first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

[headstrong]

I want to shoot either 165, 168, or 175. I just bought a new savage and would like to find out what to shoot. I want to get around 100 rounds then start reloading to fine tune what my gun likes. What manufacturer should I go with or where should. I buy from. I see most places are out of the gr that I want. Could really use some help to get up and running


Other option is to buy in bulk 147 or something that's cheap to shoot and reload that to whatever gr I want

 

[roggom]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Really depends on the twist rate of your rifle, the max range you will really shoot to, and the type of shooting. Also your location.

I have loaded everything from 125, 147, 155, 165, 168, 175, 178 and 208. This can eat up a lot of components and work up time. My go to is the 178 Amax and Lapua brass. It will do everything you need of a 308 in a 1:12 twist. Steel, target or hunting (deer sized game to 700Y)

For cheap plinking I do load up some 147 pulls in LC brass, and have some 125 loads for my kids.

If the majority of your shooting will be inside of 500Y then the 168's are nice, as you can buy them in bulk 250 for a reasonable price. Also living up here in the Mile High, a 168 will reach just a bit further than other parts of the country, so again, depends on the type of shooting and max range

As for loaded ammo, SW seems to be the ticket.

http://www.southwestammunition.com/category_s/53.htm

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

your post would probably be better suited in the reloading section. there's a bunch of sticky information there that may answer your questions too.

my 22" savage 1:10 likes 165 hornady SST and 110 vmax. pretty plain jane tame loads that work well for me:

165sst 42 gr IMR4064 2700 fps 2.760 oal
110vmax 44 gr IMR4064 2650 fps 2.710 oal
cases trimmed to 2.010

i've bumped them to the lands, for whatever reason it seems to shoot better set back alittle.

i've tinkered with match bullets, but as my .308 does double duty for hunting, i like the sst for a pretty decent double duty head that is not too outrageous in price.

either of the above should keep you MOA out to 500yds.

for just starting to work up a load, i actually buy a box of cheap assed rem core lokts, fed. fusion, or whatever to run through the chrony to get a safe / tame baseline.

i've always felt hornady off the shelf ammo is a great place to start to try to emulate for a "custom" or close to max load.


can't get 150's to shoot well out of my savage no matter what i try, i've also done 180's but like the 165's better except if using for bear.

 

[Coloradocop]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

My Tikka likes 175gr SMKs on 44.4 grains of Varget.

My buddy runs the 178 gr Amax with good luck in his rifle (Rem 700 SPS Tactical AAC).

There are tons of possible load combinations out there, and even two guns of the same make/model can like different recipes. My best advice is to pick a common/popular-for-caliber bullet, in a weight range that is normally acceptable for the barrel twist of your rifle. Then start with a common/popular powder, and start loading from there.

Hopefully you'll settle in on a nice accurate load without blowing through thousands of components. Then, if you decide you want to tweak things later, you can simply change one component at a time to see how things adjust.

I started with 168gr and 175gr SMKs, and found my rifle liked the 175's. I started loading with Varget, and stopped searching for another powder when I found an accurate load with that powder.

 

[HawkDriver]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

I'm putting 175gr SMK down the tube of my rem 700 with 44.7 gr of Varget and reused Black Hills brass. Hold a solid 1/2 MOA or better all day long.

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey D</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm putting 175gr SMK down the tube of my rem 700 with 44.7 gr of Varget and reused Black Hills brass. Hold a solid 1/2 MOA or better all day long. </div></div>

Is that with a factory rem. barrel.........????

 

[spamassassian]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Your mileage may vary, and I can only relate what I went through and how I approached this issue. I chose .308 since it is a widely available round with tons of variations. Everyone has their pet loads, pet bullets, etc. And it was clear from reading many posts on the subject prior to my purchase, that I needed to look for a round that my rifle "liked".

After lots of reading, I focused on the 168 SMK. Most of my shooting is at 5900 ft. elevation, so this round can go out to 1K and beyond. However, since making that decision, I've learned more about it and once I run out of 168s I plan to go with 175s.

One of my goals was to aim for a "standard" ammo, maybe even try to match a hand load to a factory ammo so I would always know what to expect. I started by shooting a known good factory round (FGMM 168) so that I could rule out the ammo as a major source of variable. Just as I had read in the forums, this ammo is very good - very consistent.

Once I started working up hand loads in an attempt to match the FGMM, I began to realize it was no small task. For one thing, the powder they use is likely a non-cannister variant. Many people suggested that it was RL15, so that's what I used. Even with the minimum load recommended for this powder, I was still getting greater velocity than the FGMM. My goal then became to settle on the best grouping load of RL15 behind the 168s. I ended up with 40.2 grains, which is .2 grains above the min. recommended amount. It is still about 2" high at 200 yards vs. FGMM but it groups just as well (just had a .770" group at 200 yds a few weeks ago).

When I move to the 175s, I'll have to do another ladder test... good thing shooting is fun!

 

[Kevlars]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

so starts the Holy War....

Ok so every weapon system is different and you need to work up your loads accordingly. With that said I would absolutely recommend the following components:

Lapua Brass
Federal 210M
Varget
SMK 175


Of course the amount of varget will have to be worked up but the components are solid. I currently use 44.5gn

Once you choose the list of components and a starting load I would then perform the ladder test to see what load will work well in your system.

Also note if you use Lapua brass you will have to prep it by deburing the flash hole and uniforming the primer pocket -- a good number of people say that you do not have to ... but I have tested with and without and I get far better "consistency" when it is prepped.

Good luck.

