Re: R&D Precision .308WIN Custom (Range Report)
<span style="font-weight: bold">CONGRATS, SWEET R&D Precision Rig !!! Randy "HateCA" builds are TOP NOTCH !!!</span>
"Jicko", Have you tried IMR4895?
This has always produced one bug hole @ 100yds in past R&D Precision .308Win rifles. Furthest out has been 950yds with this load. Shoots Lights Out. Randy "HateCA" recommedended this & of course its a winner.
168/175 SMK or 178AMAX [Mainly 178AMAX]
IMR 4895 41.5 grns [Powder is faster than RL15 or Varget]
FGMM or Win Brass
F210M
2.800-2.810
178AMAX MV: 2580 fps 22..5" Rock 1:11.25 Twist 5R Barrels @ ASR.
IMHO: Speed Kills, Try the "opposite" and come down on your charge weight. No need to acheive .243 or .260 MV out of a .308. Again IMHO.
I have never tried 155grn Lapua Scenars, but from what I have seen here many load with the faster powder H4895, IMR4895.
Here is an article from
www.6mmbr.com that covers that:
http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html
* Half way down
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<span style="font-weight: bold">Tips from Brad Sauve, 2004 F-TR Nat'l Champion</span>
With my .308, I tried A LOT of different loads in the first 600 rounds, starting with 42.0-44.5 N150 for the first 200 rounds, then moving to 44.0-45.0 Varget for the next 300 rounds. I tried different bullets (Sierra 175 MKs both moly and naked, Nosler 180gr Ballistic Tips, 175gr Bergers), different cases (Lapua, Federal), primers (Rem, CCI BR, Fed Match), and, oh yes, seating depths (on the lands to 0.10" off, and several distances in between). Even after 500 rounds of testing, I still wasn't satisfied, and frankly, I was growing weary.
<span style="font-weight: bold">
I finally found my "sweetheart" load on February 14, 2000 (Valentines Day), almost seven months after getting the rifle. This is the load I still shoot today and I shot all weekend at the F-Class Nationals. The break-through came when I discovered that slower velocities produced outstanding accuracy. I found that Varget pushing a 175 SMK at about 2610 fps delivered quarter-MOA groups out to 300 yards and half-minute or better groups beyond that distance. Since developing that load, I've used Lapua cases and Russian primers, but the core elements, 43.0 grains Varget with 175 MKs seated 0.018" off the lands, has not changed.</span>
During the first few years I owned the rifle, I was crazy about cleaning. My log shows that I cleaned the barrel 80 times in the first 998 rounds. That works out to cleaning every dozen rounds! No wonder it took me so long to find the right load! Boy, have I changed my habits. I still clean the barrel, but I run a much higher round count between cleanings than before. Now, I shoot 100-200 rounds before I give the barrel a thorough cleaning. This goes with my general thinking--that some folks will benefit from added trigger time more than anything else. Spend more time shooting than loading 'perfect' ammunition or cleaning. Squeezing that last quarter-minute out of your groups won't do you any good if you can't hold one MOA or you can't read wind conditions. MORE TIPS from Brad Sauve.</div></div>
Have a great one
