308 Varget ?

[trauma1]

I looked at the side of the container of Varget and it states 46 grains is max.

I looked in Hornady manual for a 178 Amax and they state 43.2 gr max

That's a big spread. Am I going to lose an eye if I start working up around 46 gr?
Thanks

 

[Bill Larson]

I use 44

 

[briang7511]

I am at 43.5 of varget with a 178 bthp around 2720 fps

 

[berms03]

I use 43.3gr of varget behind a 175SMK with no pressure signs on my REMY 700 5R. Ive gone up to 45gr without an issue

 

[shoot4fun]

For the 175 to 180 class bullets I have always taken 45 grains to be max. I have never seen any data for these bullets at 46 grains and that max is usually for the 168 grain bullets. There is a very good node at 44.7 with the 175SMK and the Hodgdon data online shows 45 grains to be max with that combo.

 

[Boxcar]

Isn't it great, when lawyers can tell you what max pressure is for your rifle?

Start low and work up, let the rifle tell you what a max charge is.

 

[trauma1]

Thanks guys

 

[trauma1]

Well I put on plates and helmet and shot the 46 gr I had loaded. All good. Not a good group .
The chrono died so I only 1 reading of 2800.2 fps . Not sure I trust it. Oddly no pressure signs.
I am going to work backward from here. Thanks for your input!

 

[toxic]

i have worked up to 46.0gr with a 175smk in lapua brass and had no issues with pressure, with the few that i had shot, but i settled for 43.5 as it shoots .5moa from my sps varmint.

 

[shoot4fun]

Oddly no pressure signs.

The only "pressure sign" you can trust is getting pieces of metal in the side of your head.
All other signs can be misleading. I will guarantee you there is higher pressure there and all it will take is for one or two factors that will raise it to make bad things happen.

 

[leatherneck]

I agree with Boxcar. I'm using 44.9gr under 175 SMKs. Seems to be the sweet spot for my 26" barrel.

 

[ALShooter]

Worked some up this weekend..

My tikka t3 20" shot well with 44.5g @ 2.880 COAL (mag length) which is 0.038 from the lands iirc, 168g ELD. 2680 fps. Didn't start to get a slightly flattened primer till 45.7g @ 2728fps.

 

[Blwxxzy]

I've had good luck with 43 gr and 178 Amax's in a semi auto. Ruger Precision 44 -44.5 175 smk

 

[918v]

Worked some up this weekend..

My tikka t3 20" shot well with 44.5g @ 2.880 COAL (mag length) which is 0.038 from the lands iirc, 168g ELD. 2680 fps. Didn't start to get a slightly flattened primer till 45.7g @ 2728fps.

My 26" TRG-22 shows heavy ejector marks at 44.3grs .020" off the lands at 2.850" OAL in Hornady Match brass (164gr). My sweet spot is 43.6grs @ 2690 FPS.

 

[luv2hunt6]

My 21" barreled GAP 308 shows light pressure signs at 44.1 grains loaded .020" off the lands. That being said it has a SD of 6.8 and shoots less than 1" at 300 yds consistently.

 

[GIXXER2000]

In AI-AE 26in ANIA barrel .015 off and 43.1varget using 178 eld-x 2705fps. I could push a little hotter but the sweet spot was at the 2705. I am able to shoot groups from .389 to .410

 

[poke_53]

I'm running Nosler brass and popped a primer at around 43.4gr. I apparently started way too high. I've loaded a new batch starting at 39gr and going up from there. I'm assuming Nosler is a but thicker than Lapua and others

 

[jsthntn247]

Ive used up to 45.5gr of Varget with a 208 Amax. The devil is in the details of how your chamber and rifle are set up whether its safe or not.

 

[Hunter46]

Ran 44.4gr of Varget behind the 168gr sierras, 44;0 behind the 175s out of 27.5in rem 40xb-tactical. No issues,

 

[tnc]

45.9gr of varget behind 155 scenars at 2.830 oal and I get heavy ejector marks. 2886 fps though in my GAP crusader