Hi. Getting back into 308 after 20 plus years. I've noticed most shooters using 155 or 178 gr bullets for 1,000 yards. I've been given 400 bullets from friend who stooped shooting. Hornady 168gr ELD-M. These are better ballisticaly than other 168 brands. Presently shooting these in Sig cases, IMR4064, Federal mag215 primers. Rifle is a Savage 12fv ( 26" heavy barrel) 1 in 10 twist, in Oryx chassis. Using 41.5 gr plus COAL is 2.80. Two groups are o.61" and 0.84" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Dont have chronograph yet. Going by Hornady manual, I figure around 2,600 fps. Should there be a higher node for more velocity? Need for 1,000 yards. Have heard some shooters using 168 reaching 1,000. 43.5 looks promising. Suggestions Thanks
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308 load
- Thread starter Luna4570
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I’m using Lapua 155 Scenar’s @2800 with 45.0 Varget in my PRS rig. They are good to 1100 and do fine at 1200 but I have to take out 1 mil @1200 from my dope.
I plan on working a load up with the 169 SMK. Better BC than the 168SMK. I haven’t tried the Hornady
I plan on working a load up with the 169 SMK. Better BC than the 168SMK. I haven’t tried the Hornady
The Hornady 168gr ELD-M has a BC of 523. Supposedly designed for longer distance than other brands of 168. Sierra designed specifically for 300 yards. Since I received bullets free, I figured I would use those. Comment from another post said he used same bullet on 24 inch steel out to 1,000 yards at rough 2,600 fps. Not much striking power behind it. Reason I was looking for higher node. Thanks
Lots of info over at the Reloading Depot for the .308.
Hey @Luna4570,
I use the same 168 Hornady, ADI2208 (Varget in the US) and loaded in ADI cases.
COAL around that 2.800 in a 10 twist barrel. So all very similar.
43.5gn is lights out in my 308 and 44.4gn is my "hard" load giving appx 2640fps
Interesting observation in testing - the half grains were all very good 41.5/42.5/43.5
Note, the case capacity of the ADI brass is a bit more than some other brands so use caution based on brass you are using.
Hope that helps.
I use the same 168 Hornady, ADI2208 (Varget in the US) and loaded in ADI cases.
COAL around that 2.800 in a 10 twist barrel. So all very similar.
43.5gn is lights out in my 308 and 44.4gn is my "hard" load giving appx 2640fps
Interesting observation in testing - the half grains were all very good 41.5/42.5/43.5
Note, the case capacity of the ADI brass is a bit more than some other brands so use caution based on brass you are using.
Hope that helps.
I load 169 Sierra's in my M40A1 clone, IMR4895 and I get 2800fps well below max pressure.
I feel like the reloading depot threads became a time suck when people starting posting everything in them instead of just load data. Now it's just an overbloated monster waiting to eat time.
The ELD-M is a longer bullet that the other Hornady or SMK bullets so with the 2.800 COAL you lose some case capacity and the pressure will be higher. I would think you can work toward 43.5 gr but be careful. I have been higher with the 168 SMK without obvious issues in LC, Lapua, and Win cases.
Have loaded 43.5
Have loaded 43.5. Slight cratering. No extraction problems. Have Oryx chassis and Asis mag. Will try adding length with 43.5. Hornady manual test rifle is 22". Mine is 26, so slight increase in fps. Hornady also seems on low side compared to others. Suggestions as to which charge to try?
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Have you tried adjusting your seating depth yet? Those ELDs can really tighten up if you play with that just a little (or it can go to shit if you lucked out and landed on the ideal depth for your barrel right off the bat).
Where I am, Varget is harder to find. The new Hornady 168 ELD-M has a bc of .523 think it was Sierra 168 specifically designed for 300 meters. Dont remember off hand, but 44.5 of IMR4064 might be above max in Hornady Manuel. 43.5 shows slight cratering, figured I would stop there. Will go for 175/178 once finished with 168 Thanks for info
Waiting for my Christmas bonus from work, then I'll go get a chronograph. Someone on another group page commented they used almost same load with same barrel length and hitting steel at 1,000 yards. These bullets bc of .523 I'll guess ill keep playing with these till I run out
The old Federal Gold Medal Match load was 41.75gr of IMR-4064 for the 175gr SMK, and 42.8 for the 168gr SMK.
That 168gr FGMM load wasn't supersonic to 1K, but with the ELD-M and 43.5 I think you have a pretty good chance of keeping it above the speed of sound to that distance. All you need to do now (really) is mess with your seating depth a bit. You are jumping that bullet a ton in a factory Salvage chamber with a 2.800 COL... Just be careful not to jam because that may have an adverse effect on your pressure.
Wouldn't hurt to run your load over a chronograph too.
That 168gr FGMM load wasn't supersonic to 1K, but with the ELD-M and 43.5 I think you have a pretty good chance of keeping it above the speed of sound to that distance. All you need to do now (really) is mess with your seating depth a bit. You are jumping that bullet a ton in a factory Salvage chamber with a 2.800 COL... Just be careful not to jam because that may have an adverse effect on your pressure.
Wouldn't hurt to run your load over a chronograph too.
Using Sig brass
Oryx mag for SA 308 max coal length is 2.870 so there is room for me to play with. 43.5 was next best grouping. Hopefully I get a chrono at Christmas, and start with higher load and seating
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