Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

[elfster1234]

What is going on everyone!?! Figured I would run my very first reloading ladder test. Not sure if this is even right or even too small of a run especially @ 100yards, but what the hell!! This is what I came up with so roll with me here. I'm new to reloading so lay off!!! JK...... These are not my best groups ever, but I'm having fun here. Using wood bench with harris bipod. I now have a hornady OGIVE guage / bullet comparitor after this test and I'm going to start seating bullets NOT by COAL (cartridge over all length), but by the bullet's OGIVE (where the curve of a bullet’s forward section just touches the lands of the rifling).. I'll keep you all informed on how my future testing goes now that I have these new tools. This test was totally done by 2.800" coal and not by ogive.... BTW, my LMT MWS is a 20" CL barrel if you must know.

I reloaded 20 total once fired .308 hornady brass with 168grn hornady AMAX bullets, and regular cci#200 primers. Figured I would start small and work my way up being that I'm new to reloading here. Did 5 rounds each @ 39.5grns, 40grns, 40.5grns, and 41 grns of varget powder (see pictures). 3 out of the 4 groups were just "OK" and just a tad under 1moa and one group a tad bit over,,, but one of my groups was .564". Possible node? Just dumb luck? not clue... Average of all 4 @ 5shot groups was .8867moa, with the best at .564moa and worst at 1.112".... Anyway, it is all in good fun. Enough BS, hope you enjoy the work and the pics:

100yards down range

 

[OldGuardShooter]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Very nice elf . man you got me really excited about my LMT MWS i want to learn to reload also but figure i'd take every thing one step at a time.

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Loving the reloading and so is my wallet. Rather than $18 bucks per box of factory ammo, i'm spending about $8.80 per 20count being that I have tons of .308 brass. KEEP YOUR BRASS!! Also, get that brass protector on the deflector ASAP! You will thank me in the long run once you start to reload so you don't have dings in the side of the brass. I only have about 3000 rounds to go in order to break even on my out of control reloading equipment! RLFMAO.... Oh wel, just more shooting @ the range for me!!

Let me know how it goes brother.

Elf

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OldGuardShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice elf . man you got me really excited about my LMT MWS i want to learn to reload also but figure i'd take every thing one step at a time.
</div></div>

 

[CanSniper]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Nice shooting! Bad Ass rifle.
Reloading is very rewarding when everything comes together
Welcome to the sickness of chasing that perfect load. LOL!
I have been running the piss out of my LMT and it just keeps going.

 

[dmpowder]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Not sure on the AR10 but you usually can't touch the lands while keeping them mag feed. So you better just to load to mag length.

Put a strip of soft velcro on your deflector to keep the dents out of the brass if it bugs you that much.

And not to harp on you but that was just shooting groups not a ladder test since you had different aiming points. Ladders are done with 1 POA and are worthless at 100 yards.

Sweet looking Rig! Looks cool how you snapped the first pic with powder falling out of the RCBS.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Those are some soft loads. I'd start at 42 and go up, possibly to 44 depending on node, velocity, and what your brass looks like.

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

good info guys, thanks!

Elf

 

[LRRPF52]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmpowder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure on the AR10 but you usually can't touch the lands while keeping them mag feed. So you better just to load to mag length.

Put a strip of soft velcro on your deflector to keep the dents out of the brass if it bugs you that much.

And not to harp on you but that was just shooting groups not a ladder test since you had different aiming points. Ladders are done with 1 POA and are worthless at 100 yards.

Sweet looking Rig! Looks cool how you snapped the first pic with powder falling out of the RCBS. </div></div>

+1 On shooting groups vs. ladder. I had loaded a bunch of different charges for a ladder test with my GAP .260 Rem, but the range only allowed us to walk out to 100yds for paper, the further ranges were all steel.

I had colored my bullet tips with different permanent markers, and put the appropriate dots next to each load on my notebook.

