Reloading 308 with 155 & 168 TMK's

Shadow9

Shadow9

Member
Rating - 100%
89   0   1
Location
Gatineau,QC
Hi,

Going to reload some 308 using 155 grain Tipped match king and the 168 grain tipped match king.

Went to Sierra's web site and they mention to load the TMK same as the MK.

So as per Sierra...
155gr & Varget, start at 41.5 and max at 44.8
168gr & Varget, start at 38.7 and max at 43.5

Let's say we take the 155 for now...
If I look at Hodgdon and Lyman for this bullet, they say...

Hodgdon start at 44 and max at 47
Lyman starts at 43 and max at 48

I know these loads are all for the SMK and that the TMK is a bit longer so the TMK will sit deeper in the case (I can't load longer than 2.800 due to my mag), I entend on starting low and working my way up, but how low should I start? 41 or 43?
 
We load our target rifles qiththe 155s to about 46 gr.

I would start a new rifle at 43 and make 5 each in 0.5 gr increments up to 46.5 and go to the range to see what groups and when (if) pressure signs develop.

I would be prepared to come home with sone unfired ammo that was too hot.
 
Friend fired 40 shots at club Sierra shoot last fall with 155gr Sieras 2155 at 300 meters all 40 where in bull 3" Fclass
he claims his load was 47 gr Varget I checked hogdons site
Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.775" 44.0 2,759 41,300 CUP 47.0C 2,909 49,400 CUP
 
Hopefully OP has a source or stock of Varget, it's been harder to get in the last few years.

N140 and H4895 will also give good velocities with the 155g projectile in .308 Win.

I also found that using a long drop tube or vibrating the charged cases before seating
projectiles permitted fitting more Varget in w/o seriously compressing it.

non-exclusive source of the Forster offering:

http://www.hirschprecision.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=538
 
Hmm,

Interesting about the Varget, I have 8lbs now, a friend recommended that I use Varget for .308. Maybe I should check if they have more Varget in stock.

I have seen more and more people using CFE223 for .308...what you think of that powder?
 
Last edited:
Shadow9 said:
Remington SPS in .308 with 20" barrel...I think I am pretty much capped at 500 yards anyways, right?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not.

You can easily shoot towards hitting a 12" gong at 1000y. The gun will easily do it with the right wind calls and with decent repeatability.

At those distances, wind and ballistics over rule short range precision. Are there better length barrels, calibers, etc? Yes, but don't let that stop you. I've rang the bell many times with 20" .308, and continue to do with lots with a 24". Our hidden range starts at 580y! There aren't as many excuses when you miss the 580y gong... =)

As I've said before. EASY is not FUN. Challenge is what shooters desire.

Get out there and shoot!
 
Well,

Went to the range to try out the loads, was surprised that I could not even come close to specs you guys mentioned without pressure signs, no way I can go up to 46gr of Varget...I maxing out at 45.

So I thought OK, instead of loading at 2.800" maybe I can load them longer (less pressure, right?) and single feed and run them one at a time..So measured the headspace for max COL I could go with...2.805"...
Is that normal to have it so close to 2.800" on a Rem 700 SPS? I've been reading that people are saying the Remington 700s are way long and you shouldn't worry about kissing the lands, some guys even say that their headspace is like 2.945".

At 2.805", I would almost be kissing the lands with factory ammo, right?
 
Shadow9 said:
Hmm,

Interesting about the Varget, I have 8lbs now, a friend recommended that I use Varget for .308. Maybe I should check if they have more Varget in stock.

I have seen more and more people using CFE223 for .308...what you think of that powder?
Click to expand...

CFE 223 will spike on hot days of summer
 
Shadow9 said:
Well,

Went to the range to try out the loads, was surprised that I could not even come close to specs you guys mentioned without pressure signs, no way I can go up to 46gr of Varget...I maxing out at 45.

So I thought OK, instead of loading at 2.800" maybe I can load them longer (less pressure, right?) and single feed and run them one at a time..So measured the headspace for max COL I could go with...2.805"...
Is that normal to have it so close to 2.800" on a Rem 700 SPS? I've been reading that people are saying the Remington 700s are way long and you shouldn't worry about kissing the lands, some guys even say that their headspace is like 2.945".

At 2.805", I would almost be kissing the lands with factory ammo, right?
Click to expand...

The two Rems i have had in 308 had crazy freebore - i could load an OAL well over 2.9" with 155 SMK's before I hit the lands.
Do a search on how to find the lands and go from there. You should have no problem getting the 45+ gr Varget in if you seat out a bit further - and yes it will crunch when seating the bullet.
Also consider a hornady gauge that measures off the ogive - much more accurate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom