So I just shot my first reloads ever, now what?

Furync

Furync

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I was at the range yesterday and shot 20 rounds out of my .308 M700 SPS
I was using 38.3 grains of Varget to push a 180gr SST. I was quite impressed with the results, 5 shot groups averaged 1.603" center to center at 100m. No vertical line or horizontal line groups either, so I figure I did my part. Keep in mind this M700 is totally stock, I never adjusted the trigger, the stock sucks, and it's definatly not bedded.

The thing is, this is a starting load. I didn't notice any signs of pressure on the cases, although it did give a little kick compared to a friend's reloads with H322 (which had no kick at all). On the other hand, they did not kick more than factory ammo.

Should I move up to the next line in the load data table? ie: 41 grains of varget. The max recommended load is 45gr if I remember correctly.

BTW: the groups I got with these reloads are more than satisfactory for me, I'd just like a little more punch perhaps? It is for hunting afteral...

Thanks for the help!
 
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I start 10% under max load and work up from there. 45grain max charge, I would start at 41.5 grains and work up in .5 grain intervals. Loading 12 of each charge. 4, three round groups. Fire and record results. Find best load then work in .1 grain intervals up and down from the .5 increment that had best group. Find best load. Check velocity with chrono, make custom ballistics chart. Shoot lots and enjoy.
 
OK here is the checklist...

Can you see all your fingers?
Can you feel all your fingers?
Do you have the same number of hairs above the eyes?

Ok Then...
If the load is good then keep it...

Normally when I'm working up a pistol load.. I load in .2 grain increments and with .0125 OAL increments... Load 10-20 rounds of each...

If I have a load that works.. I may occasionally take it and go up and down and expand and contract it if the load feels like it's falling off...


and then I chrony and shoot them.. If the load is good I can fine tune...
I'll have to see if I can find my loading/performance sheet...

I really loaded enough of my own rifle loads to find out when the incrementals need to be...
 
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I prefer to work up my loads with the aid of a chronograph, but most models don't work well in the cold, and handloaders have safely worked up loads without chronographs for generations.

My system is as follows:

Make up a number of loads beginning at the minimum recommended in the manual. When I begin working up a load I seat the bullet into the lands so that any adjustment I make later reduces pressure rather than increases it. With the .308 or cartridge of similar or larger capacity, I loads in 1 gr increments from the minimum suggested to what I am sure is an over load. I write the load on the case with a permanent marker to be sure I fire them in the correct order. After each shot I would examine the case and look for gas leakage around the primer, which will appear as soot on the case head or a black ring around the primer pocket, and be alert for a sticky bolt.

The firing pin indent that some people refer to for a high pressure signal is unrealizable due to the difference in the hardness of primer cups of different brands, and requires a great deal of experience in any case. As soon as you observe high pressure warning signs, stop! Record your observations. Any remaining loads should be pulled.

Now go back to the loading bench and make up some ammo in 5 round batches beginning 1/2 gr below the charge that gave you the high pressure signs. Load perhaps enough batches to span 5 grs. in half gr. increments. Again load the rounds to the same length. Now shoot each 5 round group for accuracy and record the results. When you find the sweet spot, now bracket either side of it by loading a couple of 5 round batches in quarter gr. increments. I've never experienced an advantage of working to tighter variances than quarter grain. Now that you have determined the most accurate load with the bullet in full contact with the lands you can experiment with bullet jump. The most accurate load might very be with the bullet contacting the lands, but that won't work for you if you want to load from a magazine. In that case, if you are shooting a bullet with a cannular experiment to see if accuracy with the required bullet jump improves with crimping. Although some die makers claim their dies will crimp non-cannulared bullets, I believe that is a poor practice as it deforms the bullet.

Any time you change a component, brass, powder, or strength of primer, you should start over. Lots of folks say to start over with a change in primer, but I don't believe this is necessary if you are going from one brand to another primer of the same strength, although you may observe a difference in accuracy.

Good luck.
 
I have used lots of Varget it does best close to at at max loads,also seems to life CCI-BR 2 primers,I would start at 43.5grs(in Winchester brass) and work up watching your primers and such

what case are you using?
 
If you intend to use the same bullet, try another powder! If you intend to use another bullet.... IIRC the SST is boat tailed - bet you'll get better performance at 100 m using a flat based bullet like the Hornady 180 SP...
For my early trials, I go at it with 2 powders and 2 bullets - then I fine tune the preferred combo.
 
Furync said:
I was using 38.3 grains of Varget to push a 180gr SST. I was quite impressed with the results, 5 shot groups averaged 1.603" center to center at 100m. No vertical line or horizontal line groups either, so I figure I did my part....

Should I move up to the next line in the load data table? ie: 41 grains of varget. The max recommended load is 45gr if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...




I am not sure where you got the 38.3 gr of Varget for 180 gr bullet from, according to the specifications in my Hodgdon and Speer manuals the min starts at 41.0 and 40.0 gr (max 45.0 and 44.0).

Always stay within the min. & max. ranges that the manual covers.

In your case I suggest:

1) Load at 40.0 gr with three rounds and go up with an increment of 0.3 gr.

2) Watch for sign of pressure and observe group size. The group size will shrink.

Once you found the best load. Develop more around that level using a smaller increment and re-test for repeatable accuracy.

3) Use a chrono to measure bullet speed. Never exceed max load and/or max speed for safety reasons especially you are developing a load in the winter.

Have fun!
 
Danny Boy said:
I am not sure where you got the 38.3 gr of Varget for 180 gr bullet from, according to the specifications in my Hodgdon and Speer manuals the min starts at 41.0 and 40.0 gr (max 45.0 and 44.0).

Always stay within the min. & max. ranges that the manual covers.
Click to expand...


The hornady manual shows a starting load of 32gr with a max load of 43.2gr

I decided to go a bit higher than 32 because I had seen other books noting different (higher) starting loads.



what case are you using?
Click to expand...

I'm using Remington brass. Is winchester better? How so?




Here's my action plan, I want to start another batch using 41gr 42gr and 43gr, see how they group and work from there. Am I on the right track?

Thanks for all the advice btw, I read and consider everything.
 
if you want to get the best out of the 700 sps you should be using 168gr match like Sierra,s or there 175gr MK Varget is good powder work up most my loading books start point with varget 39gr max 43.5 with 180gr bullet
The most used load for hunterclass a few years ago was H 4895 39 gr and 168 sierra MK 4064 was another good powder.
good luck
 
You really don't need 20 rounds of the same loads to know if the bullets group or not. The most I'll ever do is 10 rounds with a chrony to get a better average FPS, but I usually use a reload 5 rounds of a certain load + a fouling round. Works about 10% from max (around 2 grains) and work up .5grn increments until I hit max. I've never experience any pressure signs for my 308. I've use imr3031, blc2 and imr4064.
 
Furync said:
The hornady manual shows a starting load of 32gr with a max load of 43.2gr

Here's my action plan, I want to start another batch using 41gr 42gr and 43gr, see how they group and work from there. Am I on the right track?

Thanks for all the advice btw, I read and consider everything.
Click to expand...

From Hodgdon:

180 GR. SP Varget .308" min - 41.0 2470 41,200 CUP, max - 45.0C 2661 49,600 CUP

Your load is way under the minimum.:runaway:

I'm shooting 180gr SST's with 45gr Varget, and 165gr SST's with 46 gr. Varget

Hodgdon's doesn't show any loads with 32gr of powder.:confused:
 
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