrids and/or 168gr Hornady HPBT's, haven't found a 308 that wont shoot those 2

I recently got a box of 168gr Hornady ELD-Match rounds, but the grouping has not been sub MOA. The rounds were not cutting each other, unlike with the surplus NATO ammo.

 

[JFrank]

I have a Tikka 308 1-11 twist
The rifle will shoot anything well.
Fed gmm 175 no problem
Favorite load is 168 A Max over 44.2 grains Varget .010 jump
Or RL-15 slightly less gr

One thing I've learned is when in doubt give it a touch more speed.
SPJ

 

[msinc]

Nothing wrong with 1-in-11 twist for the 308...the Army AMU determined many moons ago that 1-in-11.25" was "optimum" twist for the 168 grain match bullet. That doesn't mean you can go lighter or a little heavier.
One thing to watch with the newer Sako...some of them have what appears to be an "extended" or long throat so if you are trying to seat the bullet out close or touching the lands it might be way out there. I have a buddy with a 243 model 85 that when seated to touch lands it exceeds the magazine length.
This rifle is brand new and not shot out. I don't know how or why they would ever chamber something like that, but they did and it's not the only one. I will also say that many owners and fans of Sako report the Tikka line of rifles seem to always shoot way better than the Sako rifles. I personally really like the 85, but I have seen this too many times now to spend the money on them. They sure don't give them away.

 

[seymour fish]

I recently got a box of 168gr Hornady ELD-Match rounds, but the grouping has not been sub MOA. The rounds were not cutting each other, unlike with the surplus NATO ammo.

Being new at reloading, careful study of the fundamentals is required. A sound method for working up a load is needed. You have demonstrated that factory ammo is a crap shoot. Since you like the results with milsurp stuff, why not duplicate it with a better bullet. 155.5 Berger to 800, no problem. Your desire for a hunting load to 300, in SA, begs for a tough bullet. Plenty to choose from.