178gr ELD-X load

[Thunderhog]

I've taken a $749 Vortex Venom 5-25x56 out to 1500 yards with no issues on scope tracking or holding zero.

That's great news for you my friend......

This does not change the fact that Vortex is mostly Chinese garbage that is sold for their good warranty. Which make no mistake, you will eventually use.

The money one has to spend on a Philippines/Japanese glass Vortex, you can get a Leupold which is twice the quality and value.

Everyone has different brand loyalty, I'm glad your Vortex make you happy. I for one would not take a Vortex scope for free.

Not when a Leupold scope is quality made, has clearer glass, is more lightweight, has an equally awesome warranty and in my opinion is far superior to any Vortex of equal design and model. In addition, Leupold is usually less money for a similar model.

 

[todbartell]

That's great news for you my friend......

This does not change the fact that Vortex is mostly Chinese garbage that is sold for their good warranty. Which make no mistake, you will eventually use.

The money one has to spend on a Philippines/Japanese glass Vortex, you can get a Leupold which is twice the quality and value.

Everyone has different brand loyalty, I'm glad your Vortex make you happy. I for one would not take a Vortex scope for free.

Not when a Leupold scope is quality made, has clearer glass, is more lightweight, has an equally awesome warranty and in my opinion is far superior to any Vortex of equal design and model. In addition, Leupold is usually less money for a similar model.

I own quite a few Leupolds, and Vortex. Have sent back one of each over the years for a failure

 

[Thunderhog]

I

I own quite a few Leupolds, and Vortex. Have sent back one of each over the years for a failure

I absolutely agree, Leupolds need warranty at times as well.

No scopes are infallible….

My point is Leupolds are far superior to Vortex, period.

Leupold doesn’t make entry level Chinese junk though. Vortex has captured the market on it…..

Others may have different opinions, and that’s okay too…..

 

[todbartell]

"Dialing in" a load is a complete myth. If it that off either something is wrong with your gear or something is wrong with a component. You need to change something. Seating depth does nothing to those bullets, and as long as you are reaching minimum pressure and not going over max pressure power charge has no impact on accuracy.

Everyone who says they dial in loads for a gun, ask them for proof. Most of them it is one 3 or 5 shot group that is used to "prove" something. If you fire 50 rounds at each charge, you will realize they all possess the same accuracy possibility. There is a great Hornady podcast on this where they actually do high volume shooting to prove this fact.

 

[9.3 Hunter]

Try 42.5 again. If you’re not happy try a different powder.

Thats ur best group thus far with that powder. The group shows some good consistency in ur shooting, sort of ... too many other unknowns etc.

* There are several other very good powders available than W748 ... *

You have already worked W748 abit up or down on that combo, so 42.5 may only be the best with it ... for that rifle.

I would look at some other available powders ... look at data in Nosler, Barnes etc. Reloading Books ...

Or, more money (about 400.00) but you could also use the 42.5 W748 load and just buy a Cortina Tuner for example and dial that specific load in - thats what Tuners are for: let's you shoot a number of different factory etc. Rounds; based on availability or what you have et al.

Me <-----, I would just go to another 'most used .308 powder.

Good luck + have fun with it ✔

 

[mimile]

I think it has been already said. This is a heavy bullet in 308. IMR 4064 worked very well for me with this bullet.

 

[remington jim]

Scope has been sent to vortex for warranty, loosing focus every shot something must be loose inside, will find out in 2 weeks when I get it back from vortex

Any updates on your scope problem - new or repaired scope ?

 

[Darewar]

Any updates on your scope problem - new or repaired scope ?

Took while, vortex looked at it and emailed that fault was found -Loose lens in parallax assembly causing the noted parallax shift issue.
Should have the new scope in the mail tomorrow so will know later on this week

 

[Lavs9494]

Working up load for 178gr ELD-X, using Win 748 because that is what is available, my brass I match brand but lots not matched, this is my first 5 groups. I am new to the gun, which is Ruger precision gen 2 308, fairly new to reloading. Loaded COL as long as magazine allows at 2.880, should be around 30 thou jump would you keep going up in charge weight or work off one of these loads to further dial them in?View attachment 971161View attachment 971162

When I’m working up a load I increase my charge weights by .3 grains looking for accuracy nodes

 

[Suther]

Took while, vortex looked at it and emailed that fault was found -Loose lens in parallax assembly causing the noted parallax shift issue.
Should have the new scope in the mail tomorrow so will know later on this week

Parallax alone can't even come close to explaining how bad those groups are... hopefully that wasn't the only issue with the scope...

