308 Win Reloading Recipes?

308Jeremy

308Jeremy

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Second post here and Im not too sure if this is the right place to put it so here it goes...

Grandfather taught me how to reload this weekend and sat down and cooked up some rounds for my SPS tactical in 308. It has a 1 in 10" twist. I am using-

168 grain Sierra Matchking bthp
42 grains of reloader 15
federal gold medal match brass
gold medal match 210 primers

Any thoughts on this recipe or any way I can refine it to be an even better load? Or should I bump up to the 175 grains? Im just working on getting 5 rounds in a quarter at 100 yards for the time being but would eventually like to move up to the 400-500 yard range in time. Any suggestions? Great people and great site by the way!
 
The 175 is the the 168 with a longer boat tail. It has much better long range performance. In the future, just use the 175. It is amuch more useful bullet.

RL15 is an excellent powder. I would try more in 0.3gr increments. You should find a sequence that gets tighter and tighter, suggesting the "sweet spot" mentioned above.

The remington has a very deep throat. You can seat your bullets closer to the rifling or short enough to use the mag - but not both. I suggest you seat long. Try 20 thou off the rifling.
 
This is a good load and another would be 41.5 H4895 using the 168's. Try using BR2 primers also. You would be surprised at the difference in groups that simply changing the primer will make. A 168 is perfect out to 300-500 meters while the heavier bullets work better at longer distances. Good luck with your new hobby!! Steve
 
Hi,

I shoot 155 SMK 2155's with 45.5 of Varget after a LOT of testing with many different bullets and powders. Funny thing with the 168's...even though they are used in the match ammo, for anything past 600 meters, they are not recommended, but rather something with a better BC, like the 155's or the 175's...weird, I know, but there you have it :)

FWIW, I chose to stay with Varget because it performs similarly in most temperatures.

The other opportunity I have not had is to test the new 2156 155 bullets (Palma, I believe).

Like others have said, test your loads and go with what works for your particular rifle.

The big difference that I cannot comment on is whether you should be using a heavier or lighter bullet based on twist. Yours being 1:10 and mine being 1:12 in a 24" barrel.

Hope that helps a little,
Darren

PS...oh yeah, Lapua Brass, 210M primers, not sure if I missed anything else pertinent, but let me know if I can help in any other way.
 
For the 168smk I have been using 45gr of varget in Winchester Brass and CCI BR2 primers with great results. Awaiting my switch to the 175's after I burn up my stockpile of 168 grainers as I would like a better performing bullet farther out.
 
Your load sounds like a good place to start. Personally I would switch up to 175's or try a different 168. I personally run 168's with 45.5gr of varget, winchester brass and primers. It's nothing special but it is a great accuracy load for what I have shot (out to 600m).

Personally I used to run with 45gr of BL-C2, but I was enlightened as to the benefits of varget. If you only have one powder then play with, then use the one you have, and you can also toy around with the COAL.

Outside that, playing with powders can get expensive and time consuming. If you have something that works great, if not I would encourage you to try the links and reading material provided by 'Gunslinger'. That is some truely great information there!

And as most shooters will tell you, the further out you get, the more you want to see how far you can go! As this comes around, you may decide to go with the 175s or just simply try a different make of 168.
 
I pretty much only shoot 175s over varget in my .308. I use 44.8 gr which gives me about 2770 fps. It's won me plenty of competitions and I've never needed to change it out to 1,000m. It stays pretty close to 1/2 minute if I do my part. I use mainly CCI Br2s or federal 210s and seat the bullet .005 off the lands. I'm not a fan of federal brass and use Norma myself but Lapua is good also.
 
155 gr Amax. 46.4 gr of Varget, BR-2, in my Icon P.H. it doesnt get better than that... Cheers. JP.
varget002.jpg
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I have the same rifle.

I have shot some nice 100 metre groups with 42.7 Varget pushing 168 SMK's. You will find the short barrel works nicely and as the other fellows have said, try different combinations until you get one your gun likes. Consider 1/2 MOA an achievable goal with this gun. If you have troubles with the accuracy, don't be too fast to blame your gun. Read about shooting techniques and refine your loading skills. Check around your area for some competitive rifle shoots and dive in. You will learn much from hanging with the old timers. I suspect your grandpa can introduce you to a few.

cheers
 
8208XBR is giving me good velocities and results with a 168 gr Berger VLD in a 24" barrel. Max published load, .003" into the lands. Have tried it with both standard and Palma Lapua brass.

A
 
I too shoot the Rem 700 Tactical in .308 I worked up loads ranging from 42-48 grains of varget pushing both 168s and 155s. I found that for both weights 46grains was the most accurate and consistant. I have settled on a standard load for my rifle;

155gr Hornady Amax
47 gr Varget
CCI magnum primers

As for brass, I find most manufacturers pretty close in dimensions, with the exception of federal. 47gr of varget will pour up to the shoulder of most brass however it fills to the neck on federals. No big deal either way but it will have a slight effect on consistancy. PRVI brass seems heavy but I find it distorts with this load and I have discarded it. I trim my cases between loadings, I recommend you do as well this load is hot and will stretch you cases to the point that they will not chamber after 2-3 reloads. I have the trajectory of this round as follows. 0 at 100, -4 at 200, -9 at 300
 
Wow thanks for all the tips and tricks everyone, I read up the ladder test on 6br's website and after I get a little more practice under my belt at 100 yards I will do a ladder test in 0.3 grain increments at 300 or so and see what my rifle really likes. Thanks for all the support guys!
 
The 168 Sierra was developed for 300 yard shooting. the boattail was designed to be easily formed, not for wind bucking.

I have it in the original FMJ design, the newer hollow point version, and the long range version (175gr with the longer boat tail). The 175 was made for the Army for 1000 yd M14 shooting. I have some of the Army bullets from the trials.

I don't know why Sierra still makes the 168. It only works at short range.
 
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