Is this too slow for 600 yards?

[Glennp]

Hey,
Just starting to work up loads for my 700 in .308. So far it seems that 39.5gr IMR4895 shot the best with CCI large rifles. (but im going to retest my groups to confirm). By the way, this is with a Hornady A-MAX 168

If it does wind up being a sweet spot, Is it too slow to shoot well at 600 yards? I dont have a chrono so I cant provide numbers. I dont want to settle in at that weight, then go to shoot at 600 and have it perform poorly. Should i try to find a higher grain sweet spot?

 

[4Rail_Gunner]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?


I'd try for a faster load. Seems slow.

 

[Glennp]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

Unknown.

Although I just found this elsewhere, its pretty much what im doing (only difference is the brass really)


While you are looking at IMR 4895 here is a load that is very accurate in my Savage bvss.
168 Sierra match king
IMR 4895---39.5 grains
Winchester Brass
CCI 200 primer
2450 FPS
less than .5 group @ 100 yds. 10 shots




So in short:
Approx 2450FPS?

 

[Sig685]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

When in doubt, go to the web site of the manufacturer, in this case, www.hodgdon.com.

39.5gr of IMR-4895 is actually below minimum starting load, and that is not a good thing. I would estimate your MV to be about 2300FPS.

The range for IMR 4895 is between 41.0 for 2447FPS to 45.4 for 2758FPS.

 

[Glennp]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

Yeah, thats what I was thinking about it being slow. I have lymans 49th book, which lists 38 for start load, 42.5 for max. I loaded starting at 39.5 which shot the best, going up in .5grain incremints up to 43. I found out that 39.5 shot the best, followed by 41 and 42.5(if it didnt have a flyer)

39.5 shot .35" at 100 yards, 5 rounds

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

What OAL are you using? When I ran 168 Amax's I used 43.6 I4895 at a COAL of 2.845"...

 

[splean]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

That seems a little on the light side.

 

[Glennp]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

Im starting to test around my second best group now, which was 41grains. Im going to try 40.8, 41, and 41.2 next. Im also going to start creeping up higher beggining where i left off with the rough tests, at 43.5 and try to find a higher velocity sweet spot.

 

[i_Adam_i18]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

Thats funny, almost the same load I started with. My savage model 10 uses 40.5gr of IMR4895 behind a 168 Amax and shot really well at 100 yards.

 

[JeffinTX]

Re: Is this too slow for 600 yards?

41.5 of IMR 4895 was the classic go to load with 168SMK in .308 back when M1A/M14 were king of the Hipower world. It was the default National Match load for .308/7.62 It has been said that if the gun won't shoot that load, its the gun (or the shooter), not the load. It is in the middle of the range for .308 with the 168, should yield 2600-2650 from M1A. Your bolt gun will easily handle this load.