Seek Good AR10 Load, 168gr Hornady BTHP

[MarkVaughn22]

New build probably 50 rounds thru Shot a load from a friend 43grains of imr4064 pushing a 168 sierra bthp Unfortunetly can not find Imr4064 or sierra 168 bthp I do how ever have 450 hornady 168 bthpm is there a load that i could use that would get me close to the load my friend gave me I dont know the speed and i shot all 8 bullets

 

[Ned Ludd]

So you will use a different brand of bullet and powder, possibly different brands of brass and even primers. In other words, potentially none of the components will be the same. But you want someone to provide recipe for a load that shoots like some other load for which they don't even have any specifics other than the type of bullet and powder, not even any true indication of how it actually worked. Not trying to be overly harsh here, but at best that's a very tall order, and at worst, it's close to impossible. My advice would be to do a load workup with the components you actually have. The rifle will tell you where it wants to shoot. There are no "magic beans" to the reloading process. I can understand with the current scarcity of reloading components that you might want to minimize the number of rounds you consume during load development. There are certainly ways to do that. But doing some sort of load workup, however abbreviated it might be, is warranted given the information you have available to you. Otherwise, you might just as well spend the same effort doing whatever is necessary to obtain some Federal Gold Medal Match commercial 168 gr ammo, which is reputed to be loaded with IMR4064, and usually shoots very well through a wide range of different rifles. It will likely shoot as well, or better than any handload recipe tuned for a completely different rifle that anyone else can provide.

 

[D-4297]

^^^^ 200 - 20X ^^^^ So often we see these types of posts , and you "cleaned" it , Ned . Excellent response , and hopefully , it will reduce the number of "this is my magic load" data responses .

 

[jelenko]

To the point that FGMM would probably shoot well, if the OP said what powder they could get, we could provide loads that have been known to work well in AR10's with 20" barrels without knowing the type of brass or primer, yes? The loads wouldn't be tuned to his rifle, but would they be pretty good? Like FGMM is usually pretty good?

 

[Ned Ludd]

Obviously, the other alternative would be to provide the specific load details here from your friend, if he is willing to provide them. That would also give the folks here a much better chance of helping you with your question by providing at least a "starting point". In lieu of that, if you could provide more explicit information regarding the rifle/components such as your maximum COAL if loading to mag length, the powder/primers/brass types you actually intend to use, etc., it would also be helpful. Nonetheless, it may end up being simpler and easier for you to locate a stash of quality commercial ammo such as the FGMM 168s, or Black Hills 168s, etc., as I suggested earlier. I have found the FGMM can often shoot nearly as well as a handload in the right rifle, with the caveat that you are locked into the bullet selection and physical dimensions of the commercial ammo prep (i.e. no "tuning" to a specific setup is possible). There is still some of that stuff around to be found from time to time, but it requires some diligence in order to get an order placed before the hoards of ammo locusts buy it all up. Good luck.

 

[MarkVaughn22]

Sorry I am a new member and didnt realize there was a list of stupid questions and I evidently asked one. Should I have said Hey i got a308 80% lower with a precision upper, 20 inch barrel with a 1/10 twist. What would you recommend Loading This is the first 308 i have ever owned I have avalible
Hornady 150 sst
Hornady 168 bthpm
Speer 150 hot core

Imr4227
imr4350
imr4895
imr4831
benchmark
unique
w760
superformance
h380
h414
h4350
h4831
imr 8208 xbr
h1000
imr7977
varget
BL-C(2)
R-17
R-19
R-23
R-25
R-26
Mag pro

Fedral Large rifle standard and Fedral Large rifle Match primers
Fedral Large rifle Mag standard and Fedral Large rifle Mag match primers

I tried 43grains imr4064 with a 168 sierra match king, WLR primers and they shot really well.. Unfortunetly I dont have access to either the powder or bullet what would some of you more experienced shooters suggest that would get me close to that load or do you have a load that you think might work well in my gun. I know you can't gaurentee that it will work in my gun like it does yours. If this is a stupid question then just say hey bud i cant help you or heck just scroll right on by and no one will know i wasted your time. All advice is greatly appreciated

 

[Monte F]

Use the Hornady 168's, Varget (very close to 4064), and the Fed. standard primers. Start a little lower (10%) than your previous load and check for pressure signs, then work up from there. The Hodgdon website has load data to help you with starting loads for many of the powders you have.

