Anyone here attempted successfully to duplicate Federal?

Dimitri

Dimitri

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Anyone here attempted successfully to duplicate Federal's 168gr SMK Match load?

Since I am on the path of reloading now, I figured a good round that would be decently accurate in any 308Win rifle I shoot it in would be better to start off with then "specific" loads for both my guns.

I'm thinking:

Remington Cases.
CCI #34 Large Mil-Spec Primers
Hodgodon Varget
Sierra 308cal 168gr. Match King

Would be fed to both my Loaded M1A and my Envoy. Nothing near max charges would be great. :)

Any ideas?

Dimitri
 
Check the books please but I recall loading a wack of them for my old remington with 168 gr SMK, and 43.0-44.0 grains of Varget. The other powder that was working around that velocity was R-15. COL was 2.810 I believe.

I normaly use Fed-GMM primers as well, and used lapua cases but have had success with win and Fed GMM cases as well.
 
The 'vietnam' sniper load for 7.62 (.308win) is the old M852 load.

Lake City Brass (I use Winchester .308 win)
CCI # 200 or CCI # 34 Large Rifle Primer (I use the 200 primer)
41.5 grains of IMR4895 or H4895 (I use IMR 4895)
Sierra MK 168 grain HPBT

at ranges 0-600 meters, M852 works arguably the best as a military duplicated load. at ranges 600+, m118LR is more accurate. it switches out to a 175 Sierra MK bullet using the same powder but I can't remember the grains.

Hopefully that answers some of what you asked. If not, please disregard.
 
Factory ammo uses powders reloaders can't get and the powder charge will be slightly different with each powder lot. Manufacturers load to get a specific velocity range not specific accuracy. And they don't publish their loads.
"...fed to both..." You'll have to work up a load for each rifle. No two rifles, even two identical, consecutively serial numbered, rifles, will shoot the same ammo the same way. You might get lucky and get close to the same accuracy out of both rifles, but not likely.
You don't need CCI "milspec" primers either. They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Regular large rifle primers, seated properly, will be fine.
Varget will do, but you may want to try IMR4064 too.
 
I got better accuracy (not surprising) and the same ballistics with:

Federal GMM brass, neck sized only, primer pockets reamed, flash holes reamed
CCI BR2
Sierra 168gr MK, loaded to touch the lands (which was too long to feed from the mag... stupid long throat)
46gr Varget

In a Rem 700 LTR
 
Thanks for the replies, reason for the mil-spec ones is the harder cups for my M1A. :)

As for the concerns about accuracy, not looking for the best load out there, but instead looking for a good load for just about any rifle in 308Win, and since the Federal offering seems to do that on the majority of guns decently enough I figured duplicating that would be a good starting point.

slushee, your reply just like every other one here gave me something to think about so keep posting. :D

Dimitri
 
sunray said:
Factory ammo uses powders reloaders can't get and the powder charge will be slightly different with each powder lot. Manufacturers load to get a specific velocity range not specific accuracy. And they don't publish their loads.
"...fed to both..." You'll have to work up a load for each rifle. No two rifles, even two identical, consecutively serial numbered, rifles, will shoot the same ammo the same way. You might get lucky and get close to the same accuracy out of both rifles, but not likely.
You don't need CCI "milspec" primers either. They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Regular large rifle primers, seated properly, will be fine.
Varget will do, but you may want to try IMR4064 too.
Click to expand...

+1 work up a load for each of your rifles....or try one of those older sniper loads like slushee said....:)
 
Like Sunray said.

Other than the Federal primers, a standard primer will work fine.

A good load is commercial case with 42 gr of 4895 or 44 gr of RL15. I have loaded a few thousands of latter for police sniper units with the Sierra 168 or 175. I think the 175 and the 155 would both be better choices than the 168.
 
Dimitri said:
Ok, I'll go with the 175gr.

Thanks for all the help guys, keep it coming. :)

Dimitri
Click to expand...

Bear in mind the 175 grain .308 dia bullets are considered by most as the max weight for the ever popular M14 rifle. Another thing to consider would be that 175 grain bullets will give a little more buck to the gun.

Honestly, whether you end up with a 155 grain, 168 grain or 175 grain bullet, you will be happy. Each gun prefers its own thing thus some guns will shoot each bullet better or worse. But for an all around bullet, any of those made by a brand name company will do you good.

happy shooting.
 
Psss. Ganderite don't tell them the secret, lest they realize I can't blame the gun and ammo on my missing at times. :D

Actually thats one reason a good enough load will work for me, cause in both the Envoy you sold me and my M1A I doubt I'll outshoot them on a regular enough basis to realize the accuracy difference or edge from properly tuned loads since I shoot off bench 99% of the time. :)

Dimitri
 
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