.308 load development, few questions

madman25

madman25

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ok i am developing a load for my 700 308 win
switched from 178 amax to berger 185 vld

my Lyman book does not have 185grn in it, so i sort of averaged the 180 & 190 charges for a guess

loading 50 with 10 unique charges

all in Varget

39. 39.5, 40, 41, 41.5 , 42 , 42.2 , 42.4 , 42.6 , 42.8

does this seem reasonable??? 42.8 was the max for a 190 grain bullet

brass is neck sized, weight sorted and neck turned Winchester brass

second question is i am getting to the end of my first 8lbs of Varget, have a second, not same batch, how far should i back off to develop new load with the newer powder
 
The Hodgdon Data Center says 45 grains max for Varget with a 180 grain, and 44 grains max for a 190 grain. I would use 44.5 as the max for a 185.

Hodgdon Data Center

Unless I'm really pressing the limit for pressure, I don't back off at all when switching batches of the same powder.

I find barrels like the same velocity even when the bullet changes. If you had a load that was performing well with the 178 grain, I would try the same velocity in the 185.
 
wow thats a big difference between the 2 manuals, i will see if i can get the 185 to do the same speed, i think i was at 2730 if i remember right, not that i have my own chrony i will see how i get these to go
 
I found a listing using a 185 gr jacketed bullt an v-N140 powder which according to the Lyman manuals has very similar burning carachteristics to Varget. 38.2 @ 2270 fps, max 42.2 @2474fps
 
I would take Ron's advice.I have shot my 175mk's up to 46 grains of varget with no pressure signs.Mind you they shoot much better at 44.8 grains.Just go slow,pay attention to the signs and see what you can get out of your rifle.
 
thanks, just surprised to see how much Lyman manual seems to covering their A$$ with low charges, maybe i will make some extra test rounds up to 44 grains
 
My 700 is using 175 HPBT Sierra MK
42.0 gr Varget

But

The barr's on the 700 differ quite a bit....... what is your twist rate?
(I know the 5R could chuck a heavier bullet but some of the lower 700's could not)
 
mine is 1-12 twist, the berger 185 is fine with that twist, in fact they claim their newer 190 is fine at 1-12, the older one wanted 1-11 though
 
Mind if I ask what the load is being developed for?
Target? What distance?

Also, what distance have you tested the 185 out to?
 
yes this is a target load, i have only had the 185 out to 200 meters so far, i did a test of OAL with 50 so far, now doing load, then i might to OAL again

i am hoping to get 1000 yards out of this, just have to find somewhere to try it
 
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