.308 Win load data with Varget and the Sierra MK 168gr

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Rotac

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Guys,

I'm looking for a load to start off with for my 29" Rem 700 in .308 win. Barrel Twist is 1 in 12 and it's a McLennan barrel. I'll be shooting out to 800 yards and I know the 168gr Sierra Match King is not the best round past 300 yards but it's what I have and now I need a load that will be consistent accurate load and have a decent velocity for the longer distances. I have both Winchester match brass and Federal nickle plated match brass, CCI BR2 primers and Varget. Any suggestions on which brass to go with and a decent load for the 168's.

I've only shot the 168's out of this rifle at 100 yards with BLC2 and it shot 1/2 MOA but I want to use the Varget due to better consistancy.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
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You have a manual, yes?

Your going to get 20 different loads thrown at you. How will that help?
What if someone shows a 300yd .5moa target, is that the load you'll start with? What if it blows your gun to bits?

I'm at work and manuals are at home. They'll all show a start load in the 41gr area. After testing, I'm at 44.0gr under 168 anything.

To stress my point, that load has worked in every .308 I've loaded for. I used it in my most recent rifle and couldn't open the bolt.
Work up!
 
Thanks, good point. I'll give 41grains a start and go from there. I was just hoping that someone else was running a 29" barrel and might have a load with the same components as I have. Any suggestions on Win match brass over Federal Nickle match brass?
Thanks,
Ken
 
Sorry Ken, no opinion on brass. I have used both but not enough to review.
I'm a snob, I use Lapua or Nosler. :)

The little I do know, I might sway to Win.

*Please refer to a manual before loading even 41gr. What if I'm wrong?
I'm not, but what if ...


I see you caught the error in the title. Should bring a wider audience.
 
9x19 makes a valid point.

I don't understand all the "give me a load questions".

Use a manual and do the normal tests that 99% of the rest of us do. Find out what works for you and YOUR rifle.
 
If I had the identical rifle to yours, with consecutive serial numbers, my load would be different than yours.

All we can say is that certain powders are well suited and certain bullets are well suited. Varget is. Sierra 168 is not.

Start at 41 and work up in 0.5 g increments to 44.5, and see what works. If you get pressure signs STOP and take ammo home.
 
Thanks guys. I've loaded up some 10 round lots starting at 41grains. So we'll see how it works out tomorrow. I was just trying to cheat a little as I couldn't find any data for the 29" barrel and everything was for the 24 and 26" so I'll just have to do it the hard way. I'm sure that it will work out. I've had luck with 44grains of Varget pushing a 175gr SMK out of a 25" Walther barrel but I haven't loaded 168's with Varget yet. Hope I get the same results as I get with the 175's.
 
Rotac said:
Thanks guys. I've loaded up some 10 round lots starting at 41grains. So we'll see how it works out tomorrow. I was just trying to cheat a little as I couldn't find any data for the 29" barrel and everything was for the 24 and 26" so I'll just have to do it the hard way. I'm sure that it will work out. I've had luck with 44grains of Varget pushing a 175gr SMK out of a 25" Walther barrel but I haven't loaded 168's with Varget yet. Hope I get the same results as I get with the 175's.
Click to expand...

The Sierra 175 is the 168 with a longer boattail, to make it a better long range (over 300) bullet. Anyone thinking of shooting beyond 300 should just buy the 175MK.

Since your barrel and chamber are custom made, no one else could give you useful data. We don't know what chamber you have, nor dowe know the barrel internal dimensions. My McLennans are all .307, for example.
 
I had a hard time shooting to 800 yards with my 168smk, I think they went transonic and began to tumble
The 175smk are much better to that distance from what I have experienced
Using a Savage 10TR
 
The 168 SMK will make the trip to 1200 pretty reliably. So many things change past 800 yrds that people blame the bullet and really shouldn't. Is it the best choice for that range? No, but if you have all your ducks in a row it will do it. I have put 168s way past that and it is quite consistent. I can chime in with the consensus that it will probably end up around 44gn of varget and be very happy. The FGMM load is 42.5gn of IMR4064 or 41.8gn of RL-15 if I remember correctly, if you put some time into brass prep and have consistent brass you should be pretty happy with the load. Start low, work up, and you will find the right load for your rifle.
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. I'll order some 175's as well to see what works better.
Does anyone know if Federal Match nickle plated brass is better or worse then Winchester Match Brass. I have lots of both once fired and I'm trying to decide which to work with.
 
Directly from Sierra 5th edition loading manual.

168gr HPBT Matchking
COAL 2.800"
Varget 38.7gr=2400 fps, 40.3gr=2500 fps, 41.9gr=2600 fps, 43.5=2700 fps
43.5 is maximum load
Tested in a Savage 12VSS 26" barrel with 1:10 twist.

According to them the most accurate load was 42gr of RL-15 giving 2600 fps muzzle velocity.

When you get your 175MK's their Varget loads ranged from 36.3-41.7gr with a COAL of 2.800"

Good luck
 
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