208 amax chrono results and advice needed

[Blackmagic94]

Rem 700 aac-sd 20" barrel
75 degree day at 2800 Ft ASL


168 gr amax Oem ammo
2551 fps
2563
2563

208 amax hand load
42 g varget
Rem primer
Winchester virgin brass
2.85" coal

2366 fps
2401
2364



So no primer set backs and no bolt lift. Shall I load hotter then 42 g then to get the velocity up? Hodgdon lists 41.5 as max load.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I loaded 42.0 and almost blew up my rifle. Only way is if I had more free bore.

 

[Blackmagic94]

Explain more please

 

[Huckleberry75]

Which the AAC-SD does have a long-ass throat, so you might could seat them out, but you better know where your lands are first.

Without R-17, you will probably have a tough time getting much more velocity out of those big boxcar-208's in a .308, especially with a 20" tube.

 

[Blackmagic94]

So I should increase coal to reduce cup?

 

[SPAK]

You need to know the distance to the lands of your rifle before lengthening your coal. If you inadvertently jam your bullets you will cause pressures to go up significantly, dare I say might could blow your rifle up depending on your charge....
I'd stay off the lands .010"-.020" and work up a load from there watching for pressure signs..

 

[Aimsmall55]

So I should increase coal to reduce cup?

Yeah. As stated watch out for not jamming them. The reason you seat them longer is so not to compress the powder which will produce higher pressure levels. Basically , the longer the better , especially with a 208, given your not in the lands. Just be careful, it's mighty easy to get in the "danger zone" with that big of a bullet in a .308. Varget is also pretty fast burning compared to r17 or power pro 2000 mr. It shot great out of my Ga Crusader with varget but like I said it was nearly catastrophic when a rem 9 1/2 lrp seared itself to my bolt. Thought I had really messed up. But luckily I got it off no harm. As far as grouping I shot 5 at 500 yards and was in utter disbelief.