20" barrel 308 loads

My buddy just this past weekend shot cloverleafs out of his new SPS 20" with Hornady 168g over 41.7 Varget COAL 2.800 - impressive from a factory rifle on the first weekend out.
 
Varget work great 43grain 2680fps, 44grain 2730 out of my savage 20" barrel, work great with rem700 19" barrel also...
The other powder I have try are IMR4064, BC2 at around 42-43grain.
 
I got to try the 155grain Berger, heard alot of good thing about it, looking to get some bulk quantity.
 
Sounds like Varget is a good powder to start with. I heard smoewhere on this site Sierra 168gr lose their stability after 600 yards, I don't know if I can shoot that far anyway, but I'll sure give it a shot.
 
My pet load is 45 gr. of varget in hornady match brass with BR-2 primers and a 175 SMK. It's a 3/4-1/2 MOA load in my factory Rem. 700 LTR all day!

I have also however had good results with H4895.
 
Yes 168 gr tends to tumble at far ranges, 175 or 155 are your best bet. I personally use factory 155gr lapua scenar
 
I finally shot 600 yards this weekend at Kingston with my 20" barrel SPS tactical with a 1-12 twist after a year of waiting. I had no idea what performance I was going to expect and with the foul weather we had at 600 yards. It would have been a disappointment since I shot only 200 yards since it's all we have available here in PQ land. High winds, 10-13 mph was blowing steadily from our 4:30 in the morning but played with us when it became tempermental in the afternoon. The humidity at 100% @ AM and dropped to 89% @ PM. Baro press stayed a 1063 hPa all day.

Anyway, I was surprised considering the conditions of the accuracy of my AMAX 168 loaded with 45 grains of Varget behind a CCI 200 primer and encased in a 1972 LC brass. My OAL was 2.8020" and the brass was fireformed and necked sized. I managed to put some V-bulls in and managed to keep in the bulls and inners. I was happy with the performance lest to say. Hopefully, I can return this summer in better wind conditions to get a better idea of the accuracy at 600.

BTW my average group size with that load at 200 yards is 1.5".
 
The issue is velocity. The 20" barrel is done out past 400yds. 168's are heavy too but shoot nice at the closer ranges. Try the 155 Amax's, I've had good luck with them. 45 grains of Varget are at the high end but the velocity is higher and seems to stabilize the 155s and 168s better. I did tests from 40 - 46 grains of varget and the 45-46 were by far the tightest. Factory barrels will have some discrepancies. IMR 3031 is good too and usually sold out less often.
 
ton45-II good for you for getting out and shooting at 600, it sure is rewarding isn't it? And imagine how much nicer it will be when you shoot the next time in pleasant weather!
 
No reason a 20" .308 can't do well. I shot 175 SMK's over R15 in my 22" barrel and had plenty of velocity to make 900m. Never tried H4895 w/ that barrel, but it might do well, as it's a bit quicker.
 
A 20" barrel in a .308 can do anything that you need it to do out to any yardage that a .308 is good for and that is proven. Don't let the length make you think you need a longer barrel to reach past 400 yds. 20" easy to 1000 yds or better. Fact and proven.
 
.308 loads

Try the Hornady 168gr. BTNM with CCI std. primers and about 45gr. of W748...that is my hi power (500m) silhouette load...
 
IMR 4895 with the 175 SMK IMHO is the best powder for short barrels as I find I get better speed of Varget and R-17
 
I like all this encouraging information, however in the end if the gun can shoot it's all about the fella pulling the trigger. I ordered some A-Max 178 gr., RL 15. 4895, and hopefully some Varget. Fed 210M primers as well. Checked the mail this morning and nothing so I'll have to settle for factory until Monday or Tuesday I guess.
 
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