I loves me some .308 handloads!

[The Annoyed Man]

I posted previously that I had started reloading, and put up a picture of a nice group shot with some handloads.

Today I went back to the Elm Fork rifle range and shot some more, and was very satisfied with the results.

Stats...

Range: 100 yards
Weather: 85º, overcast, humid, little or no wind
The Rifle: Remington 700 VSF, .308 Winchester, Leupold 4.5-14x50mm VX-III, B&C reticle
The Load: 175 grain Sierra Matchking, new unfired Remington brass, Winchester large rifle primers, 42.6 grains Varget
The result: 4 rounds, measuring 5/16" center to center.

I can't stop smiling.

According to the Lyman manual, 42.6 grains of Varget puts this load right in the middle of the recommended low and high loadings. That should put it at 2584 fps, right between 2459 fps and 2708 fps with a 24" barrel. My barrel is 26", and according to Lyman, the extra 2" should yield an additional 40 fps, so call the velocity around 2624 fps and 2675 ft lbs at the muzzle.

I really need to buy a chronograph to make this easier!

The previous "best group" was 3/8" center to center, using the 168 grain Matchkings, and I tried some more of those today in a slightly hotter loading, and that seemed to do more harm than good. But shooting commercial match ammo, this rifle, with its 1:10 twist, always seemed to do better with 175 grain SMKs rather than the 168 grainers. In fact, it is outstanding with Lake City 7.62x51 NATO 175 grain Match sniper ammo, so I was anxious to see what I could do with a handload in that bullet weight, and I was not disappointed.

In fact, I feel like I've found the magic load for this rifle. I'm going to keep experimenting, but it is going to be hard to improve on this... ...at least with my eyes and at my skill level.

I'm still in pursuit of the perfect load for my M1A. It has a 1:11 twist, and it does OK with the 168 grain SMKs, but I'd like to build some loads with some 150 grain SMKs, and I'd like to try some Lapua 155 grain Scenars too.

[BobCat]

That is delightful!

And I think your M1A will shoot as well, once you do some more load development.

[NcongruNt]

FWIW, I think accuracy is a more important variable to work with for target loads than FPS. It looks like you're doing well there. FPS is nice to know, but unless you're shooting near max loads, it's not terribly necessary. If you do load near max, it can be a good indicator that you're loading too hot.

In the end, the real goal is to make accurate loads, and it looks like you're doing that already. The chronograph is nice to have to compare how your loads perform when compared to others' and to document consistency, but it's not essential. Between accuracy and FPS consistency/documentation, I'd prefer accuracy any time.

[Sidro]

Go for the accuracy Tam. When I was reloading all I found out about fast bullets was that they let you know you missed quicker. Nice shooting you've done there.

[The Annoyed Man]

FWIW, I think accuracy is a more important variable to work with for target loads than FPS. It looks like you're doing well there. FPS is nice to know, but unless you're shooting near max loads, it's not terribly necessary. If you do load near max, it can be a good indicator that you're loading too hot.

I agree. I think the only thing is that I would like to develop a load that will still be supersonic at 1,000 yards.

According to the ballistic chart for the low end load of 40 grains of Varget, the velocity at 1,000 yards is 1,155 fps, which is too close for comfort, but it performs very nearly as well as the slightly hotter load. The load shown above, at 42.6 grains of Varget, should be at 1,209 fps at 1,000 yards — not a huge difference, but perhaps enough in case I have to buck some wind.

One thing is for sure, the 175 grain bullet turns the normally not to bad recoil of a .308 into somewhat of a thumper. And the hotter of the two loads only makes it worse.

The longest distance I've ever shot at was 750 yards, and that was a long time ago. On of my goals in life is to shoot at 1,000 yards before my eyes are too far gone to do it. The Tac Pro range isn't so far away that I couldn't get there if I wanted to. If I can get myself to perform consistently with this rifle/load combination, then I may fulfill that desire sooner rather than later.

The one thing I've got to swap out is the scope. It's a really nice scope for hunting use, but the BDC is calibrated to the 168 grain bullet, and the maximum ranging on the reticle is 600 yards, assuming a 200 yard zero. Right now, I have a 100 yard zero because that is the distance limit at the Elm Fork range, but that would limit the elevation adjustments, whatever scope I use. I really prefer a scope with mil/mil adjustments on a mil-dot reticle, so I'll be adding one like that soon, and probably will also add a 20 MOA rail.

[marktx]

I've got a Rem. Sps. Tact. 20' tube and load 175 Bergers 40grs 4064 and only chrony at 2320fps. best group @ 200 5shots .71" I've had 1/2'' going but always seem to let one get away. Not going fast but they go where I want. Nice groups good load.

[HankB]

That is delightful!

And I think your M1A will shoot as well, once you do some more load development.

FWIW, I found that my M1A is more sensitive to powder type than my other rifles. It "likes" the Sierra 168 MKG and shoots more accurately when loaded with IMR 4064 rather than the "traditional" target powder, IMR 4895.

But it still won't hold less than 1/2 MOA consistently like your bolt gun will.

[The Annoyed Man]

That is delightful!

And I think your M1A will shoot as well, once you do some more load development.

FWIW, I found that my M1A is more sensitive to powder type than my other rifles. It "likes" the Sierra 168 MKG and shoots more accurately when loaded with IMR 4064 rather than the "traditional" target powder, IMR 4895.

But it still won't hold less than 1/2 MOA consistently like your bolt gun will.

Hank, how does that compare to Varget? That's what I've been loading with for my bolt rifles, and for my ARs. BTW, I would be happy if it held 1.25 MOA consistently. Sometimes it shoots .5 MOA, other times it shoots 1.5 MOA. I'd just be happy if it performed consistently with one load. So far, in commercial loads, I've had the best results with the 165 grain Federal Fusion for consistency, but as far as I know, that bullet isn't available commercially for reloading.