Re: Best Reloading Manual
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: milo-2</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Pick a bullet, a powder, and a casing, and for the more common loads, I bet you find 3 or 4 loads ranging from moderately cool to unsafe. For load development, you will then know where to start and where to end. </div></div>
You have to have a baseline to start from, so a manual or some published data is needed.
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I disagree that published data is needed. Example. I just bought some 155 Scenars and I am looking to work up a load with Varget in Lapua Brass in my Tac Ops. A quick look through the Reloading Depot yielded the following:
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Stefan73
155 grn Lapua Scenar
45.8grn Varget
Fed 210 primer
mixed BH and Winchester brass
five shot string (first one didn't register on my chrono),
1, 2787
2, 2709
3, 2783
4, 2691
Target in Sight
Lapua Scenar 155gr
Varget Powder 45.5gr.
Lapua Brass
CCI BR2 Primer
OAL 2.891
MV at 2800 fps out of my 24" stainless 5R barrel
Actually not too long, the first batch was testing different charges 45.0,
45.5, 46.0, and 46.5
46.0 had the nicest group @ 100yd, but show just a tiny bit of pressure
sign, so I settled with 45.5gr.
Downzero
FN PBR XP, factory .308 barrel
155 grain Lapua Scenar
LC 05 brass, swaged and trimmed with the lee trimmer
CCI LR primer (400?)
47 grains Hodgdon Varget, dropped with lyman 1200
2.890" COAL +/- .005"
Mean velocity = 2899.555556
Sample size = 9 rounds
Sample standard deviation = 9.926115946
Wil
Stiller action
Rock Barrel 1:11.25 @ 24" form lug (25")
Manners T1
NXS 3.5-10 MLR
Win/BHA brass
47.5gr Varget
fed 210
155 Lapua Scenar
2.4 OAL (from ogive)...about 2.86 OAL
2900fps
ES 12
SD 7
Falar
Armalite AR10A4
21" Stainless Steel Noveske barrel, 1/10" polygonal rifling
46gr Varget, 155gr Scenar, New Win Brass, CCI BR2 primer
1. 2770
2. 2766
3. 2751
4. 2725
5. 2749
6. 2729
7. 2744
8. 2732
9. 2733
10. 2726
Remarks: Primers normal, no ejector marks but shiny spots from ejector are
present
Conditions: 70deg, cloudy, 52% humidity, 52deg dewpoint, pressure 30.03,
winds from ENE 9mph
Shooting direction: North
Avg. 2742.5 fps
ES: 45fps
SD: 13.5fps
Graham
Rifle: Accuracy International AE
BBl: 24”
3.
Bullet: 155 Scenar
Brass: Lapua
Cond’n: Unfired
Primer: CCI BR2
Pwdr: Varget
Grs: 45.6
Seated: .009 from the lands
Sinclair Comparator: 2.125
OAL: 2.860
Temp: 40
Vel Avg of 5 rounds: 2825fps
ES: 53
SD: 29
Pressure signs: None
Accuracy 5 shot groups: Sub .5 MOA to 200 meters
deisel
Here is my .308 load for GAP Rifle, Surgeon Short Action, Bartlein 24” 1-11
twist 5R barrel.
Lapua brass
155gr Scenar
46.0gr Varget
CCI BR2 primer
OAL 2.840 max that will feed from AICS mag
Velocity avg is 2870 fps
ES 39
SD 12.85
Ol Rob
155 Scenar
46.6gr Varget
Rem brass<new>
CCI 200
2.895" OAL
2878fps 5shot avg
10.9 ES
4.4SD
3.2 AD
<1/2"MOA 100yd.
nolo263
155 scenar
45.5 varget
210m primer
lapua case
Out of my GAP crusader I am getting 2850fps and 10 shot groups under .3
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I know Mike Miller had at one time used a load of about 45 gr Varget with a 155 Scenar in his Tac Ops that uses the same reamer as mine. Am I safe to load that up and shoot it?
Looking at the data above, it seems that the folks using Lapua brass with non-factory (i.e. tight) chambers are charging between 45.0 and 46.0 gr Varget.
45.0 gr doesn't sound like a moderate load to me as I am used to running 43.0 gr Varget under a 175 SMK, but I can't seem to find anyone running under 45.0 gr and there are a few people running 47.0 grains and even 47.5 grains but one of those is running Winchester brass and the other is running a factory chamber.
A reloading manual usually will not specify Winny brass or factory chamber, but even if they did, I need a moderate load for Lapua brass in a tight chamber.
I wouldn't just lift one person's recipe, but if I start seeing multiple people reporting results in the same range, that is an indicator that I am on the right track and I think it is far more useful than published data.