Accuracy International 308 Load Question

G

GUNENTHUSIAST

American
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 8, 2010
299
26
SE PA
#1
Hey guys,

I have been load developing for the last 4 months for my AW308 26" and have stuck mainly with the 155 Scenars so far. The more load testing I do the more confused I get. I am leaning towards: Lapua cases, BR2 primers, 47 grains varget, and the 155 lapuas seated to 2.800 inches. I picked this load because it has yielded the highest number of .25 MOA groups. The problem is my results are all over the place - .230" at best to over 1.1" (5 shot 100 yards) at worst with the same load on the same day. I have taken shots that felt really good and ended up being way off the group. I have had similar experiences about a dozen times now with this load. I have never been this inconsistent before with my other rifles, but I have never been shooting .25 MOA groups before either.

My question is this: I have a 1000 yard match coming up in 2 weeks and I need to determine if the inconsistency lies with my load, or with me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#5
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

Him.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I file my trigger finger and polish my rounds, because thats what Tom Berringer taught us all to do .</div></div>

Damn! I've been doing it backwards! Oh, well.
 
#6
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

Not sure about the velocity yet, I have a chrono but I always forget to bring it to the range.

I am guessing between 2900 and 3000.

I will try the RL15 load also, Thanks
 
#7
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

Lindy just so you dont think i'm an idiot....my sig line came from this thread

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...037#Post1709037

but its what Tom taught me to do
laugh.gif
but now i have picked the brain of CKA and now file "X"s into the meplats of my bullets to make em more devastating
smile.gif
 
#10
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

Well at least you have had success in finding a load combo with your Varget and 155's. I haven't found a good 155 load yet. Though, the 47.0gr Varget test loads I shot weren't too bad I guess.

Im going to try those Sierra Palmas, Varget, Lapua Brass, and BR2 primers this weekend, and Im going to seat the bullets to max length that fit in my AICS mags. Im going to work the charge weights in .1gr increments from 47.0 up to 47.5. I've found a lot of people on here who settle with a load in that range and I've gotten some advice to try it out.

Who knows....If nothing works out for me this weekend, I might be done testing. It's getting old, I'm not getting good results with anything except 168gr bullets, it's getting expensive, and BR2 primers are nowhere to be found!!
 
#11
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DedicatedShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well at least you have had success in finding a load combo with your Varget and 155's. I haven't found a good 155 load yet. Though, the 47.0gr Varget test loads I shot weren't too bad I guess.

Im going to try those Sierra Palmas, Varget, Lapua Brass, and BR2 primers this weekend, and Im going to seat the bullets to max length that fit in my AICS mags. Im going to work the charge weights in .1gr increments from 47.0 up to 47.5. I've found a lot of people on here who settle with a load in that range and I've gotten some advice to try it out.

Who knows....If nothing works out for me this weekend, I might be done testing. It's getting old, I'm not getting good results with anything except 168gr bullets, it's getting expensive, and BR2 primers are nowhere to be found!! </div></div>

47.5 won't cut it. Work up to 47.8gr if your gun allows it pressure-wise. I did not see good results at 47.6grs, but as soon as I shot 47.8gr it was scary accurate. I've done this load with CCI and 210M primers and its great under Lapua brass. In fact, I tried Win brass and it was even lower pressure. Go ahead, Drink the 47.8gr Kool Aid
 
#12
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=862


There are methods to developed loads; one is the OPTIMAL CHARGE WEIGHT method for Varget in an AE 24" barrel http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ which IMO is the best. After you find the common POI point of impact and the optimum charge weight, you then will tune the OCW load by ajusting the seating depht.

Might seem a little confusing a first but it real is simple and fast. In about 20 rnds you will learn allot read and study the information from the link then do a search here, there are several threads. If you decide to use this method do it like it is written until you have a couple of years loading under you belt.

http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/ Is a web site that people who use this method post to to exchange information, you can post if you need help with results of you test. Its back to the old thing you have to do the work to understand the process. If you just select loads from other peoples work you will miss an oppertunity to learn a lot.
 
#14
Re: Accuracy International 308 Load Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Unsichtbar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=862


There are methods to developed loads; one is the OPTIMAL CHARGE WEIGHT method for Varget in an AE 24" barrel http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ which IMO is the best. After you find the common POI point of impact and the optimum charge weight, you then will tune the OCW load by ajusting the seating depht.

Might seem a little confusing a first but it real is simple and fast. In about 20 rnds you will learn allot read and study the information from the link then do a search here, there are several threads. If you decide to use this method do it like it is written until you have a couple of years loading under you belt.

http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/ Is a web site that people who use this method post to to exchange information, you can post if you need help with results of you test. Its back to the old thing you have to do the work to understand the process. If you just select loads from other peoples work you will miss an oppertunity to learn a lot. </div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">I woke up for no reason this morning at 5am, so I started reading that OCW website after GunEnthusiast told me he was going to try it out later today.

After I read the author's example of how he used his OCW method to find a .308 load, I was hooked. The load was 43.6grs of IMR 4895 with the 168 SMK. This was his "OCW" load as it allowed for variances in components, weather, etc. If you read it, you'll see what I mean.

The reason why I was so convinced, is that I stumbled on my .308 load of 43.5grs IMR4895 with the 168 SMK using the normal "Ladder" method. But this load has produced consistent groups of just over, equal to, or just under 1/2 MOA with Rem, Win, Win Nickel, Hornady, and Lapua brass, either once fired, factory fresh, neck sized, full length sized, trimmed to any length at or below spec, 2.700"-2.8200" OAL, CCI BR2 or 200 primers, different primer depths, runout corrected or not, cold weather, wet weather, warm weather...etc etc etc. According to the OCW theory, this load has always performed so well because it is the correct OCW load for my equipment, and therefore, allows for such variances.

The author does load his to a much longer OAL, and or course it's just by chance that I am using the same load for my rifle as he is, but OCW is making a lot more sense to me now that I can relate it to my own experiences. I suggest you check it out, I'm sure it has it's own set of critics but it might work for you if the "Ladder" method isn't working (case in point: My completely unsuccessful and GunEnthusiast's successful but frustrating search for a 155gr/Varget load )


</span>
 
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