175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

VKC

VKC

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 29, 2010
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Battle Born, U.S.A.
#1
I know this is a very specific question, but hopefully someone has an answer.

Does anyone on the forum have a 308win GA Precision Crusader and performed ladder tests for 175gr Sierra Match King with Varget powder?

How many grains of Varget provided the best accuracy for you? Looking at Sierra manual they recommend 36.3 to 41.7 grains. But looking on forum people posted using up to 44 grains, is that excessive?

How about COAL?...2.800"?

I'll be using Lapua Brass with CCI BR2 primers. Thanks.
 
#2
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

Don't use the Sierra manual. Go to Hodgdon's site http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp and you will see that 42-45grns is the listed Min/Max for Varget and the 175 SMK. Also works with the 178 AMAX.

My load with Lapua brass and CCI primers is 44.2grns but start lower. People usually find the load between 43.5-44.5. I load them .010" off the lands but standard 2.800 is a good place to start. You rifle has a DBM so you should be able to load out to about 2.870 or so.

<span style="font-size: 20pt">As always start low and work up for safety.</span>
 
#3
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

The Sierra manual I have has been quite overly conservative in my experience....

For MY 308s (one is a savage 10, the other is a GAP Hospitaller) I have found that around 2600-2650 fps seems to be a good velocity for accuracy.
It takes around 43 grains to get me in that ball park for that node.

BUT I will say that the savage shot EXCEPTIONALLY well with a load of around 41 grains of varget, courtesy of the sierra manual, but I was not happy with the velocity. It is very possible to get GREAT accuracy with the loads they list in the sierra manual.

For the OAL I would get one of the hornady/ stony point pieces to find max oal (or the trial and error sharpie method lol), then use something to measure the bullet from the ogive for reliability for COAL. This will vary greatly from rifle to rifle, but in my rifles I am a good deal longer than 2.800.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=570611
http://www.hornady.com/store/Bullet-Comparator-Kits/
 
#4
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

My GAP 308 with 26" Bartlein barrel loves 44.0 grains of Varget loaded to 2.832" COAL. It is definitely a 1/4 MOA with this load. Here is a 5-shot group at 400 yards this past weekend
smile.gif








a63d9c84.jpg
 
#5
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

Thanks for help and advice. Hogdon website is extremely useful, thanks Rob01!

I was thinking that Sierra loading numbers were conservative. Sounds like Varget somewhere from 43-45gr for 175SMK would be ideal.

I have the Hornady length gauge, but not the bullet comparator kit. Yes another thing to add to wish list.
 
#6
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: alpha6164</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is a 5-shot group at 400 yards this past weekend
smile.gif
</div></div>

400 yards? Sure that wasn't a typo?:)
Looks like my 100 yard groups....
Very, very nice shooting.
 
#7
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lucks</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: alpha6164</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is a 5-shot group at 400 yards this past weekend
smile.gif
</div></div>

400 yards? Sure that wasn't a typo?:)
Looks like my 100 yard groups....
Very, very nice shooting. </div></div>


Thanks. ^^^no typo. It would have been better but I pulled the first shot. Call it "cold bore" or "cold shooter" but man only if all five were in that ragged hole
wink.gif
 
#8
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

I was using 175g smk, 43g Varget, Fed GMM brass, Fed 210M primers, at 2.800" COAL. Right in the 2650fps. I've shot groups at 600yds the size of a handball, right around 2.5".

GAP Crusader, 22" barrel, Bartlein barrel.

Alpha, I know that isn't a typo, i can attest to that.

xdeano

 
#9
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

So after ladder testing, seating my bullets at varies lengths, zeroing, etc. I ended up with 175gr SMK, 43gr Varget, Federal brass from cheap Walmart fired ammo, CCI BR2 primers, at 2.810" COAL touching the lands.

Wow, you guys were spot on, thanks for the excellent advice. I chronograph'd my velocities at 2640 to 2660fps.

I used the Adaptive density altitude card, and shot about 70 rounds at the range yesterday. About 10 rounds to rezero my scope at 100 yds from a different load. Then I skipped 200 yds, and went straight for 300 yds steel. All the steel that I hit were 14x14" sized plates. 1st round hits and consistent at 300 yds. For each of the steel plates, I did not move on until I shot and hit them consistently for at least a 10 round string to make sure that my dope was correct. Consistent hits at 400 yds, then 500 yds, and ended with the 600 yds plate. I hit the 600 yds plate but run out of bullets and time before I could confirm consistency with my dope and shooting.

Thanks guys, your advise was invaluable!
 
#15
Re: 175gr SMK Varget load for GAP 308win Crusader

My Gap Rock shoots a 175 SMK over 45.7gr of Varget, .02 off the lands. When I load developed I think that 43.3 or 43.5 was a good load also.

Just from looking at the reloading depot, it seems like a lot of guys are shooting 43.0-43.5 and 45.0 gr +/- .5gr.
 
#16
I have a 20" 1-11.25 Bartlein sticking out of a blueprinted Remington 700 . I run 175gr SMKs with 43.0 of Varget, win brass, fed primers. It holds 3.5 " @700 yards. 5 round groups. Some reason there's always two touching. 1 -200 yards groups move from 3/8 to 5/16. Hold a loose 2.00 at 400. 3 at 600. I am not consistent sub half MOA shooter but I have a feeling my boom boom stick is.
 
#21
VKC said:
what was amazing to me was how accurate the adaptive density altitude card was with this load.
Click to expand...

I run 42.3gr Varget over 178gr AMAX, and 40.7gr H-335 over 175gr SMK's out of a Savage 10FCP-SR. they shoot great! Problem i have is the Adaptive card is way off. Im not sure what my velocity is but i know at 500 meters it says around 3.7mils adjustment at 2550fps and 3.4mils at 2700fps. my adjustment is 3.2 with the 175SMK's and 3.3mils with the 178 AMAX. I know theres no way these rounds are shooting 2700+ fps. Im not sure if its me doing something wrong or what.
 
#22
The Varget load for my 308 is 44.2 grains w/ 175 SMKs and Lapua brass.

If George did a custom chamber you should be able to figure a custom length from your own chamber. From factory chambers you can't do that in MOST instances. I understand that some Savages have a shorter chamber.

Good luck.
Victor
 
#24
My Varget load for a factory Remington 700 5R with a 24" barrel, 1:11.25 twist was Lapua brass, CCI BR2 primers, 175 SMK over 43.4gr Varget with 2.80 COAL gave me 2640 fps.
 
#27
ridein4life said:
I run 42.3gr Varget over 178gr AMAX, and 40.7gr H-335 over 175gr SMK's out of a Savage 10FCP-SR. they shoot great! Problem i have is the Adaptive card is way off. Im not sure what my velocity is but i know at 500 meters it says around 3.7mils adjustment at 2550fps and 3.4mils at 2700fps. my adjustment is 3.2 with the 175SMK's and 3.3mils with the 178 AMAX. I know theres no way these rounds are shooting 2700+ fps. Im not sure if its me doing something wrong or what.
Click to expand...

You are using the correct DA setting on the FDAC, correct? and with a 100 yard zero (or meter if you are using meters)? I have the FDAC yards slide rule and it tracks with in +/- .1 mil while supersonic with multiple 308's and when subsonic if it's off more it isn't much. I have loads that range from 2490-2725 and following there directions its been great, works well with other bullets too as long as the bc/velocity is in the same neighborhood.
 
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