308win, Varget, 168gr: Go to load?

[beetroot]

I'm hoping to find a quick and dirty load recipe for my 308 with Varget and 168gr ELD-Ms (or could consider another 168ish bullet).

I don't enjoy load development and the weather is forecast to be horrible for the next few months, so a known "node" would be nice.
Factory ammo is just too expensive considering I have dies, brass and primers already, and I don't mind reloading (just not pissing around shooting groups all the time).
So long as the load was on par with factory ammo I'll be happy.

I've been though the whole 308 thread, and with some extra searching found a few loads that kept popping up:
42.2
42.4
44.0

The 42 grain loads should be more than safe enough to just go for, the 44 probably needs working up to.

Was just going to seat them the same as Hornady Match factory ammo (basically 2.8 COAL).

 

[RegionRat]

With your favorite factory ammo and your bbl, there could be a +/- 75 fps difference between your load and someone else's idea of a clone.

You will need to get a stable sample of the factory velocity in your bbl, and then it really shouldn't be difficult to either match it, or, see if your rig wants to be faster or slower with your reloading process.

At the very least, you could just match the speed but your rig may want half a grain more or less than the next guy's rig. YMMV

 

[beetroot]

No trying to match a velocity, just hoping to find a known "node" (if one exists).

For example had read 42.4gr is meant to replicate FGMM (I know I'm using the wrong bullet).
Or 42.2gr is meant to be a known node.

Many of the 6mms have a known pet load, 6BR for example:
105gr Hybrid
30gr Varget
.020" off lands

I'm not expecting to find a miracle load, just looking to see if there is a similar pet load for 308.

 

[spife7980]

Many of the 6mms have a known pet load, 6BR for example:
105gr Hybrid
30gr Varget
.020" off lands

That “known pet load” would lock up my bolt with high pressure bolt lift. Don’t trust the “known” things off of the internet. Start low and work up.

 

[rweaver00geo]

42 grains in LC brass, 44-45 grains in Winchester brass depending on the primer and brand of bullet

 

[jetjock07]

Had good luck with the 169 SMK. Can’t recall load, not at home now.

 

[beetroot]

Had good luck with the 169 SMK. Can’t recall load, not at home now.

Was it easy to find a load for?
I liked the ELD-M as I could use it for hunting if needed, but that was the other bullet I was considering.

 

[beetroot]

That “known pet load” would lock up my bolt with high pressure bolt lift. Don’t trust the “known” things off of the internet. Start low and work up.

Noted, I was still going to precede with caution.

42gr is in the ball park of many starting loads, and is likely where I would've started from in a normal work up.
44gr would be worked up to.

 

[turkey_creek]

I couldn’t get 168 ELDM to shoot for shit. I’ve been shooting a bunch of the 169 SMK, too, but it’s not a single load problem. Did initial load development in 2007-12 Hornady match brass. 44.8 gr Varget and a CCI 200 nets around 2650, or a WLR and 44.6 gr. LC and FC brass, CCI 200 and 44.4 gr shot around 2650, as well, IIRC. I’ve had some loads reach up close to 2750, but that’s just hotter than I feel the need for in a 20”.

And an ELDM at any of the higher charge weights would have pressure signs in my gun.

Now I’m on the struggle bus with it not shooting that load at 2.83” overly well. Doing some diagnostics, but I hate having to wait and being one who generally has to learn crap by trial and error.

 

[beetroot]

I couldn’t get 168 ELDM to shoot for shit. I’ve been shooting a bunch of the 169 SMK, too, but it’s not a single load problem. Did initial load development in 2007-12 Hornady match brass. 44.8 gr Varget and a CCI 200 nets around 2650, or a WLR and 44.6 gr. LC and FC brass, CCI 200 and 44.4 gr shot around 2650, as well, IIRC. I’ve had some loads reach up close to 2750, but that’s just hotter than I feel the need for in a 20”.

And an ELDM at any of the higher charge weights would have pressure signs in my gun.

Now I’m on the struggle bus with it not shooting that load at 2.83” overly well. Doing some diagnostics, but I hate having to wait and being one who generally has to learn crap by trial and error.

Thankfully my rifle seemed to like the Hornady Match ELD-M ammo, more so than the 168gr SMK ammo I tried.

Was hoping to try a lazy load development, by loading to the same CBTO as the factory ammo and hoping to get luck with a charge weight.
I might have to do a simple ladder test to see what velocity and pressure signs I get and then decide where to from there.

 

[turkey_creek]

Thankfully my rifle seemed to like the Hornady Match ELD-M ammo, more so than the 168gr SMK ammo I tried.

Was hoping to try a lazy load development, by loading to the same CBTO as the factory ammo and hoping to get luck with a charge weight.
I might have to do a simple ladder test to see what velocity and pressure signs I get and then decide where to from there.

Charge weight seems more related to the brass than much of anything, at least in my loading. Primer can also be cause for a significant velocity swing.

I’ve a Rem 700 that shoots the 165 Interlock factory ammo I’ve had for a bunch of years pretty well. I could not get that projectile to do anything worth a hoot in a Handload, either.

 

[straightshooter1]

I might have to do a simple ladder test to see what velocity and pressure signs I get and then decide where to from there.

That would be my FIRST step.

 

[45-90]

Problem is sometimes rifles are really peculiar in the load they like.

I would have bet against this, and it's not the normal with Varget.

This 16" AR 10 did not like Varget 49.5 S/Ds with 168 gr bullets poor accuracy.

But it loved 168 ELDM with 2000MR right at the max...fast & accurate.
So that's what I shoot in it, also the 169 and 177 SMK are liked, in this barrel.