.308 loads for 1:12 twist 26" bbl

[Wiggity]

Hey guys I'm new at the reloading game and I want to work up a flat shooting load for my rem 700.

My question is what bullet weight and what load is flat shooting and stable in a 26" 1:12 barrel?

 

[DirtyRod]

Have you tried various brands, types, and weights to see what factory ammo shoots best? I have the same barrel and after shooting all the various options I discovered Amax shot poorly and Black Hills 175s shot the best so I took that same BH brass and the same 175SMK bullet and worked up my load. Since even the same model guns shoot differently the only other option to find the best load for our particular rifle is to try them.

It may also help to understand whether you are target shooting, plinking, or hunting and what distances you are planning to shoot.

 

[Wiggity]

Have you tried various brands, types, and weights to see what factory ammo shoots best? I have the same barrel and after shooting all the various options I discovered Amax shot poorly and Black Hills 175s shot the best so I took that same BH brass and the same 175SMK bullet and worked up my load. Since even the same model guns shoot differently the only other option to find the best load for our particular rifle is to try them.

It may also help to understand whether you are target shooting, plinking, or hunting and what distances you are planning to shoot.

Well I have limited funds so I'm trying to get an idea by asking. I'd rather not waste money trying out a ton of ammo that doesn't shoot well.

So any recommendations on factory ammo or loads that will shoot well would me great.

 

[Pinecone]

Sierra Match King 175

Good ballistics out to over 1000 yards. Shoots well in most rifles. If you are staying under 800 yards, the 168 gr also works well.

Load over Varget, and you will be close if not spot on. There are other powders that work well also.

For "factory" ammo, Federal Gold Metal Match or Black Hills Match. Also Southwest and Copper Creek have good reports.

 

[WKR]

Hornady 168 amax shoots great in my .308 26" 1/12 usually .3-.4" at 100 yds

 

[jagged77]

Flat shooting, and .308 are not generally used in the same sentence I'm afraid. For long range target the flattest shooing will be the 155's however the Hornady 168's or Sierra 175 SMK will be a good bet and easy to load for. The 168 SMK is an excellent bullet for shorter ranges but not exactly flat shooting.

Varget and 175 SMK's are probably one of the most well known combinations and possibly a good place to start.

 

[6.5guy]

Least expensive bullet I have found would be the 168 grain Nosler custom competition. If you buy them by the 1000 they are 20 cents each from Powder Valley. My cousin shoots them in the same spec barrel as yours with 49 grains of W760 and they are sub half minute. Good luck with your load workup.

 

[jkonzal]

As pointed out here, every gun is different. I have had great luck with 155gr A-Max's and varget. You will have to try different things and see what works for your particular gun.

 

[JGorski]

Hornady 168 amax shoots great in my .308 26" 1/12 usually .3-.4" at 100 yds

Same here, and .5moa out to 300yds. Try some CFE223 or 2000MR, seat your bullets at 2.825"oal and go shooting. Tried 168MKs in mine, it didn't like them as much as AMAXs.

 

[JGorski]

As pointed out here, every gun is different. I have had great luck with 155gr A-Max's and varget. You will have to try different things and see what works for your particular gun.

Agreed, Mine also likes 155AMAXs, 47grs RE15, all the way!

 

[savageshooter86]

Amax is a good, cheap option. Around $28/100.

 

[bigbear_98]

I have shared my load of 175gr smk over 44.2 varget 2.160 ogive OAL with 3 three friends that have the same rifles. Rem 700 PSS. This load shoots well out of all 3. I have heard multiple folks saying the same on various threads.

 

[bigbear_98]

My little cousin is getting good results out of 168 a max over 45.8 varget. 2.80 oal. As always though, load light and work up checking for pressure. Guns vary.

 

[ArcticLight]

My personal, and fairly extensive experience with this barrel and twist rate says a 168 will rule out to 600 yards.
I've actually shot my 165GMK's at 550 and outperformed my 175 SMK's.

But for the long range, with a 175, tried and true all day long:

Winchester (Black Hills re-use as well as NEW) brass.
Varget, 45.0 grains (Start at 43.5 and work up).
175 SMK
Federal 210M
2.810 AOL (factory)

I have gone out to 2.866 but they don't feed well out of the mag, and it's a bit finicky so stick with 2.810

That combo will give you about 2680-2710 right out of the gate.

DO NOT USE THIS LOAD WITH ANY OTHER BRASS.

For LC, Hornady, Lapua you will need to DRASTICALLY reduce the charge, I think 42.5 to 43.0 on Lapua, it's a thicker br ass.
And I've never bothered with Federal brass, but assume it to be thicker and use a less charge.