Anyone have load data, or a favorite load, for .308 Berger Classic Hunter (basically HT) 185 gr bullets using Varget? The data from Berger seems low and produces lower velocities than what many on the forum seem to see and favor. Is everyone exceeding Berger’s max values? Anyway, using Peterson match brass SRP, Federal GMM 205M primers, Varget. 20-inch barrel REM 700 SPS. Thanks for sharing. Just looking for a solid deer load inside of 300 yards and which doubles as a good target load out to 500 or 700 yards that’s all. Thanks.
- Thread starter TheLucasRanch
- Start date
I use the Berger 185 juggernaught, loaded long. Over book max. Load worked up in a factory 20” rem700.
185gr Berger Juggernaught
43.5gr Varget
FGMM magnum primer
Hornady Brass
COAL: 2.9350”
2550 FPS
Use at your own risk. It’s over max book load
185gr Berger Juggernaught
43.5gr Varget
FGMM magnum primer
Hornady Brass
COAL: 2.9350”
2550 FPS
Use at your own risk. It’s over max book load
Try PowerPro 2000MR with the 185s, you can get some really good speed out of them with it.
My load for my AR Krieger 1-10 18" 308 obermeyer chamber is:
185gr Berger Juggernaut
43.3gr Varget
CCi Br2 primer
Lapua Brass
Coal 2.8145
The rifle loves these, most groups are clover or better if I haven't been drinking redbull!
As always, work up for Safety!
Berger VLD hunter are also a good shooting bullet that I've had good luck with but at times may be a little more sensitive to seating depth.I've also had Hornady SSt bullets fly decent for a hunting round, not as good as most the bergers but they hit fairly hard and if loaded well are not to shabby for shooting deer within a few hundred yards.
Last edited:
My buddy runs the Jugg's with Power Pro 2000. He seems to get great speed and accuracy with that powder. I want to say he is in the 45 grain range.
I found the 2000 to be fast, but I thought it was dirty compared to the N550, and Varget. In my personal experience I also felt like it went from decent to max pressure very quickly. The 550 showed slow in the reloading software, but turned out to be just as fast or close to the others. BL-C2 has given me the best SD so far (2.3). I found that the 185's seem to have one of the longest ogive and bearing surface and do a better job taking up the excessive freebore space in (at least my) AR10 chamber. And I've had good luck with the CCI 34 primers.
Seekins SP10 Proof CF 18” 1:10”
Magnetospeed V3
3/9/23
60F 33% 30.23in
185 Juggernaut
FGMM brass x 1
Varget 40.5
210M
BTO 2.120
2428, 2431 fps
41.0 gr COL 2.0170 2443, 2459
42.0 gr COL 2.0200 2505, 2486, 2499, 2504 moderate pressure signs
Savage APO 24” 1:10
Berger 185 Juggernaut OTM Target
FC 18 brass x 3
Varget 43.5
Fed 210M
BTO 2.144
2650, 2662, 2656, 2645, 2658 SD 6.7
No pressure
Basically the same with Classic Hunter bullets
Magnetospeed V3
3/9/23
60F 33% 30.23in
185 Juggernaut
FGMM brass x 1
Varget 40.5
210M
BTO 2.120
2428, 2431 fps
41.0 gr COL 2.0170 2443, 2459
42.0 gr COL 2.0200 2505, 2486, 2499, 2504 moderate pressure signs
Savage APO 24” 1:10
Berger 185 Juggernaut OTM Target
FC 18 brass x 3
Varget 43.5
Fed 210M
BTO 2.144
2650, 2662, 2656, 2645, 2658 SD 6.7
No pressure
Basically the same with Classic Hunter bullets
45.6 grains for me out of a Rem 700 tactical in Hogue stock = .75" groups. Good recipe.
Your can get about 75-100 fps more velocity (w/ 175SMK) with 2000MR than with Varget in a 20" barrel but there will be a lot of muzzle flash and unburnt powder.
You seem to have gotten a lot of good information here. I really like the 185g OTM Juggs. They're the same as the 185g target Juggs also. The Berger line up has really helped with my groupings. The Juggs seem to like jump from what I have read. I hope to test this in the next few days.
I've had good luck with the following:
185 Juggernaut
LC 1x, 2x brass,, as well as 1x Lapua
Varget 41.0g, or Win 748 42.9g
WLR primer
OTS of 0.700"
Seating pressure of 38-45 PSI.
Velocities in the 2500fps neighborhood.
All shot out of 24" MRAD Barrel with Accu Tac bipod. My best 5 shot groups at 100yds were about 0.4 MOA and 0.45MOA, and has improved since I started using an adjustable bag rest. Hoping to get leather bag rests for Christmas...........Merry Christmas.
I've had good luck with the following:
185 Juggernaut
LC 1x, 2x brass,, as well as 1x Lapua
Varget 41.0g, or Win 748 42.9g
WLR primer
OTS of 0.700"
Seating pressure of 38-45 PSI.
Velocities in the 2500fps neighborhood.
All shot out of 24" MRAD Barrel with Accu Tac bipod. My best 5 shot groups at 100yds were about 0.4 MOA and 0.45MOA, and has improved since I started using an adjustable bag rest. Hoping to get leather bag rests for Christmas...........Merry Christmas.
Similar threads