 

[MarkVaughn22]

Thank you for your advice i appreciate it

 

[miningshawn]

I have an AR-10 .308 with nearly the same components. Due to lack of availability I have made a few changes:
CFE223, it has a slightly slower burn rate than Varget and is one of the few powders I could find in bulk before this latest drought. Many will fight over 2 lbs of Varget and leave an 8lb jug of CFE223 on the shelf. It does have some temperature instability compared to other powders, but in my experience it is not as great as some would lead you to believe. It meters like water and it is never a compressed load.
Starline brass, the well is dry but there are a few manufacturers that sell direct. Starline makes good and consistent brass. In an AR platform the shoulders take a beating when being ejected, Starline brass has been my go-to for AR's because it lasts longer and recovers better from shoulder dings.
Sierra sells direct also. Don't get hung up on any one bullet, I have recipes for the 168 and 175. I prefer the 175's when I don't load Juggernauts.
Don't forget the factory sites. Hodgdon, Sierra, and Starline all sell direct - and they definitely know what they have in stock, unlike many middle-man vendors as of late.
Good luck on primers....

 

[Bronco302]

That is a really good powder selection, lots of options! Whats hurting you is the bullets on hand with the only "decent" bc bullet being the 168. My AR-10 likes the old Sierra 155 palma (2155) bullet which isn't any bc queen, but it shoots them really well.
Of the powders you have on hand I've had good results with:
BL-C2
8208XBR
RL-17 although it has some temp sensitivity
Several other powders you have will work I've just never used them for .308.

 

[cw308]

My benchrest is a Remington 700 308 20" barrel , My favorite powder my barrel liked was IMR 4064 under a Sierra 168gr. MK. Besides I'm shoot a bolt action , Shooting the AR platform shooting faster , barrel heating up causing changes down range. I can get away shooting lighter loads and single feeds, also tighter sizing . When changing powders barrel may take 9 rounds to settle down so clean your barrel each change to give each change a fare chance.

 

[MarkVaughn22]

I have an AR-10 .308 with nearly the same components. Due to lack of availability I have made a few changes:
CFE223, it has a slightly slower burn rate than Varget and is one of the few powders I could find in bulk before this latest drought. Many will fight over 2 lbs of Varget and leave an 8lb jug of CFE223 on the shelf. It does have some temperature instability compared to other powders, but in my experience it is not as great as some would lead you to believe. It meters like water and it is never a compressed load.
Starline brass, the well is dry but there are a few manufacturers that sell direct. Starline makes good and consistent brass. In an AR platform the shoulders take a beating when being ejected, Starline brass has been my go-to for AR's because it lasts longer and recovers better from shoulder dings.
Sierra sells direct also. Don't get hung up on any one bullet, I have recipes for the 168 and 175. I prefer the 175's when I don't load Juggernauts.
Don't forget the factory sites. Hodgdon, Sierra, and Starline all sell direct - and they definitely know what they have in stock, unlike many middle-man vendors as of late.
Good luck on primers....

Thank you for the info and advice this is the first AR10 first build and the first 308. I am really enjoying all the info and appreciate all the knowledge from everyone.

 

[MarkVaughn22]

My benchrest is a Remington 700 308 20" barrel , My favorite powder my barrel liked was IMR 4064 under a Sierra 168gr. MK. Besides I'm shoot a bolt action , Shooting the AR platform shooting faster , barrel heating up causing changes down range. I can get away shooting lighter loads and single feeds, also tighter sizing . When changing powders barrel may take 9 rounds to settle down so clean your barrel each change to give each change a fare chance.

ive been more into hunting than paper punching. I will say thou getting feed back from everyone is making me really want to fine tune evry rifle i have lol. i shot a load my buddy had and it was 43 grains of imr4064 with a 168 smk and they shot very well 1/2 or better at 100 yards. I can not find the powder or the bullets so thats why i asked this question. I appreciate your input and advice thank you

