Re: Need reloading data for .308 using RL-15
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nietzsche73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Sierra manual's max loads are really low. I guess the do this for legal liabilities? You should be able to just go to their site and get the info or:
http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf
155
max w/re15= 44.8
168s
max w/re15= 43.6 **accuracy load at 42.0 @2600 fps
175s
max w/re15= 41.3
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Yeah, I found that link and noticed the max loads were really slow compared the advertised velocities of FGMM 168 and BH 175SMKs.
I ran numerous loads yesterday but I was loading a fair amount above the sierra manual. My two best performers were the 42.8 and 43.0 RL-15 w/ 175 SMK and 45.0 and 45.4 of RL-15 w/ 168 AMAX's. See below for the range results. All 100 yd groups were supposed to be 5 shot groups but due to my neck sizer issues (see the Redding neck size issue thread), I had a lot of no chambers and only could get 4 of a particular load - so take the group sizes with a grain of salt:
Gun: Rem 700 SPS tactical (20" BBL) completely "out of the box" w/ original Hogue stock with the exception of I replaced the X-mark trigger with an older Rem 700 trigger set to about 1.5 pounds. Its a sweet trigger (thanks Dave!)
Scope: Falcon Menace 5.5-25x50mm
Conditions: Sunny, 90-95F, Breezy with gusts up to 16mph. Average wind was 10-12mph from 3 o'clock. Alt 3390 MSL. Humidity 17%
Components: RL-15, FC once fired brass, Federal 210 primers (not M's)
OAL: 2.815
I was a bit surprised with the groups. I expected the 175 SMKs to hold the best in the wind but the 168 AMAXs seemed to group better despite the windy conditions. However, I think I attribute several of the spoilers to my poor shooting, as the others were shooting in the same hole. I shot the 175s 1st and I think I got more in the groove by the time I got to the AMAX shots. I was very dissappointed with the 155 Palmas. But I suspect that they are just not made to shoot well out of a 20" bbl.
Final thoughts - I really like the RL-15 powder. I think I'm going to concentrate on the 175SMK and the 168 AMAX and work some loads right around those couple of accuracy nodes I found and play with maybe seating the bullets a bit further out. I don't think with the factory SPS chamber and barrel, I'll ever get close to the lands, but maybe a longer OAL will help. I'm hoping to chrono those loads this week and see where these powder weights are getting me
ANy suggestions on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated. I'm shooting in a 600yd F-class match in a week and a half and need to settle on a good load and then get it dialed in for the match.