Help please need a starting point

[HDTwinCam666]

I'm looking for a starting point for a .308 win load. Remington 700 ADL with a 26 inch heavy barrel is what I'm loading for. Need a couple different load ideas, not to hot or cold, haven't loaded loaded for this rifle yet so I would like a place to start where I can work up from.

 

[No1]

Do you have components? That would help. What's your barrel twist? What are you going to hunt? Hogs, cans, paper? What range?
If you just want to know what everybody else is shooting so you can go buy components, go to the Reloading Depot subforum it's full of 308 loads.
With the criteria you've given so far, I'd say get some 168g or 178g Amaxs and varget. Or if you want lighter get some 155s and H335.

 

[HDTwinCam666]

I am guessing my twist is 1:12, I'll be shooting paper from 100-300 yards. I' just bought the rifle. I'm getting ready to get everything together for being able to load for it. I'm looking for a good load that will get me up and running and i can build up once I've broke the barrel in and what not. these will be my first rifle loadings, I've been loading all my own pistol calibers, just not my rifles as yet.

 

[datguy]

When I was in your shoes, I bout 15 or so boxes of 168 GMM. Once I saw how well that shot out of my rifle, I set out to work up a hand load that would match or better the GMM using 168gr SMK and Varget in Lapua brass. I just bought a bunch of 168gr AMAX last night to continue on that quest.

Don't forget to have fun with it all!!

 

[Humdawg]

I would suggest you do a ladder test in 1/10 grain steps from a mild starting place, you should be able to find these loads from most load data books. The hard part is picking a powder and bullet tip that you want to start with, and one the your rifle likes. I started with a 1 in 12 twist on a 26" rem. barrel, I later changed it out to a 1 in 11.25 twist bartlen barrel. The ladder test is the best way to find out what your rifle likes, but I would do this at 200 yards. Powders that my rem liked, IMR 4064 and Varget.Bullet tips, 175 smk 178 hornady bthp amp jacket, and 185 berger BT long range target

 

[JGorski]

if I were to start reloading for my SPSS(pretty much same barrel as you have cept it's stainless) again Id go with, assuming you'll be using Win brass, 46grs CFE under a 168AMAX, yeah, try finding those puppies. Seat them so they fit your magazine(2.825" oal) with WLR primers and since Ive got TULA primers Id try them to see if they're any better in the 308.
Otherwise, if you can find some, 155AMAXs and RE15 is deadly in that 12 twist, 47grs of that(RE15) shoots very well in my SPSS.

 

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

The military uses non-canister grade powder but there's always a lot of chatter in the shooting forums about recipes to duplicate the military's M118 (175-gr SMK) and M852 (168-gr SMK) loads using canister-grade powder and commercial components. The preponderance of "recipes" I have seen online suggest 41.5-42.0 grains of IMR4895, with either bullet. Hodgdon's minimum charge weight with both those bullets is 41.0 grains and the max is 45.4g (with the 168) and 45.0g (with the 175), so the higher 42 grains gives dangerously high pressures a wide berth and is easy on the barrel.

Another no-fuss recipe I've used supposedly originated with the USMC's marksmanship unit for short-range work. They put a 168-gr SMK on top of 39.0 grains of IMR3031, which they later increased to 41.0 grains (presumably, that 2-grain difference represents a full accuracy node's change in velocities). Hodgdon's min/max for that powder are 39.0/42.0, so 39 will be a tad on the slow side, ~2500 fps from a 24" bbl, and 41 is still a full grain short of the published max.

For my first .308, I did what datguy suggested. I bought 10 boxes of 168-gr FGMM, which gave me opportunity to 1) break in the barrel, 2) get a relative gauge of what that factory barrel was capable of using a known reputable load, and 3) left me with a decent stash of brass to reload. Federal brass is notoriously soft, so it isn't the best choice, but if you load mild and anneal frequently, you still can get 8-10 or so reloads out of them.

 

[Pinecone]

You have to start with something.

Just saying give me a load is WIDE open.

Do you have any brass? Do you have any bullets? Do you have any powder?

Do you just want a load for out to 300? Or do you want a load that will work out longer ranges for later?

Here is how to work up loads - OCW Overview - Dan Newberry's OCW Load Development System

There is also a page with some recipes.

My Rem 700 likes:

Sierra 175 grain Match Kings
Lapua Brass
43.5 grains of Varget
Federal 210M primer

But the advice of buying some factory ammo is a good one. Only one caveat about the Federal GMM, the brass tends to not last as long as some of the other brands. Other choices - Lake City Match or Long Range, Black Hills Match, SouthWest Ammunition, Copper Creek, Hornady Match.

 

[Dallas4rceMarine]

I suggest buying a few reloading manuals or go to:
Take Aim at Rifle Reloading Data | Hodgdon Reloading
that should get you a starting point for you to base your ladder test off of. everybody uses different bullet & powder combos so you will probably not get the same answer twice. most has to do with availability reasons but others like to use the same powder in 2 calibers so they choose for convenience.

search this site and then search some more, search in google, use other sites. being more specific with what type of rifle it is, who the gunsmith was, and what your chamber measures will get you better answers.

good luck!

 

[lightman]

The suggestion to buy a couple of loading manuals is good advice. I like the Lyman, for starters. The 308 is easy to load for, and there are so many loads that will work well that it can be a challenge to pick a favorite.

For hunting deer size game, a 150 or 165 grain bullet has worked well for me. For a match load, I've shot 168, 175 and 190 grain bullets. My favorite powders are 4064 and Varget. RL-15, 4895 and 748 all work well, too. So do lots of others!

Cases and primers; with the shortages, just pick one! Lapua is a favorite and is always good. I use lots of CCI-200 and Federal 210M primers.

Start with a suggested starting load and work up. Keep good records. Watch for pressure signs and have fun! Lightman

 

[mxjunky78]

I'm having great results in the same rifle with 44gr IMR 4320 and 168gr SMK in WIN case at 2.344" on ogive. Another good one is 41.8gr IMR 4064 and 168gr SMK in R-P case at 2.344" on ogive. These loads are with CCI primers and are right at the lands on my rifle and I haven't experienced any pressure signs whatsoever.