 

[MarkVaughn22]

That is a really good powder selection, lots of options! Whats hurting you is the bullets on hand with the only "decent" bc bullet being the 168. My AR-10 likes the old Sierra 155 palma (2155) bullet which isn't any bc queen, but it shoots them really well.
Of the powders you have on hand I've had good results with:
BL-C2
8208XBR
RL-17 although it has some temp sensitivity
Several other powders you have will work I've just never used them for .308.

bullet selection definately i just go this 308 and of course thts when the election infection came about and i havent had alot of luck finding bullets. im trying the bl-c(2) soon as the weather clears. Im starting at 41 grains with the hornady168 bthpm i have 3 rounds each increasing in .5 grains to 45 hopefully i can find something good in between there. I got the r-17 to try in my 260AI I appreciate the advice

 

[cw308]

Right now everything is just about dried up , a sad time for shooters and reloaders.

 

[joshb]

ive been more into hunting than paper punching. I will say thou getting feed back from everyone is making me really want to fine tune evry rifle i have lol. i shot a load my buddy had and it was 43 grains of imr4064 with a 168 smk and they shot very well 1/2 or better at 100 yards. I can not find the powder or the bullets so thats why i asked this question. I appreciate your input and advice thank you

Hey from Texas! The 4895 or the varget would work for you. How many of the Hornady 168 do you have? They work for me.
I’ll make you an offer. Become a Gold Member, pm me your address and I’ll send you more than 300 Sierra 168 HPBT bullets. I’m sayin “more than” cause I’m gonna weigh them. I’m not counting ‘em! I can’t count that high.
I have a DPMS SSAS that I need to do load work up for. I’m gonna use H4895, Federal primers, Lake City brass and Sierra 168s. Near future, tho. My wife has me working on an addition right now.

 

[joshb]

Hi Mark: Your bullets are in the mail. 2 day priority. I want to thank you for the Site donation. Wear that Gold banner with pride! My hope is that you continue to support this great haven of our shooting community! We can be a bunch of persnickety old guys at times, but we’re really just looking out for you. Keep reading here and use the Search menu to dive deep into any subject you’re pondering. Ask any questions. You’ll get an answer.
Josh

 

[MarkVaughn22]

Hey from Texas! The 4895 or the varget would work for you. How many of the Hornady 168 do you have? They work for me.
I’ll make you an offer. Become a Gold Member, pm me your address and I’ll send you more than 300 Sierra 168 HPBT bullets. I’m sayin “more than” cause I’m gonna weigh them. I’m not counting ‘em! I can’t count that high.
I have a DPMS SSAS that I need to do load work up for. I’m gonna use H4895, Federal primers, Lake City brass and Sierra 168s. Near future, tho. My wife has me working on an addition right now.

Hi Mark: Your bullets are in the mail. 2 day priority. I want to thank you for the Site donation. Wear that Gold banner with pride! My hope is that you continue to support this great haven of our shooting community! We can be a bunch of persnickety old guys at times, but we’re really just looking out for you. Keep reading here and use the Search menu to dive deep into any subject you’re pondering. Ask any questions. You’ll get an answer.
Josh

Most definatley and I really do appreciate any help from anyone. Knowledge is key. Take as much knowledge as you can from those who have it to offer. I will be asking alot of questions cause i have children and sometimes "well most of the time" I dont have alot of time to work on my stuff and the tips i have gotten here saved me sooooo much time. I will definately refer this site to my friends. Thank you so much

Thank you for the bullets as well
Mark

 

[joshb]

I’ll add this for you. When I load for the semi auto AR types, I size all the cases back to factory specs and load the bullet to book COAL. I may be reducing case life. I don’t care. My 308 is a $2000 gun. I’ll waste the brass, not the gun.

 

[MarkVaughn22]

I got my Bullets today. I just want to say thank you Josh. I really appreciate it. I truely mean that. I will definately be looking to this site for help on anything i have questions about. Glad to know there are still people out there that stand behind theor word. Thank you bud.