.308 reloding advice
- Thread starter 50calguy
- Start date
Once you start you cant stop. For starting out, I always say look at some manuals and data and start from there. For match stuff and hunting I've always shot bullets in the 168-178 range which usually when paired with your preference in powder (I use Varget, but I won't share any of my charge weights as I do stuff I don't recommend when starting to reload.) Get a manual from your favorite bullet manufacture and treat that as law in the beginning. Once you develop some comfort and begin to understand what your doing and looking for in terms of "oh crap this is going bad" then start playing with stuff. The whole point of reloading is fine-tuning to your rifle so don't be afraid to try different bullets and charge weights, just stay on the safe side.
Hodgdon Reloading:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
Hodgdon Reloading:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle
24'' barrel 1:10 5R?
When I had factory barrel, these we're my tools and components, for repeatable and insured sub 3/4 moa groups.
Redding body die (bumped shoulders 2 thous), Lee collet neck die
175 SMK, loaded at mag length 2.800'', 42.7gr Varget (low node always worked better in my savage barrel), CCI BR2 primers, Lapua brass.
I'd do a load dev, 5 shot groups, 42.5gr, 42.6gr, 42.7gr, 42.8gr, 42.9gr, 43.0gr
Do a few sighters at manual starting load and gradually going higher, just in case on early pressure signs.
That's my take and opinion on it, ymmv
Not the most experienced here, but myself stopped shooting at 100M altogether this year.
Once in a while to double check scope zero that's it.
Last year I had spent a ton of time developing and tuning at 100M, to find that my load doesn't behave as well at 200/300.
My best 200/300M load on paper, is not the best 100M load on paper right now.
With my new barrel this year, did an initial load dev at 200M.
started at 20 thous off the lands, which is exactly 2.800'' COAL in the new match barrel.
42.1gr, 42.4gr, 42.7gr and so on up to 44.5gr of varget for first visit.
Velocity well over 2700FPS at 43.0gr, so desired speed was obtained with low node.
42.7gr was the clear winner on paper, so I did a 42.5gr, 42.6gr, 42.7gr, 42.8gr, 42.9gr for second visit.
Been shooting sub 1/2 moa 5 shot groups at 200M since.
I didn't play with the lands, in other forums I had researched, 20 thou jump seems to be the standard when using 175 SMKs.
It is often regarded as a waste, but my load dev groups are always 5 shots. I personally spot patterns easier this way.
Extreme spread and standard deviation was never taken into account, I used the results on paper.
Now that i'm trying longer ranges this may or may not bite me in the rear.
Once in a while to double check scope zero that's it.
Last year I had spent a ton of time developing and tuning at 100M, to find that my load doesn't behave as well at 200/300.
My best 200/300M load on paper, is not the best 100M load on paper right now.
With my new barrel this year, did an initial load dev at 200M.
started at 20 thous off the lands, which is exactly 2.800'' COAL in the new match barrel.
42.1gr, 42.4gr, 42.7gr and so on up to 44.5gr of varget for first visit.
Velocity well over 2700FPS at 43.0gr, so desired speed was obtained with low node.
42.7gr was the clear winner on paper, so I did a 42.5gr, 42.6gr, 42.7gr, 42.8gr, 42.9gr for second visit.
Been shooting sub 1/2 moa 5 shot groups at 200M since.
I didn't play with the lands, in other forums I had researched, 20 thou jump seems to be the standard when using 175 SMKs.
It is often regarded as a waste, but my load dev groups are always 5 shots. I personally spot patterns easier this way.
Extreme spread and standard deviation was never taken into account, I used the results on paper.
Now that i'm trying longer ranges this may or may not bite me in the rear.
IMR4985 - 44.2Gr
Hornady HPBT steated to 2.8 OAL
Sig sauer brass
this is not close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
.3 moa at 100 all day long
(my hunting load)
IMR 4064 - 46gr
Hornady SST 150 GR steated 2.8 OAL
Lapua brass
this is close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
BEST was 5 shots @ 100 .120, average .3 moa
Benchmark - 46GR
Hornady FMJ 150gr steated 2.8 oal
Federal brass
This is close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
.5 moa all day long. cheap ammo route
Powder : varget - 45GR
Bullet type : hornady 168gr HPBT
Lapua brass factory length (unfired)
Over all loaded length bullet - 2.810
Gun used : Cadex 308 1:11.25 twist 24: barrel with brake
100 yards : .25 moa 5 shots 2676 2 feet per second variant in bullet speeds
This is my go to round! going to start developing a 175hpbp load soon
Hornady HPBT steated to 2.8 OAL
Sig sauer brass
this is not close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
.3 moa at 100 all day long
(my hunting load)
IMR 4064 - 46gr
Hornady SST 150 GR steated 2.8 OAL
Lapua brass
this is close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
BEST was 5 shots @ 100 .120, average .3 moa
Benchmark - 46GR
Hornady FMJ 150gr steated 2.8 oal
Federal brass
This is close to max load
savage 10 ba - 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ muzzle break
.5 moa all day long. cheap ammo route
Powder : varget - 45GR
Bullet type : hornady 168gr HPBT
Lapua brass factory length (unfired)
Over all loaded length bullet - 2.810
Gun used : Cadex 308 1:11.25 twist 24: barrel with brake
100 yards : .25 moa 5 shots 2676 2 feet per second variant in bullet speeds
This is my go to round! going to start developing a 175hpbp load soon
I was wind coach for fellow shooting model 10 savage 24" barrel and over 3000 rounds down pipe. he shot 15 shots for score at 700 meters
his score was 75 of 75 and 8 vbulls that's 7 shots in a 10" bull and 8 in a 5" circle V bull
I have a Model 10 FCP-SR.
I'm currently using Hornady 168 ELD Match with 43 grains of H4895. This is a sub MOA load for me but it's not my most accurate load. So far the most accurate load was 41.7 grains of H4895. I'm pushing the powder as I'm trying for 1200 yards and need the velocity.
41.7 grains is right around 0.5 MOA if I do my part.
I'm currently using Hornady 168 ELD Match with 43 grains of H4895. This is a sub MOA load for me but it's not my most accurate load. So far the most accurate load was 41.7 grains of H4895. I'm pushing the powder as I'm trying for 1200 yards and need the velocity.
41.7 grains is right around 0.5 MOA if I do my part.
Depends on velocity.
I currently have 2700fps at 42.7gr varget with a 175gr bullet.
For target practice, not for killing critters, I think a 175gr projectile going 2700FPS get's most 308 shooting objectives done.
Huh, that is amazing. Offhand, if I recall properly, I have around 150fps less velocity with the same amount of powder and a 178gr bullet; 20" barrel.
I just loaded up 50 rounds @ 5 of each with 42.5 to 42.9gr @ 0.1gr increments and 43.4 to 43.8gr @ 0.1gr increments to see what works best with some 175gr hpbt. I am planning on getting out to the range early next week. I initially ran a 0.3gr step rate across 5 x of each step with ~41 to 44gr Varget & 175gr bthp loadings and these were the areas with what look to be the best nodes at the upper end. There is another one near 41.6gr that I might follow up on later. I did the initial step without my chrony, not because I wanted to but because I left the power pack at home, sitting on the table plugged in to the charger. Doh!
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I am running a 26”, i think most of the velocity differences are due to that.
When i was running 24”, was also most accurate load, just not as quick.