 

[jethunter]

Parallax alone can't even come close to explaining how bad those groups are... hopefully that wasn't the only issue with the scope...

Chances are high Vortex don't repair the OP's old scope, they just send another a new scope as warranty replacement.

 

[Suther]

Chances are high Vortex don't repair the OP's old scope, they just send another a new scope as warranty replacement.

Oh 100% that's all they did.

But if the ONLY issue was the parallax, then his new scope isn't going to fix the problem. That was my point.

 

[jethunter]

Oh 100% that's all they did.

But if the ONLY issue was the parallax, then his new scope isn't going to fix the problem. That was my point.

I doubt vortex even checked what all went wrong on the old scope past confirming it was bad. Why waste the effort on a scope they know is going to be scrapped and new replacement sent.

There might still be more wrong than the scope alone.

 

[Suther]

I was thinking the new scope would fix all the scope problems even if there was more wrong with the old one. There might still be more wrong than the scope alone.

Totally. But if the only thing that was actually wrong with the scope is parallax, then a new scope will only fix parallax issues. If there was OTHER issues than a new scope should also fix those issues. But that's a big IF.

 

[jethunter]

Totally. But if the only thing that was actually wrong with the scope is parallax, then a new scope will only fix parallax issues. If there was OTHER issues than a new scope should also fix those issues. But that's a big IF.

It's vortex, everything is a big IF, lol.

OP can test his rig with the new scope and go from there.

 

[Darewar]

Have you tried to find a factory offering of the projectile you are shooting? The 178gr ELD-X is offered by both Hornady and Federal. I only ask because it could help you potentially to see if the barrel likes that projectile at all?

I feel like the rifle should shoot better than what you're seeing as results. What is your shooting setup like? Rear bags? Front rest or just the pictured bipod?

Based on GRT 43gr is over pressure with that COAL, Powder and Projectile combination. Quick look at some OBT (Optimal Barrel Time) Calculations if you subscribe to that concept (I'm still testing) a node to try is 41gr and 40.4gr. Your speeds wont be record braking but its something to test if your itching to use this powder.

Different brass can have a different internal volume which can create a slight change in pressure but its hard to say without measuring it and Chronographing it at the same time. Are you collecting chrono data?

B

So I got my scope back only had time to shoot 5 shot group with WIN 748 42gr, ELD-X, COAL 2.880 is a little better. I have a Chrono this time, I do not understand how I am shooting 2500fps with 20" barrel when hornady book says load should be 2300fps, this was my 5 shot velocitys
2508
2507
2490
2508
2491
So I think my reloading is not the problem, I am working on some improvements on the gun... Do you have any on-site on the high velosity
BTW the grid on the target in the picture in 1/2 inch squares.

 

[bdb.hunting]

So I got my scope back only had time to shoot 5 shot group with WIN 748 42gr, ELD-X, COAL 2.880 is a little better. I have a Chrono this time, I do not understand how I am shooting 2500fps with 20" barrel when hornady book says load should be 2300fps, this was my 5 shot velocitys
2508
2507
2490
2508
2491
So I think my reloading is not the problem, I am working on some improvements on the gun... Do you have any on-site on the high velosity
BTW the grid on the target in the picture in 1/2 inch squares.

So I ran your load through GRT and the velocity it kicks back is 2505fps. I have edited it to include your 20" barrel etc. So I think your velocity is spot on. The reloading manuals aren't always perfect and some rifles will be faster or slower. The velocity is holding pretty steady for the load so I would definitely try to practice some more shooting and see if you can tighten the group or potentially have someone else shoot the rifle to see if its shooter error or a rifle problem.

I have one rifle that loves a specific ammunition that I have plenty of stock for and shoots fantastically. I use this as my test rifle to see if I'm shooting bad or if the other rifle is having problems. I highly recommend trying a good factory ammunition just to see what it does in the rifle.

The group looks to be roughly 1" horizontally and 1.5" vertically.

Cheers,
B