Duplicate Sierra Match King 168gr. BTHP loading?

Tengoo

Tengoo

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So I splurged on a couple of boxes of Federal Sierra Match King 168gr. ammo and ran some through my LR-308. Very pleased with the results...my best group at 100yd. was well under 2 inches and with some work I'm sure I can do a lot better. [I'm just getting back into serious rifle shooting after a long break and my rifle needs a few tweaks to bring it up to its potential].

Does anybody have the formula to duplicate the off-the-shelf loading? A range acquaintance told me that about 42 gr. of 4046 and match primers should do it, but I'd like some independent opinions. Thanks in advance...
 
STANDARD LOADS FOR ACCURACY ARE:

42 gr of 4064 or 4895
39 gr of 3031
44 gr of Varget or RL-15
45 gr of N-140
46 gr of N-150

based on commercial (not military) brass. Drop 2 gr and work up for your rifle.
 
Tengoo said:
So I splurged on a couple of boxes of Federal Sierra Match King 168gr. ammo and ran some through my LR-308. Very pleased with the results...my best group at 100yd. was well under 2 inches and with some work I'm sure I can do a lot better. [I'm just getting back into serious rifle shooting after a long break and my rifle needs a few tweaks to bring it up to its potential].

Does anybody have the formula to duplicate the off-the-shelf loading? A range acquaintance told me that about 42 gr. of 4046 and match primers should do it, but I'd like some independent opinions. Thanks in advance...
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Although Federal does not specify the barrel length used, they claim 2650 fps muzzle velocity. You could reload your Federal cases with the same Sierra bullet, CCI BR2 primers, and 44 grains of Varget to get pretty much the same thing.

However, if you want better, my suggestion would be to get Lapua brass, Varget powder, CCI BR2 primers, and also try a Berger 168 grain hybrid target bullet. But most important you need to find out what velocity works best for your gun/barrel combination. The best way to do that is by using a ladder test at 200-300 yards. Stick with one bullet, powder, and primer until you identify that velocity.
 
Tengoo said:
Gentlemen -- Thanks for your advice. However my original question was designed to short circuit a lot of experimentation by duplicating a commercial load that I already know works well in my rifle.
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As I said: "You could reload your Federal cases with the same Sierra bullet, CCI BR2 primers, and 44 grains of Varget to get pretty much the same thing."

2" groups at 100 yards is not really working all that well. Fine for hunting, but not great for target shooting.
 
I read that Hornady match 168 hpbt is 42.7(5) of 4064. Realoading to that spec is working well for me 2.805 coal. Shot 5 under 1" at 200m on the weekend. YMMV.

Always start lower and work your way up. There are no short cuts to safety. And how can you be sure that your rifle won't LOVE 42.5 while merely LIKING 42.7. I wouldn't be positive that I'm reading my scale (lee, not digital) the same as someone else.
 
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Ron AKA said:
As I said: "You could reload your Federal cases with the same Sierra bullet, CCI BR2 primers, and 44 grains of Varget to get pretty much the same thing."

2" groups at 100 yards is not really working all that well. Fine for hunting, but not great for target shooting.
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I agree completely. 2" groups at 100 is not a load i would want to simulate. Grab your matchkings and powder of choice and work up a load. Short cutting load development seems like a waste of time.
 
laker415 said:
I agree completely. 2" groups at 100 is not a load i would want to simulate. Grab your matchkings and powder of choice and work up a load. Short cutting load development seems like a waste of time.
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Sorry guys...my original post was unclear... _I_ was capable of shooting a 2" group...the rifle and cartridge combo was capable of much better. The several shots I fired where things went _exactly_ right, hit the target exactly where the scope crosshairs were resting. I need practice and there are some tweaks that will make the rifle a better fit for me, but I think the ammo is working fine for me right now.

The general consensus seems to be 43.5gr of 4064 and Federal 210M primers, so that's the area I'll be concentrating on with my reloads.
 
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