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Whats your go to load for 155gr 308

Blackwater

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Minuteman
Mar 5, 2013
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So I'm going to be loading up a batch to take shooting next week. We'll be shooting from 100-500 yards at an 8" gong. I'll be using Berger 155gr VLD Match Targets in once fire Lapua brass with Varget and Federal 210 primers.

Rifle config;
308cal
22" 1:10 twist Brux barrel
 
I load 44.0 grain N-140, it has always delivered. Depending on your brass, internal volume, a lot of guys load the 150 or the 540. Fed, 210M's.
 
43.0 grains IMR 3031, 45.0 grains of RG-4895, 45.0 grains of IMR4064, 43.0 grains AR Comp, 46.0 grains of RE-15, 46.0 grains of IMR 4320 and 45.0 grains of IMR 8208 XBR. I tried 46.0 grains of Varget, but only got around 1 MOA groups.

You can try your Varget, but for me, it just didn't shoot as well as the other powders did.

For the Lapua brass, I would load it 2-3 grains under published maximum with the 155 bullets, around the 44-45 grain load. You don't want to stretch your primer pockets out on the second firing without testing the load first.
 
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Lapua case, .002 neck tension, F210M, seated on a case full of IMR 4064.
I think the RL series of powers are all "double based" and have very large temp sensitivity issues.
Varget has, or had at least, problematic issues with lot to lot consistency.
 
I've been shooting 155gr Sierra Match Kings (2155) over 45.4 grains of Ramshot TAC. I'm getting an average velocity of 2950 fps and its shoots really well (better than I can shoot it). I've taken it out to 1000 yards with no problems. Never tried the Bergers though.
 
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Lapua Brass
45.2 grains of IMR4895
Sierra 155 SMK Palma (2156)
2.235 base to ogive
2870FPS
this load has done very well ininitial testing, in the .2s and .3s at 100 yards, when I stretched it out, I got .7MOA horizontal and no vertical....I need to get better at reading wind
 
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Out of my Savage 10FP 24" 1:10 twist:

45.4 gr. of Varget
155 gr. Lapua Scenar
Lapua brass
CCI BR-2 primer
COAL 2.810"
2,850 FPS

This load will consitently shoot 1/2 MOA groups or smaller, 1/4 MOA is typical. I have also had good results with IMR 4064 and Reloader 15.

Do an OCW test. It will save you tons of time and money in the long run and you won't be sorry. I have used this method for my Savage .308 Win and a Tikka T3 in .270 win. Both will shoot 1/2 MOA or better to 300 yards (haven't had much opportunity to shoot farther) and I was able get these results with less than 50 rounds through each rifle, after the break in process.
 
Out of my Savage 10FP 24" 1:10 twist:

45.4 gr. of Varget
155 gr. Lapua Scenar
Lapua brass
CCI BR-2 primer
COAL 2.810"
2,850 FPS

This load will consitently shoot 1/2 MOA groups or smaller, 1/4 MOA is typical. I have also had good results with IMR 4064 and Reloader 15.

Do an OCW test. It will save you tons of time and money in the long run and you won't be sorry. I have used this method for my Savage .308 Win and a Tikka T3 in .270 win. Both will shoot 1/2 MOA or better to 300 yards (haven't had much opportunity to shoot farther) and I was able get these results with less than 50 rounds through each rifle, after the break in process.

You need to listed to him
 
Out of my Savage 10FP 24" 1:10 twist:

45.4 gr. of Varget
155 gr. Lapua Scenar
Lapua brass
CCI BR-2 primer
COAL 2.810"
2,850 FPS

This load will consitently shoot 1/2 MOA groups or smaller, 1/4 MOA is typical. I have also had good results with IMR 4064 and Reloader 15.

Do an OCW test. It will save you tons of time and money in the long run and you won't be sorry. I have used this method for my Savage .308 Win and a Tikka T3 in .270 win. Both will shoot 1/2 MOA or better to 300 yards (haven't had much opportunity to shoot farther) and I was able get these results with less than 50 rounds through each rifle, after the break in process.


What were your 4064 load?
 
How do these loads fair at distance 600-1000? At these velocities is the wind still a factor or not as much as with the 175's?

Also what Twist are you guys using in your barrels?

Remember that 155's up around 2900-3100 are what the palma shooters shoot at 600 and 1000 all day long. Twists are probably varying between 1:10 - 1:11 - 1:11.25 - 1:12. All of those twists will do fine with a 175 SMK. You get it moving 2600 FPS and you will hit 600-1000 no problem. A rough estimate (depending on altitude) will be about 10 mils to 1000.
 
