Lapua 155 Scenar - 308 win advice

[rnbra-shooter]

Bolivar for what it is worth I tried Lapua 155s with Reloder 15 powder, for a number of years, without success. I was only able to get "middling" results (SDs in the 15-25fps range). I finally tried using Varget (just like everybody else was using, duh), and it finally worked well for me. I was using about 45.5 grains of Varget in a Lapua case, and with the 155 Scenar at about 2.84" (to fit my .308 Obermayer chamber; it would be nice to have a throat about .150" or .200" longer than this though), which gave me low to mid 2900s from a 30" barrel.

@SouthPaw700, those are nice results you have there.

 

[SouthPaw700]

Thanks man, I was pleased with results. Sounds like my load is pretty much the same as you were using. Seems like it's a pretty good recipe for success with a 308

 

[Bolivar]

Bolivar for what it is worth I tried Lapua 155s with Reloder 15 powder, for a number of years, without success. I was only able to get "middling" results (SDs in the 15-25fps range). I finally tried using Varget (just like everybody else was using, duh), and it finally worked well for me. I was using about 45.5 grains of Varget in a Lapua case, and with the 155 Scenar at about 2.84" (to fit my .308 Obermayer chamber; it would be nice to have a throat about .150" or .200" longer than this though), which gave me low to mid 2900s from a 30" barrel.

Hmmmm, NOT using RL15. Seems kind of un-natural to me.

Yeah, in the back of my head the fact that everybody is using Varget has been sort of whispering to me. Maybe I'll have a little trip up to Epps this weekend and grab me a pound.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

Hmmmm, NOT using RL15. Seems kind of un-natural to me.

I fully agree. If Reloder-15 and Varget aren't as close to being similar powders as any two powders out there I don't know what is; and yet no matter what I tried I simply couldn't get Reloder-15 to shoot well for me with Lapua 155s (it had worked very well for me with everything else I had ever tried, which is why I was pigheaded on this matter for years)

 

[Bolivar]

I fully agree. If Reloder-15 and Varget aren't as close to being similar powders as any two powders out there I don't know what is; and yet no matter what I tried I simply couldn't get Reloder-15 to shoot well for me with Lapua 155s (it had worked very well for me with everything else I had ever tried, which is why I was pigheaded on this matter for years)

I've been known to be pigheaded about stuff myself

Thanks for the advice. I am pretty low on RL15 anyway so now is as good a time as any to grab some Varget. I'll start with a work up like I did with RL15. I am expecting a similar max charge weight....but only testing will tell.

To be continued......

 

[Bolivar]

So I got some Varget and tried single rounds of various charges to see if I could find a max or some clue where to go charge wise for group testing. All rounds were loaded 0.010 off the lands this time as opposed to touching as I had been doing with RL15.

45.6 Gn 2865 fps
45.8 Gn 2855 fps
46.0 Gn 2902 fps
46.2 Gn 2884 fps
46.4 Gn 2914 fps
46.6 Gn 2928 fps
46.8 Gn 2947 fps
47.0 Gn 2980 fps
47.2 Gn 2959 fps
47.4 Gn 2980 fps
47.2 Gn 2959 fps
47.4 Gn 2980 fps

I did not get and smooth velocity flat spots in my testing and at 46.2 and 47.2 I got a fair velocity drop. I may be reading too much into single round tests. At least velocities stayed above 2900 fps from 46.4 on up. I am thinking of testing from here at 46.4 to 47.0 gn for groups and see what shows up.

Out of interest, I tried my 47.4 Gn RL 15 load again, this time with 0.010 jump and 0.010 jam. The jumped loads grouped about 0.7 inch while the jammed went 1.05 inch. I will be checking some more groups with this load to see if I found something. Also, I think I will work with 0.010 jump for the next batch of Varget loads first.

I did not chrony my RL15 loads today - Practical life lesson

Do not pressure wash your pickup with your chrony in the back (unfolded and ready to go) when you know your box cap leaks a little bit. A wet chrony is not a happy chrony

It did dry out after about an hour in the sun thankfully.