1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

Win308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 4, 2010
176
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Morris County, New Jersistan
I am about to make up some handloads for my new 5R MilSpec .308 which I haven't fired yet, and I'd like to get some load suggestions to get started. I have new Remington brass and Sierra 175gr Match Kings, but I still have to buy powder and primers.
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

Well I also started with Remington brass and it didnt take long to get rid of it. Do yourself a favor and buy a box of Lapua brass to start with. I have a 5R also and my best load with 175gr Match Kings is 45.1 gr of Varget. I seated at 2.810 COAL and used CCI BR2 primers. With this load if the groups are larger than a dime @ 100 yards its my fault. If you need more info about the load shoot a PM.
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

I've used Lapua and Winchester brass in .308. The Lapua is about as good as it gets, but the Winchester (purchased this spring) is pretty good too.

In comparison, the Winchester had about .001"-.0015" less neck thickness, and neck thickness variation was almost as good. Need to do a clean neck chamfer to get accurate measurements there. And the primer flash holes can stand a very light deburr (I don't like the amount of "cone" the typical deburring tool leaves).

Now the new Lapua with the small primer pocket has been producing some interesting results, it is much easier to achieve very low velocity variations, and it takes a little bit more powder to achieve the same velocity as large primer brass due to the little bit "softer" ignition.
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

Very consistent results with Winchester brass here, though as Rust mentioned it needs more prep. Hard to go wrong with CCI BR-2 primers, though I've used Winchester until recently, and Varget is a great starting point.
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

Would the 155 AMAX be a worthy bullet for reloads or stick with say 175 SMK for 308. Also is hornady brass good or shouyld that be thrown out also. Sorry didn't mean to highjack or anything,
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

fed gmm brass
fed gmm large rifle primer
168 smk
42 grains reloader 15

ive got 5 shots .303 center to center at 100. loaded to magazine length for a badger 5r that i had put on. great groups at 41 grains also. just used 42 for a little more speed.
 
Re: 1st try handloads for my 5R .308, suggestions?

fed gmm brass
fed gmm large rifle primer
168 smk
42 grains reloader 15

ive got 5 shots .303 center to center at 100. loaded to magazine length for a badger 5r that i had put on. great groups at 41 grains also. just used 42 for a little more speed.