45.0-45.5g varget with 155 scenars in lapua brass loaded to 2.870 base to tip. gets me 2870fps outta a 26" with 1-12 just fine. I shoot to 1000yds with that load with good results. gonna try me some H4895 just to see if there's much difference
 
2156 SMK Palma's started shooting real well for me after 46gr and up to 47gr of Varget in Winchester brass.

Still need to load up some more rounds with smaller increments between 46-47 to fine tune though.
Stock 700 SPS-V in an AICS.

I like Varget so far, as I didn't see any pressure signs at 47gr even in 112 degree heat over the weekend, while I was starting to see pressure signs and sticky extraction using Ramshot TAC and 168SMK's at around 1.5gr under max.
Was using Federal brass for the 168's, but sticky cases and marks on the brass at 1.5 under book max leave me a bit uneasy.
 
Win Brass
46.5gr Varget
Fed 210M
155 Scenar
2.800 OAL

2950-3000 FPS depending on elevation. Haven't tried messing with the seating depth yet, load is consisntently 1/3 MOA(verified to 600) so I'm not sure if I want to mess with a good thing.

Rifle is custom GAP with Templar + Bart 24" 1:11.25"

Elevation is mostly 0 with the occasional jump to 550 or 800 when I shoot in PA.
 
The load that holds the current 300 yd record 200-19x is
46.5 varget
Nosler 155 cc
Lapua brass
210m
15k off the lands
30" 1:13 krg barrel

This pretty much a standard Palma load.
Fwiw
 
I don't have a goto 155 since I don't shoot them, but way back when I was searching for what my rifle liked best I found lighting a CCI200 into 44.0g H335 pushing a moly coated 155A-max to shoot in the 3s. 1:10" 26" barrel.
 
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Gap Crusader 308
New Lapua Brass trimmed to 2.007"
Federal 210M
155 GRN Scenar L
45.0 grn VARGET
C.O.A.L. 2.784" - 2.788"
OGIVE 2.193"- 2.195"
.003 neck tension
With a 5 shot groups she holds 1/2 inch horizontal at 300 yards. but 3/4 inch vertical in weather condition from 96 to 10 degrees. .2 grains more doubles the group but can drop almost .5 grains with no change. I'm hoping I can turn some necks and drop that vertical down a bit. 155 grainers were by far the most accurate out of my rifle, all 155 grainers.
 
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43.0 grains IMR 3031, 45.0 grains of RG-4895, 45.0 grains of IMR4064, 43.0 grains AR Comp, 46.0 grains of RE-15, 46.0 grains of IMR 4320 and 45.0 grains of IMR 8208 XBR. I tried 46.0 grains of Varget, but only got around 1 MOA groups.

You can try your Varget, but for me, it just didn't shoot as well as the other powders did.

For the Lapua brass, I would load it 2-3 grains under published maximum with the 155 bullets, around the 44-45 grain load. You don't want to stretch your primer pockets out on the second firing without testing the load first.

A year ago, I posted this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Today, I tried 45.0 of Varget with Nosler's 155 OTM in my 308 GAP 10. I shot two 5 rd. groups @ 100 yards The groups measured .35" and .46". While my two bolt guns didn't care for this load, obviously the GAP 10 liked it. I didn't run it yet across my Magnetospeed, I'll guess I'm @ about 2800FPS in the 22" Bartlin barrel. I will run it across the Magnetospeed later.
 
A year ago, I posted this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Today, I tried 45.0 of Varget with Nosler's 155 OTM in my 308 GAP 10. I shot two 5 rd. groups @ 100 yards The groups measured .35" and .46". While my two bolt guns didn't care for this load, obviously the GAP 10 liked it. I didn't run it yet across my Magnetospeed, I'll guess I'm @ about 2800FPS in the 22" Bartlin barrel. I will run it across the Magnetospeed later.

Flight762,

What velocity did you get from the 43.0gr Ar-comp load? how was the accuracy?
 
Flight762,

What velocity did you get from the 43.0gr Ar-comp load? how was the accuracy?

In my bolt gun with a 1-12" 24" Hart barrel, I'm getting 2850 FPS with low ES (10) . Accuracy is .4 to .8., this rifle isn't a Laser, but it can shoot all right. AR Comp is now one of my favorite powders. With Nosler 175's with 41.0 grains, I'm getting 2653 FPS avg. with a S/D of 11 and E/S of 28.