 

[Coloradocop]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

As I watch this thread develop, I assume the OP is seeing some of the same trends develop that all of us did:

1) There are a few bullets that have proven very popular for these guns:

168 and 175 grain matchkings
178gr A-max

2) There are a few powders that have proven to be quite popular:

Varget
RL15
(probably others, too)


It is hard to go wrong by starting with a combination that is normally known to be decent in a lot of rifles, and then tweak that load to perform best in your rifle. I chose my 175 grain matchking after comparing the 168 to the 175, and then I chose Varget powder because of its popularity and versatility. From there I pretty much just needed to work the load until I got the performance I wanted. I haven't yet played much with different brass or primers, but that's next. My bullet seating was to maximum magazine length, so I haven't played much with that either. Basically, I developed a good shootable, respectable load, and I'll tweak it more from here as time and motivation allows.

 

[headstrong]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Just a piece of info for those who have ask I have a fcp-k 1:10 twist.

I think I have a good starting point about the reloading. Now how about getting rounds now. Most military ammo rounds are 145... Would it be a good route to get 100 or 200 rounds of 150 gr AE to learn. Then reload that?

 

[HawkDriver]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Larson</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey D</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm putting 175gr SMK down the tube of my rem 700 with 44.7 gr of Varget and reused Black Hills brass. Hold a solid 1/2 MOA or better all day long. </div></div>

Is that with a factory rem. barrel.........???? </div></div>

It's the Factory Rem 700 TWS 20" heavy barrel, 1:10 twist. I've had a lot of work done to it but its a tack driver for sure. At 100yds, 1/4" groups and it slowly expands with increased range (most is related to shooter ability I would say) I can hit 15" steel at 1000yds though. That's why I like the 175gr SMK. The 168gr SMK enters the transonic range at my pressure altitude around 800yds (~300' MSL) and begins to destabilize. I've tweaked my load to give me a MV of about 2550fps at 10' chrono, that way I can stay out of that range to at least 1200yds (dependent upon Environmental conditions).

 

[LawnMM]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Hornady 178 HPBT projectiles with a 0.53bc will outperform the other choices like Sierra 175s and for less money. Just use Varget for starters, you can get creative later.

I get 2635 from a 24" 1:10 twist barrel at only 43.8 grains. Plenty of overhead left.

Edited to correct my phone typo on the powder charge.

 

[headstrong]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Where are you guys buying you supplys from?

 

[roggom]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

I think Lawn ment 43.8 gr of Varget with a 175 or 178 projectile.

 

[NaHa]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: headstrong</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just a piece of info for those who have ask I have a fcp-k 1:10 twist.

I think I have a good starting point about the reloading. Now how about getting rounds now. Most military ammo rounds are 145... Would it be a good route to get 100 or 200 rounds of 150 gr AE to learn. Then reload that? </div></div>

If you aren't a good enough shooter to know whether it's you or the rifle or the ammo, then get cheap stuff and fire away. If you really know how to shoot and can within 4 or 5 rounds figure out if it's you or the rifle or the ammo, then get Federal Gold Medal Match and shoot a couple of groups to see if the rifle is up to snuff. Ammo makes a world of difference. I bought some 'Extended Range' Remington ammo some years back. Shot 4"+ groups at 100y (and probably would have done so "all day long" for you tools who like that silly phrase). Two groups, and that was done. FGMM ammo will shoot 1/2"-3/4". Same rifle, same shooter. If you haven't shot a rifle before, a .308 isn't the ideal learning platform. I'd suggest a .22lr. But don't know your situation, so good luck, regardless. That's my advice.

 

[Ol' RD]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Oh come now NaHa a .308 is a fine rifle to learn on. Beats the heck of a 460 Wheatherby Mag.! Welcome to the Hide headstrong. I would use Federal GMM ammo or Hornady match ammo and save your brass. Get Hornadys 8th reloading book and stick to book recipes for awhile. Then play with components. Get some good instruction an have fun. Go shoot a few matches, most shooters will help you out, those that don't screw'em. If the bug bites you, it will becomes an addiction. Be warned. I'm a junkie!

PS: My current pill of choice is a 208 Amax driven by RL-17. Don't go there for starters. LOL! Good Luck!

 

[islandermyk]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

175gr SMKHPBT

if you can load'em to where your rifle likes'em... you'll be good out to 1200 yards... or maybe more...

I love the 168gr stuff, but they suck ass out to 1K yards... anywhere inside of a thousand.. it was golden.

 

[headstrong]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Thx for all the replies and advise.

Another question why is 308 ammo all sold out everywhere

 

[Ol' RD]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Folks are spooked by this gun grab the Dems are trying to pull. Bread an eggs before the storm. LOL! This too shall pass.

 

[Az Desert]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

I had a 24 inch model 10 le in 308.
3 shot group at 200 yards with Hornady 168 A-Max
don't count the 2 bullets on the left. was sight in my rifle..

 

[NaHa]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ol' RD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Oh come now NaHa a .308 is a fine rifle to learn on. Beats the heck of a 460 Wheatherby Mag.! </div></div>

I agree that it beats the .460 Weatherby Mag, but I don't agree that it's a fine rifle to learn on. A .223 is way better to learn on. And a .22 lr is better still. Shooters should walk before they run. And plenty of pussies out there put muzzlebrakes on .308 rifles, which indicates it's not so great to learn on.

 

[Graham]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

Buy 100 rds of 168 or 175 FGMM, whichever one you can find cheaper, and go from there. If your rifle does not shoot that ammo well you have a gun problem.

 

[0481]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

175 smk, 45gr varget, win brass, fed210m primers. Can do better than 6" groups at 1k if I do my part. Rem 700vsc 26" tube.

 

[HawkDriver]

Re: first time 308 shooter needs advise!!!

What MV are you getting with 45.0 gr Varget?