Load Question 308 Win

[scrubfox]

I usually load 168g's OAL 2.800 for the m305 and have great luck. However i tried some 155 sierra's and 155 nosler J4's loaded to OAL of 2.775 as suggested by Hodgdon with a very conservative 43.0g of h4895. These loads don't seem as accurate as the 168's. I use h4895 exclusively.

My question....is it ok to load these bullets out to 2.800? And...has anyone have a grain load of h4895 that works well with these 155's in these rifles?

Thanks!

 

[John Y Cannuck]

without looking at the bullets in question, I can't tell, but maybe you can.
OAL doesn't really tell you much, as the design of the ogive of the bullet determines the distance a given load will travel before it engages the rifling.
If you stand the two bullets side by side and compare, you may be able to see what I mean.
The slimmer profile will have a longer 'jump' to the rifling.
So, if the bullet is 'fatter' it will likely not want to be set as far forward as a slimmer one, to get the same distance to the rifling.

Of course, bullets being bullets, and rifles being rifles, other variables may change the outcome of the accuracy trials. Such things as the amount of airspace inside the case, that can be affected by the design, and length of a bullet.

 

[manitou210]

The best results I have had with the 168 & 155gr sierra's is have them kissing the rifling,
Best powders I found is H4895 & 4064, Varget & Rl 15.
Spent some time trying to get the 155gr to group well best was large 1/2" they will not work in my gun like the 168gr Sierra's