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ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

20Incher

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 28, 2010
298
0
54
Westchester
I do not have a chrono(now I need one).Anyway I did a ladder test starting with 5 rds each 42 42.2 42.4 42.6 42.8 43 .It did best at 42.8 about nickel size five rounds 100 yrds.I'm guessing that the fps are pretty low.I'm looking for above 2550fps as stated on the hide anything lower won't work well at long ranges?Should I just start working up from 43.2 and go up to 45 being the highest as long as there aren't any pressure signs.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

I personally am a freak, so I would repeat this exact same ladder test and see if you get the same results.

If you do, then do some loads around 42.8, a little lower, a little higher.

Also play with seating depth at those lower and higher charges.

Thats what I did and I have a fairly consistent sub .6MOA load for my factory 700 .223.

I did the ladder test 5 times though with the same loads just to make absolutely sure the results were valid.

I never understood why people judge a load by a single 5 shot group. For example, I can take my worst load and it just may happen that I'll get a .2moa group by luck... but the next 10 groups will be 1moa... and vice versa. I've gotten a "bad" group that was in fact just a bad group and the load was very consistent.

Anyways thats just my thoughts, repetition of the experiment makes me feel better haha.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

That sounds real close to what I used with my stock 700 SPS. My best was 43 gr varget 175 smk at 2.82 oal. Velocity was just a touch over 2600 with a stock 26" rem tube. Even at 2.82 they were a mile off the lands.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

What brass and what barrel length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 20incher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm looking for above 2550fps as stated on the hide anything lower won't work well at long ranges?</div></div>

Really depends on where you are (ie elevation atmosphere etc) and what "long range" means to you. FWIW I've watched lots of guys with stock remington 24-26" rifles and boxes of factory match ammo (usually about 2600-2650fps) shoot at 1k yards and do fairly well, no keyholes etc.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

It's a rem 700 sps 20" barrel Federal gold match brass cci primers.Long range to me is 1000 yrds.I'll be using in pa and az.I'm probaley dreaming with a 20" barrel.Might need a new gun:)
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

Well, you can try to find an accuracy node at a higher pressure or you can just shoot it as is. FWIW a friend of mine has that same rifle and his like 45varget+win brass+175smk @ 2.82. FGMM brass would probably be similar at 44-44.5 grains. I think his muzzle velocity was 2600.

You could also try another power, 2000mr is a "high energy" powder and gave me another 50-60fps over varget. Other people with bolt guns are getting 100fps over their regular varget loads.

If it were my rifle and it was shooting tits with 42.8 I would just use that load and cross the 1k bridge when I got there.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

My rem 700 is using 45.5 Varget with 168 Berger VLDs at 2671 from a factory barrel that was cut down to 21". Winchester brass FED210M primers. Not exactly your components but I thought you might be able to use the data for comparison.
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

My SPS (20" 1/12") likes -

Sierra .308 175gr SMK
Win brass trimmed to 2.005"
45gr Varget
Fed 210M primer
C.O.A.L - 2.223" (ogive), 2.815" overall

Average velocity was 2612 fps with conditions of -

Temp- 76f
Pressure- 30.3
Humidity- 47%
Altitude- 485'
Angle- 0
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

My SPS Varmint 308 (26" 1:12) seems to like the below recipe best.
I was working a load with the 168gr A-Max, but the SMK was more consistent.

168gr SMK
44.2 Varget
CCI 200 primer
Federal brass
0.02 off the lands
 
Re: ladder test Rem sps 308 varget first reloads

I'm using the 168 BTHP MATCH Hornady with 43.5 Varget , CCI 200 primer , Remington and Winchester brass seated just over the manual specs . Aprox 10 thousanths . I havent measured the chamber yet . I'm using this load in a Remington 700 sps tactical (20 " bbl ) and it does all 5 rounds in .5 " at 100yds . I chronographed this load and was pushing an average of 2,532 FPS . Just hy of what your looking for . Hope it helps .