Share 308 load data

[shadow6492]

Anyone care to share their 308 load data? I've been loading a few to try out using:
LC brass (not match)
Hornady 178 Amax
168 match bthp
Reloader 15
Varget
Fed 210m

Rem 700 AAC-SD 20" 1n10 twist with mark 4 4.5-14x50mm
Mostly 200-400 yards, will head to Young Guns couple times a year with friends to try out on the 1000 yard.

 

[woody131]

What type of shooting are you doing and from what platform would help to narrow down the data.

 

[billmyn]

i'm shooting a remington 700 vtr which has a 1n12 twist and have very good luck with both varget and reloader 15 shooting hornaday 110gr vmax bullets 46gr re15 or 47.5gr varget nosler brass winchester large magnum primers at 2.70 oal. produces sub 1/2 '' groups consistently . for the heavier stuff like 168 gr smk imr 4064 hornaday match brass same primers 2.8o oal produces 10rd groups under 1moa slow fire . the 110gr vmax loads both the varget and the re15 ballistics are very similar at about 3200fps and 2600fps for the 168gr smk . the 110 gr is for coyotes and the 168 gr for 5 and 600 yd shooting . i prefer the nosler brass over all others ( my opinion ).

 

[kludge]

IMR 4064... gives a bit better loading density/efficiency than Varget, IMO, for 168's. You might be able to get better velocity that with Varget, but it will be compressed. Somewhere between 41 and 43gr (check the load data for yourself) you'll probably find a load your rifle likes.

My magazine/chamber allows me to seat 168gr SMK at 2.900". I can get up to ~2750fps in my 24" barrel, but groups open up (edit: and primers get a hint of flatness). My rifle does better at 2700 or 2550, not the 2650 typical of 168gr FGMM, so I tend to load for 2550fps.

I used up my last box of SMK last year, so now I have some AMAX's that I'm going to try.

 

[Aszerigan]

NOTE: Original post was edited, perhaps I read it wrong:

Just a note, a 1/12 twist isn't going to stabilize a 178gn bullet very well. I'd stick with the 168gn'ers as the heaviest bullet for your gun.

A couple suggestions.... try 48.0gns of H414 under the 168gn bullets. Check your velocity and work up from there. Also, 42.5gns of H4895 is one of my favorite loads for the 168SMK's.

As always, start low and work up, but these should be good loads in about any .308.

 

[lon]

Another vote for 168smk/IMR 4064 and Varget.

 

[sloughfoot]

Your 1X10 twist should shoot both 168 and 178 bullets equally well. Don't bother trying to make the 168 work at 1000 yards. Use the 178 only at the long range. The 168 will be good for 200 to 400 yards.

You are asking for different loads for two different bullets at two distinctly different yardages

For the 168 at the short ranges, use the data from the Hornady Manual for Varget or RE15.

I would also use the Hornady data from their manual for the 178 AMAX. It is very good data.

 

[Aszerigan]

Your 1X10 twist should shoot both 168 and 178 bullets equally well.

Correction on my part, I read 1:12, not 1:10. Yes, your 178gn bullets will work just fine in a 1:10. Sorry about that, although I noticed the edit time well past my reply.

 

[sloughfoot]

I read all the posts in this thread a couple of times. I realized that the poster with the 1X12 barrel was not the OP. Dam this internet stuff is tough sometimes.

You always have good advice anyway. I always look forward to you chiming in.

Regards.

 

[Hazwhopper]

Here is a good website that has some great info about different loads for many calibers. I read over the 308 load data and think that many use info from places like these. I did order some Federal Match Premium and got 20 rds for 19.99 and there are some great safety precautions. Nato vs 308 Win.
Here is the web site:
.308 Winchester Cartridge Guide
Take a look.

 

[shadow6492]

Thanks for the link above, been scoping out sniperhide on reloading for mid to long range loading. Didn't know how much some guys go into that deep with fine tuning each load.

 

[Dave Doehrman]

Don't bother trying to make the 168 work at 1000 yards. Use the 178 only at the long range. The 168 will be good for 200 to 400 yards.

I guess it's a good thing my 1 to 12 Rem 700 SPS Varmint can't read. I'm shooting 168 A-max with 1.496" groups at 500 yards and just shot a 5", 5 shot group at 1.000 yards today. I keep hearing people say the 168s won't work but I'm happy with them.

