178gr ELDX load question

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Tikka223

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Did some load development tonight. Details.

Tikka CTR in .308 with a 20” barrel
Brass is Lapua, full length sized
CCIBR2 primers
178gr ELDX with an OAL of 2.85” (2.9” will touch the lands)
Varget

Shot over a chrony and had the following results:

44.2gr - 2565 / 2523 fps
44.0gr - 2574 / 2529 fps
43.8gr - 2554 / 2520 fps
43.6gr - 2520 / Err2
43.4gr - 2505 / Err2

What would be a reasonable velocity to be looking for with these bullets and barrel length? I tried a few 44.4gr loads and saw no pressure signs but the recoil was noticeably stiffer. The velocity spread isn’t too bad either but the 43.8 / 44.0 / 44.2 seem to be tighter for vertical spread (although this is a really small sample size). It’s a .308 so I don’t care about barrel life, I’m just looking for a decent load that I can get out and shoot PRS with ... not looking for BR accuracy.

Any suggestions?
 
Zero replies.

I decided to load up 60 rounds with 44.0gr and see how it shoots at a practice for a PRS match.

Hopefully the load is decent. I’m curious to see if I notice a big difference with the higher BC compared to the 168gr SMKs that I’ve been shooting at 2550fps.
 
I'm getting 2635 ft/sec in a M88 , for that weight of ELD-X.

I wouldn't be expecting much more than you are getting, you could go a slightly slower powder but that short barrel may not be optimum either with a slower powder.

What you are currently getting is not out of line for your setup.

How is your accuracy?
 
With a 26" barrel on my 700 I'm shooting 178gr ELD-Match at 2720fps. That's quite high but happened to be a very accurate load, easy extraction, primers still have round edges.
I'm loading 43.5gr Varget but the feed ramp limits my OAL to 2.815". Lapua brass, CCI LRP's.
I think the same load is ~2650fps in my Savage 10 which is 24" but I forget precisely.

The Remington only has a 1:12 twist where as the Savage is 1:10. Not sure how much of a difference that makes.

With an 18.5" IBI match barrel 1:10 on a gas gun I don't seem to have much accuracy past 2450fps or so; groups really open up above that. Haven't done much tinkering yet so not confident in it. Have pushed them to 2550fps in that barrel length.

Personally I notice no difference between 168gr BTHP and 178gr ELD-Match out to 300-400m. Stretch out to 500-600m and there's noticeably less drop with the ELD's. Past that and the 178 ELD's really start out-performing the 168 HPBT's.

I know the ELD-X has a better BC than the ELD-Match but I tried both and the Match work great in all my rifles where as the X's don't shoot at all in my 700.
 
interesting read, i'm presently working on a load for my tikka t3 a1,24 inch barrel. I have some 178 eld x that I will be testing with vithaouri n140. idid some tests with 200 g sierra bthp and hornady 208 g bthpmatch. at the moment not happy with groupings. didn't have the best shooting platform. will get better set up and then try again andsee if it was the "nut behind thebutt' or the rounds. will keep you posted, i'm also doing this for an upcoming PRS shoot,my first one
 
LUTNIT said:
The Remington only has a 1:12 twist where as the Savage is 1:10. Not sure how much of a difference that makes.


I know the ELD-X has a better BC than the ELD-Match but I tried both and the Match work great in all my rifles where as the X's don't shoot at all in my 700.
Click to expand...

the 12 twist will not like the longer bullets unless you can push them very fast .... not worth the effort in 308
 
I load 43gr Varget with 178gr ELDX. Velocities I get look like this:

18.5” Mossberg 2493
22” 1980’s R700 2520
26” RMR 2763!

I am a little shocked of how fast the RMR fires 178gr with 43gr Varget. Apparently barrel quality is a thing.
 
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