Please help w/ load info for a DPMS LR308

[Michael69]

You guys were so great at helping me answer my inconsistent OAL question, I had to give this a try. I have done searches but have come up shorthanded.

I have a DPMS LR308 Panther with the 1x10 twist stainless 24" barrel. Stock at this point, but looking to replace trigger.

I hope to someday "ding the steel" at 1000 yds. Right now, I am barely making clover leafs @ 100

I would love to try an F class competition someday.
I have a low back injury and am confined to a wheelchair. I have full use of my upper body, and partial of my lower, but can't stand or lie prone to shoot it. Not to mention the thing weighs about 14 pounds or more loaded. (ugh)

I have enjoyed taking (lugging) it to the range, and playing with different loads we have worked up. But I am really confined to a benchrest and sand bags to shoot from. I can hold it and fire it from a sitting position if I had to, but need to find a load that works from sandbags, so that I will know it is accurate if it had to be fired from "the hip" so to speak.

Sorry to ramble, but here's what I was hoping to learn.

I am looking to make a bulk purchase of 175 moly SMK's (500) for 190.00 (midsouth shooters), and 500 rounds of once fired prepped LC brass for 130.00 (gsscompetition), and then possibly some IMR 4064 in an 8lb (midsouth shooters). Varget seems to be out of the question at this point.

There is also available a package of 500 prepped military brass, and 500 Amax's for 195.00, or the same package with HDY HPBT for 180.00 shipping included(from tj converas)( cheaper than the former components individually, but better for longer ranges?)

All I have currently is a brick of CCI 200 primers, and a brick of CCI BR primers, to start with.

I have done quite a few loads with 168 Amax's, and SMK's with Varget, and IMR 4064, but feel the 175 SMK is the right one for my barrel. I could be wrong, as I am new to this.

The last time I went out to the range, I got a couple of good groups with the 175's, but then the planets could have been in brief alignment for those shots.

My questions are:

Does it matter how close you get to the lands in a gas gun, or is that restricted by the magazine?
If it is important, can you refer me to the procedure info on how to seat the bullet to the proper OAL for a gas gun?

I have heard you can cut the neck and loosen it and then chamber a round where it seats the bullet correctly to your chamber, but I don't know if that info is just for bolt guns.

Does moly make that much of a difference?
(40 bucks more for 500)

Secondly, could you advise me on my proposed components for a large batch reloading session?
Is there a better place where I can get them cheaper? (limited budget)

I have in mind doing 41.5 grns of IMR 4064 and 175 moly SMK's, and LC brass, with the CCI 200's or the BR's

If you've had a DPMS LR308 like mine, would you mind sharing with me what worked for you?

Should I use something different as far as powder, projectile, or brass, for longer ranges ?

Are there places where I can get these items cheaper than what I have listed?

I would like to get stocked up before the shelves possible empty, more than they already have.

Thanks for reading this long post, and thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[grmroper001]

Re: Please help a FNG w/ load info for a DPMS LR308

Howdy,
I do also have a LR308 24" 1 in 10. So far my load of choice is 155 ( new 2156 ) sierra palma's over 45.4 of RL-15. Thru a friends chrono got 2770. Have taken it out to 820 yards with good consistency. I seat them to 2.80. Just what has worked for me. The gun also seemed to like the 168 hpbt hornady match offerings

 

[Michael69]

Re: Please help a FNG w/ load info for a DPMS LR3

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: grmroper001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Howdy,
I do also have a LR308 24" 1 in 10. So far my load of choice is 155 ( new 2156 ) sierra palma's over 45.4 of RL-15. Thru a friends chrono got 2770. Have taken it out to 820 yards with good consistency. I seat them to 2.80. Just what has worked for me. The gun also seemed to like the 168 hpbt hornady match offerings </div></div>

Thanks grmroper001,
I have heard people swear by the 155 grn, and others about the 168's. There seems to be a variety of opinion for the same gun, and that's why I wanted to get some input before making a large purchase.
Did I miss what kind of brass you were using?

 

[1MoreAR]

Re: Please help a FNG w/ load info for a DPMS LR3

I'm working on the load for my gas gun too,DPMS platform with 18" 1-10 twist build by APA. So far the gun likes 155 Scenar and 168 SMK.
I started my load with Varget at 42 g and .5 increment all the way to 44.5 with 155 Scenar(same with 168 smk) and LC match+Remy brass for now. Jared at APA recommend me to do the " ladder load" with .5 g increment to find out which load the gun like the most.
My rifle likes 168 SMK with 43 g of Varget and the 155 Scenar seem to like 44.5 g of Varget. I'm still a long way to go,but this is what I come up so far.
www.powdersvalleyinc.com has some good price on reloading components. I will order some Nosler Custom Comp. to try out.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Please help a FNG w/ load info for a DPMS LR3

My friend had an LR-308 and it shot really well with 175 Sierras.

Forget the moly, you won't notice a difference.

Reloder 15, 4064, 4895, etc. are all good for .308. Varget is what I use, but everyone says it's impossible to find right now.

I get my bullets from Grafs, and the prices you've mentioned seem a little high. There are also vendors on here who will sell you bulk Sierra 175s.

You really can't go wrong with Sierra 2156s, 175s, or Lapua 155s as everyone on here has pretty much had good luck with them. Load development has become boring for me; I just shoot now!

 

[grmroper001]

Re: Please help a FNG w/ load info for a DPMS LR3

Sorry shoot3r,
I am using hornady match and bhg match, which I believe I was told once is made by winchester.

 

[Pogo57]

Re: Please help w/ load info for a DPMS LR308

Mine prefers the 175SMK with groups clear down to the .1"'s. But it also likes the 168SMK and 155 Scenars too. You're pretty much limited to magazine length unless you want to single load but you can squeeze out a few more thousandths using the DPMS mags.

Most of my load have been with TAC and Varget using various BR primers from CCI, Rem and Wolf.

This rifle has been one of the most accurate and easiest to load for that I've ever owned.

I've put in a CWS and springs from Tubbs which I strongly recommend and junked the stock trigger.

I too have a lower back injury but not a seriously as your. It does keep me pretty much on the bench though, although I too hope to shoot a F-Class match one day.

Good luck!

 

[gnfiter3]

Re: Please help w/ load info for a DPMS LR308

POGO, What's your load for TAC, 168's. I tried 42.9 grs. in my 10-T and it seemed so much hotter than my pet 42.5 of IMR 4064. Of course he burn rates are 109 vs 120. I'm limited to a 100 yrd range so I don't need to beat the gun up, or my shoulder, with hot loads.

I like the way it meters, and when I finally use up the 4064, I want to purchase a powder that shoots .223, 69's and 150-168 in 308. TAC sems like the one.

 

[jimurphy]

Re: Please help w/ load info for a DPMS LR308

The number of variable components suitable for your DPMS is staggering, the real trick is to eliminate as many as possible before you run out of time, money, and barrel. In my experience the order of importance is, the bullet, powder, primer, and then case. Of course my opinion is worth what you paid for it. I have the same rifle with a Shilen barrel. I will load three bullets, the Sierra 175, 168, and the Lapua 155, in Lapua cases, with WLR primers and a middle load of Varget. All will be loaded to 2.800" OAL. Whichever bullet shoots the best groups wins, then I will play with the powder volume. Then I will load up on those components and shoot it. ( 4064 would be fine)