 

[Broom_jm]

I guess it's a good thing my 1 to 12 Rem 700 SPS Varmint can't read. I'm shooting 168 A-max with 1.496" groups at 500 yards and just shot a 5", 5 shot group at 1.000 yards today. I keep hearing people say the 168s won't work but I'm happy with them.

The A-Max and SMK are not the same bullet. From what I understand, the SMK might shoot just fine out to around 600 yards with a 1:12 twist, but when it goes transonic, the groups tend to come undone. Nothing too surprising there. I like the 155gr A-max or PALMA, from Sierra. Those slightly shorter, lighter-weight bullets just suit the 308 case capacity better, IMHO.

 

[tenring]

Remington 700VSF, 26" barrel, 1-12, stock trigger worked over by Neil Jones, WLR primers, LC94M cases [M852], 40.5/AA2230C, SMK175, OAL 2.808/3.120/2595fps@15'. 168SMK, 44.0/AA2230C, OAL 2.812/3.123/2800fps@15'. Both one holers with a SS16X on Loopy rings and bases.

 

[indyjohn]

I guess it's a good thing my 1 to 12 Rem 700 SPS Varmint can't read. I'm shooting 168 A-max with 1.496" groups at 500 yards and just shot a 5", 5 shot group at 1.000 yards today. I keep hearing people say the 168s won't work but I'm happy with them.

Recipe please....

 

[ISP 5353]

I have had great luck with Varget and 168 SMKs. Start around 43.0 and work up slowly from there. Good luck!

 

[Dave Doehrman]

Recipe please....

This load exceeds the Lyman max load and is the maximum load specified by Varget. I worked my way up watching for signs of excess pressure. DO NOT use this as a starting point.

Prvi Partizan brass
Fed GM210M Match primers
168gr A Max bullets
46.0 grains Varget
OAL set to 2.786"

All cases full length re sized and trimmed each loading
All powder charges dispensed and then trickled to 46.0 on beam scale

Muzzle velocity is 2796 fps and according to my ballistics calculator, it is still at 1186 fps at 1,000 yards. This is a compressed load and again, don't use this as a starting point.

Here's a 5 shot group measuring 1.496" at 500 yards. I was shooting at 1,000 yards and dialed back down to my 500 yard settings. I fired 5 shots without making any adjustments and then pulled the target.

 

[sloughfoot]

Sir, you are treading on dangerous ground. Your load is commonly used with 155 grain Palma bullets at 1000 yards. It is used by individuals (including me) with the understanding that on that 95 degree day in August, you may have a serious problem.

The 175 or 178 AMAX will be accurate at 1000 yards without the high pressure that your load is generating.

Please, do not shoot your load next to me on the 1000 yard line.

 

[IndianaGTI]

Prvi Partizan brass
Fed GM210M Match primers
168gr A Max bullets
46.0 grains Varget
OAL set to 2.786"

I too use nearly the same loads in my 1:10 .308. I have been using

reloaded Federal brass, sometimes Prvi Partizan
CCI primers
168g A Max bullets
45.3g of Varget

Works well for me at long range too. I don't know why people are saying that you can't shoot 168g bullets at 1000 yards. Mine shoot fine, although not as well as Dave's.

 

[Dave Doehrman]

Sir, you are treading on dangerous ground.
Please, do not shoot your load next to me on the 1000 yard line.

When I'm looking for data on my Chevy, I go to Chevy's web site. I don't go to Ford or Nissan to get my data. I figure the manufacturer has the correct data. The same with powder data for me. Here's what Hogdon recommends for the .308 Winchester with Varget:
============================================
Hodgdon Powder Company
Cartridge Load Recipe Report - 1/8/2012
data.hodgdon.com
308 Winchester
Load Type: Rifle Powder: Varget
BW: 168
Cartridge Information
Case: Winchester Barrel Length: 24"
Twist: 1:12" Trim Length: 2.005"
Primer: Federal 210M

308 Winchester
Cartridge Load Data
Bullet Weight (Gr.) Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L.
168 GR. SIE HPBT Varget .308" 2.800"

Starting Loads
Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
42.0 2520 41,200 CUP

Maximum Loads
Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
46.0C 2731 50,600 CUP
NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS
=============================================

I have worked my way up to their maximum load and there are no signs at all of over pressure. I have a 26" barrel instead of a 24" barrel. The bullet weights are the same - they used Sierra HPBT and I used Hornady HPBT. I have shot this load in 90+ temps without issues.