.308 rem vtr, 165gr sst, varget - anyone got any data?

[chrisjenkins]

Hi guys,
New member, but have used the site for many years.

Massive fan of the site and have used some of the sticky loads developing loads for loads of my rifles.

I have recently taken delivery of the "love it or hate it" Rem 700 VTR (the one with the controversial triangle barrel).

I want to load Hornady 165gr SST over Varget using Federal primers, in Lapua brass.
I'd love to know if anyone can suggest COL's or powder weights for the above.

Failing that;
What i want to know is has anyone had any success with some very decent groups out of this rifle - I will change powders / heads for a very decent load.

Thanks for your help

 

[kurt]

had a vtr and ran 168 amax with 45 of varget and loaded as long as mag would allow. Start around there and I would expect good things with it. It was a 1 moa gun after getting rid of the shitty stock and putting a timney in it

 

[fireEMT5]

Just as a reference - Savage 10 PC, 1 in 10 twist, 20" tube.

165 Gr SST
45.5 Gr Varget
2.750 COAL
Hornady Match brass
CCI Primers
2670 Ft/sec average from Chronograph

Disclaimer - Load worked up using Dan Newberry's OCW method.

Recommend reading this - OCW Overview - Dan Newberry's OCW Load Development System = You should find a charge that YOUR gun likes. A little work, but the reward is worth the work.

 

[chrisjenkins]

Cheers guys appreciate the replies, figured something around 44 was a good place to start,
The question on the length was of most interest to me - I measured to the lans with my hornady tool / modified case and the length seems excessively long.

Ive read some other people experiencing the same and initially I seated the heads at the COL quoted in the hornady reloading manual, and thought I would go from there.

But I shall now try a batch at the length of the magazine, as per your suggestion and see how that goes.

 

[JGorski]

With Lapua brass id start at 42grs, if you have any RE15, go with 42-43grs of that, seat to 2.825" oal.

 

[chrisjenkins]

Thanks for the reply,
I do have some reloader 15 so I shall give that a whirl.
May I ask why you say "with lapua brass" - do you consider it less suitable for hotter loads?

 

[BapZander]

Lapua brass is thicker, thus slightly less overall case capacity, thus higher pressure with the same charge. So start a little lower than when using Win/Hornady brass.

 

[JGorski]

Thanks for the reply,
I do have some reloader 15 so I shall give that a whirl.
May I ask why you say "with lapua brass" - do you consider it less suitable for hotter loads?

When I load my Lapua brass I use 42grs RE15 under a 168AMAX, well, I used to, now I use 45.5grs CFE, way more velocity, jury is out on whether it's got more pure accuracy than RE15, though. The 46grs was with Win brass.

 

[chrisjenkins]

Been down the range to test some of my loads,

In case anyone else is following this post and is interested - now or in the future, I have managed to get a group just under a half inch using 44.0GR Varget, Federal match primers, Lapua brass, seating 165gr SST Hornady heads at 2.800" COL.
It's not a hot load so as expected no pressure signs and everything all good!
Very pleased with the out of box accuracy of the VTR - from what I hear its a bit hit and miss, and guess for once I got lucky.

I shall probably change the trigger to a rifle basix or Jewell unit, - perhaps someone could recommend one over the other?

The factory trigger is im sure better than remingtons of old but even on the lightest setting its a bit heavy for my liking.

 

[Joe Perlo]

I shoot a 700 VTR in .308. One of the ones that love it. I use 45 grains of Varget in Remington cases, with Hornady match 168 gr. bullets. Loaded to an OAL of 2.810. I do have it mounted in a B&C A2 stock. I did work up to that load. Good luck, Joe

 

[codemancode]

44.5 varget at 2.825 OAL.