308 loads with no time to do load testing??

Rlbol

Rlbol

Master Gunnery Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 5, 2010
617
51
FL
#1
I am hoping to get some help from the 308 guys!!

So I need about 300 rounds for a class however I will not have time to do any load testing prior to.

If the rifle matter, it is a AI aw with 26" barrel

I have lots of brass as well as 168gr and 175gr hornady amax as well as Sierra matchking bullets. In powder I have varget,h4350,imr4350,rl15 and some others.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 
#2
What distances are you expecting to shoot? Is this the first time you've ever shot this rifle? If not, what loads (factory or handloads) have you found worked well for your particular rifle? A "known" very accurate load with SMK 168s is 42.0 grains of RL15 (as published by Sierra-their most accurate load) 2.800COAL, 210M primers/federal cases/trip 2.0005, all from a 1-10twist, 26 in tube, expect 2600 fps. Hope this helps, good luck.
 
#4
Try copying the FGMM loads or even southwest ammunition. That is where I would start. The previous post's loads mentioned are also a good place to start

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
#8
Previously fgmm 175 which were vey good through it. However I would prefer to use the formed brass and reload them verses just purchasing the loaded fgmm
 
#10
42.2 imr 8208xbr Winchester brass and primers. Set to factory length of black hills. Shoots great out of my AW. With a 22" barrel I think it comes right in at 2640 if I remember correctly. I have shot it out to a 1000 with success at Rifles Only.
 
#11
I am with graham. I use 175 gr bullets win match brass and 44.9 gr of varget cci br-2 primers and get 2730 fps. Groups at 100 meters are in the 1/4 moa seated at 2.812 in my rifle. At 1000 meters 5 shot groups are at the 1/2 moa area all day long and the bullet is still sonic.
 
#13
Through my AI AE 20" bbl w/break i get 1/2 minute groups out to 300 with A-max 168,s over 45.7 grains of IMR 4064. Hornady match brass and FC primers. COAL from ojive is 2.180
with just over 2700 fps. Goodluck!
 
#15
A nice vanilla load that should deliver good accuracy out to 500: RL15 42.5 gr and 168 SMK. Should get you around 2630 fps. Seat them at 2.800 COAL. My best shooting group (at 200 yards) was RL15 42.0 gr and a 168 SMK- delivered consistent 1/4 MOA groups. I dont think it would dope in your rifle well out to 500 yards without some range time.
 
#16
mb3 said:
A nice vanilla load that should deliver good accuracy out to 500: RL15 42.5 gr and 168 SMK. Should get you around 2630 fps. Seat them at 2.800 COAL. My best shooting group (at 200 yards) was RL15 42.0 gr and a 168 SMK- delivered consistent 1/4 MOA groups. I dont think it would dope in your rifle well out to 500 yards without some range time.
Click to expand...

One of my favorite accurate loads in my two bolt guns with Reloader 15 and the Hornady 168 A MAX is : 43.5 gr. I'm sure with the 168 A MAX's you have, they would be good with 42-43 grains of RL-15.
 
#17
Pretty hard to beat Varget. With the 168, there is a node around 46 grains and another around 44.5 grains. The 175 has a node around 45 grains and 43.5 grains.

But, if I were to do no load development, I'd go with IMR4064. 42 grains with the 175's and 43 grains with the 168's. I loaded both these without any load development and both shoot around 1/2 moa or better.
 
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#18
Marksman308 said:
Pretty hard to beat Varget. With the 168, there is a node around 46 grains and another around 44.5 grains. The 175 has a node around 45 grains and 43.5 grains.

But, if I were to do no load development, I'd go with IMR4064. 42 grains with the 175's and 43 grains with the 168's. I loaded both these without any load development and both shoot around 1/2 moa or better.
Click to expand...

I been shooting 45 grs Varget and 175 SMK in Lapua brass,,from 26" PSS it averages 2725 with low spread numbers,,
 
#19
i shoot 44 varget with 168 a max 43 varget 175 smk. i also had a good node at 46 grains of varget with 168 amax. but it would leave smiley faces on the brass in one of my 308 rifles.
 
#20
OP, you are going to have to zero any load you use, so you might as well do a load development day. There is no way to pick a load off the Internet, load it up and go to a class. Kind of a waste of ammo and a waste of class time, to me at least.
 
#22
175 SMK under 44 grains of Varget with a BR2 or 210 primer. Load it to 2.80 coal and have at it. That load has shot great in EVERY .308 I've shot it out of.


Highly suggest though NOT going above 44 grains without working up. Just because another guys rifle shoots 45 grains well doesn't mean yours will.

44 of Varget is a moderate/warm load but its very dependable, that's why I suggest it off the gate but anything more, use caution.
 
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#25
Rlbol said:
I am hoping to get some help from the 308 guys!!

So I need about 300 rounds for a class however I will not have time to do any load testing prior to.

If the rifle matter, it is a AI aw with 26" barrel

I have lots of brass as well as 168gr and 175gr hornady amax as well as Sierra matchking bullets. In powder I have varget,h4350,imr4350,rl15 and some others.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Click to expand...

Easy! 43grs. RE15 under either bullet.
 
#27
43.0g varget 175ish bullet seated at standard or a touch over. It shoots well in every bolt rifle I shoot. I usually back off a touch for an untested gasser.
 
#28
You brass does make a difference.

I run Lapua brass with 43.5 gr Varget under the SMK 175. Works well out to 1200 yards in my 700. If a larger capacity case, up it by about 0.4 grains. Or about the 44.0 gr suggested in the thread.

This gives me about spot on at 2600 fps.
 
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#29
I have 350 pieces of Laupa brass. Not fire formed and about 225 pieces of fire formed fgmm brass. I have not measured capacity of either.

I planned on bumping the should back 002" on the fgmm brass and full length size the Laupa. Then trimm all the same length to the shortest case.

Then prep, primer hole uniform, clean primer pocket, deburr inside and out.

I was thinking about going with the Sierra accuracy load. However there test gun Is a lot different. As I recall a short barreled savage 10. Verses a long barreled aw. I figured it was a bit apple and oranges!


Any one now if an AIAW barrel is right or left riffled? Is right rifling clockwise looking from the breach forward?
 
#31
Thank you guys the hide community is the best!
I just finished prepping 350 pieces of brass ! Needless to say I can feel my fingers!
tomorrow is powder and seating day! I am sure glad I have a couple rcbs powder measures/dispensers!
 
#32
This thread couldn't have came along at a better time. The same day that the thread was started was the same day that I bought a used (20 rounds down the tube) Tikka Tactical in 308 with a 20" barrel. I had some 175gr SMK's on hand so when the rifle arrived yesterday I figured that is the bullet I would use. So I went through the whole thread and took an average of all the powder charges of Varget that everyone had suggested which was 43.5 gr and seated my bullets to 2.810". My five group average of 5 shots is .620" with a best group of .320"!! Amazing accuracy from a completely factory gun, with a practically random load. Thanks for all the info guys.
 
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