Steyr Scout .308 hunting loads??

[jakfrost]

My new for this season hunting rifle arrived the other day, along with the Leupold 2.8 and a set of QRL rings, ching sling arriving any day from Andy and I'm ready to roll...'cept I'd like to load a few of my own but don't have much time to play around with loads.

I'll be hunting in old clear cut new growth, and some open cuts with maybe the longest shot at Mr. Whitetail being in the max 200-300 yd range. Generally the 50-100 yd is usual...

Since .308 is a new calibre for me, I have 2 questions...

1. Recommended factory load? I don't have a Cabela's or Bass Pro within a days drive, so it might be Can Tire...

2. Recommended hand load? I have access to Hornady bullets locally, but thats about it...otherwise its a major road trip or wait for the mail. I have Varget, H1000, BLC-2, and N140 on hand...WW primers and Norma brass.
Oh, and I have a box of .30 cal. Berger 168V's on the bench, but the box says they are best in 'minimum 1 in 13" twist', and my 19" Steyr Scout barrel has a 1 in 12"...shouldn't be a problem?

Thanks guys,
Jim

 

[caramel]

Ok here it go, my best load in my Scout Steyr 308, 165 gr SST, 45.2 gr Varget, CCI BR-2, OAL 2,820 ( fit magazine ), one inch or less group.... many deers, caribous, mooses have gone down with it, if you can not reload, this summer i did try Superformance 165gr SST, groups a tad over one inch but it would not make a difference within 300 metres... Cheers. JP.

 

[jakfrost]

Thanks JP, I can get those Hornady SST bullets locally, and I have the Varget...I only have WWMR primers but if that shouldn't make much difference, I can start a load .5gr less than you were using with the CCI-BR2's, that should account for the 'magnum' primer, eh?

Lucky you, got to do a caribou hunt. I hear the herds are getting hard to find...

Jim

 

[caramel]

I would if you change primer start one grain lower as those BR-2 are fairly hot, but you gone find a sweet spot within those number the Scout Steyr is not a picky rifle and it does have a very fast barrel for 19 inch ( very good velocity )... Cheers. JP.