I fired 8 different charge weights of RL17 behind the Barnes 140gr MB into .75 MOA. 6 of the charges were into .5 MOA easily. I had one ragged hole that I couldn't really extrapolate much info from, which was a given, other than RL17 and the Barnes combo within the charge range are freaking accurate at 100yds.

200yds is the minimum I would shoot a ladder test at, with many preferring 300yds on a calm wind day.

OP, it looks like you have found an accuracy node already with the .5 MOA group you have. I would load up a few more strings of that load, but with different seating depths, and run a ladder at 200yds to fine-tune it.

I'm interested in what others would suggest who have experience with ladder tests as well.

 

[TackDriver13]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

I would load up some hotter rounds... most people seem to have the best luck with varget between 42 to 44 grains when shooting the 168's.

I've pushed it as high as 45.5 grains of varget under a 175 SMK...
Brass will be the determining factor here. Hornady brass is a bit soft for max loads unless you aren't worried about case life!

 

[NoFail]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Nice rifle, and nice shooting too!!

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

figured some of your might find this interesting.... loaded up 20 more rounds with 168grn AMAX, but with 40.5 / 41.0 / 41.5 / and 42 grns of varget... Here are the results.. I think I really do have a node around the 40.5 to 41 grn area.. Maybe I'll try some around 40.75 ish area:

 

[Pedro23]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

I need to use better ammo. Thanks for the pics and info on the reloading Elf. M80 is about 2moa from 100-200 yards with me shooting on average. Best group was .75moa at 200 yards. I can hit a 6 inch steel target with ease with it so I can not complain too much lol.

What factory ammo do you use Elf with good success? Do you use a rear bag at all when going for groups? I only use my bipod.

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

I just use a harris bipod and a rear sand back under my pistol grip and sometimes my buttstock. Depends on where I'm shooting from.

.75moa @ 200yards is really good!

Believe it or not, when I do use factory ammo I've had great results with really cheap 7.62x51 american eagle HPBT 168grn!!! I can get this cheap ammo to my front door step for $16 bucks shipped and then use the brass for reloading.

This is prob one of my best groups with factory ammo, amercian eagle 168grn HPBT:

and prob my best reload grouping... damn near a bullet in each bullet hole but for the one small friggen flyer,,, if you would even call it a flyer:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pedro23</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I need to use better ammo. Thanks for the pics and info on the reloading Elf. M80 is about 2moa from 100-200 yards with me shooting on average. Best group was .75moa at 200 yards. I can hit a 6 inch steel target with ease with it so I can not complain too much lol.

What factory ammo do you use Elf with good success? Do you use a rear bag at all when going for groups? I only use my bipod. </div></div>

 

[OFIS]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

All that work and no chronograph?

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

I'll PM ya with the address to mail the $125 dollars to me. Thanks man! JK.

Just starting out here.. One of my next purchases is a chrono. Trying to see if it helps with the groups.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OFIS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All that work and no chronograph? </div></div>

 

[CanSniper]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

I almost completely gave up using a chrono. If my load groups good at 100 and holds together @ distance, I might check it with the chrono to give me an idea how fast it is and double check ES and SD. But, if it shoots, it shoots.

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Elfster,

Great groups and excellent shooting.

Let me recommend that you continue your workup with varget. The charges you have currently run are on the mild side.

Your optimum charge weight (OCW) is around 44.5gr to about 46gr varget and 168AMAX.

If you got a chrono, you will be disappointed in the velocities you are getting with those low powder charges...i'm guessing you are in the 2500-2600ft/s range...you can increase that by about 70-120ft/s if you went up in charge weight to 45-46+gr and should still be within safe pressure levels.

Having a chrono is great. It lets you see which loads are likely to perform at distance by giving you extreme spread and standard deviation. However, don't let that be the determining factor. Go out and shoot your accuracy loads at distance and see for yourself.

Keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

[elfster1234]

Re: Small reload ladder test LMT MWS &168 AMAX w/pics!

Thanks cansniper and Tx_Flyboy.... i'm sucking in all this info and it is all really helpful to get everyone's point of view. I really appreciated the posts.

Thank you everyone.