Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

[elepro]

Hello all. This is my first post.

Working up a load for my .308. The rifle is a DPMS S.A.S.S.

I have been trying 168 Grain AMAX bullets, Winchester brass and primers, and Varget powder.

I worked up from 41.0 Grains to 46 grains and the best performance I got was 45.5 grains of Varget.

I was very pleased with the groups I got (sub MOA), however, 45.5 grains of Varget is 1.5 grains above the max according to Hornady data. I was getting some slight cratering on my primers, but other than that no excessive pressure signs as far as I am concerned.

I would show my brass around to several people and it’s like the saying goes…opinions are like assholes, everyone has got one. Opinions varied from BACK OFF!!! To You’re okay, don’t worry. The rifle is a bit hard on brass no matter what I shoot so it is hard to judge.

45.5 grains seems quite hot to me, and it is definitely a compressed load. But the accuracy speaks for itself.

I have been shooting 44.0 grains of Varget and am getting about 2 MOA groups consistently.

The question I have for all of you fine people is…
Should I go to 45.5 of Varget again, or just simply try a different powder. Just looking for opinions.

 

[1shot2kill]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

keep using 44.0 and switch to 168 smk or use 46.0 with 155 scenar or smk imho using that much powder you are beating the hell out of your equipment and potentially putting yourself in harms way eventually after enough abuse your equipment will fail

 

[Driftwood]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

I used RL15 for my load. I started to get a pretty strong ejector swipe on the upper end of my charge wieghts. I switched my springs to Tubbs flatwire springs, and installed the carrier wieght kit as well. I could feel a difference in how the rifle functioned,it was much smoother when cycling. The issues with my brass being dented as well as the ejector swipe was eliminated. I thought it was a worthwhile investment. I tried 155 SMK's, 168 SMK's and 175 SMK's they all shot well. I couldn't say one was more accurate than another. I found the ballistics to be much better with the "new" 155's palma bullet. I was not happy with the velocity of the other two bullet weights. I think my 175 were going 2450 fps with 43.5 grains of RL15. The SMK 155 palma bullet has a similar profile to the 175, it just has less weight, so I could safely push them a little faster. Here is a link to the Tubbs products:

http://www.davidtubb.com/tcom_images/ar15_images/cs_buffer.html

 

[aquinas]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

+1 above

Definately add the CWS from Tubb. It ended all my pressure problems.

168 SMK's; Winchester case; CCI BR2 Primer: 42.7 grains H4895.

above load shot 2 inch vertical spread at 600 yards and 6 inch horizontal.

Working on RL 15 load that looks promising. 168's in Win case with 42.4 to 42.7 grains seeming to be the accuracy node. That with a Remington 9 1/2 primer. Those four charges grouped in a 3 inch area (total-not just vertical) at 600 on recent ladder test.

 

[BCP]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

Try a different seating depth, mine shot amax's best at 2.78 COAL. Also carrier weights or heavier buffer + spring might help.

 

[elepro]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

Thank you to everyone for the info. Special thanks to Driftwood for his help in my PMs I sent to him. I ordered the CWS system and a new Tubb Flatwire buffer spring. Going to give RL-15 and IMR 4064 a try also.

 

[555th]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

I use 168 SMK's; Winchester case; CCI BR2 Primer: 44 grains Varget and get Sub-MOA with my SASS.

 

[555th]

Re: Load for my DPMS S.A.S.S.

One thing I'm doing maybe a little different is loading them Magazine length which is @ 2.80 or 2.79 COAL