Accuracy International factory 10 twist barrel .308 Win Load

[HairyDemon]

About to buy an AXMC and looking to stock up on reloading kit for 308 practice barrel. Since AI is kinda the benchmark of consistency I figured it would make more sense to ask for the recipe that everyone else is running with their AI 308 barrels instead of wasting components doing load development. What is everyone shooting through their 10 twist factory AI 308 barrels?

 

[maggitas]

tag.

 

[scudzuki]

175 SMK + 42.5 gr Varget + CCI BR2 primer in Lapua brass shoots very precisely in my 24" 10" twist AINA (Bartlein + Dave Tooley I'm told) .308 barrel.

 

[ACK]

Old AE MK1 standard barrel (Walther?) 24" 168 SMK, Winchester brass/primer; 2.9 oal 43.5 Varget Groups well. Tried same load with Berger and Sierra TMK. All groups are sub moa. The challenge with an AI is NOT finding a GOOD load but finding the "ultimate" load (chasing unicorns)

Eons ago I loaded some SMK with Varget on a Dillon 550. Brass was sized on a Rockchucker, trimmed, hand primed. 550 was used for powder drop and bullet seating. At 100 yards there was minimum difference between individually weighed/loaded loads and the 550. At 600 yards we have 12" metal dingers. We could not tell the difference.

If you are a benchrest shooter you may not be happy with an AI. I have a blueprinted Remington, Broughton barrel, Timney trigger AI stock... it will outshoot the AI with some loads; however the AI is more consistent across different loads/brands (including mil surplus) and considerably more robust. My Remington went click/no boom on a cold winter day, partially my fault; excessive lubrication.

 

[squib]

24" barrel
175gr SMK
Federal Brass
Federal Primer
44.5gr IMR4064
2708 FPS
shoots in the 3's

 

[HairyDemon]

24" barrel
175gr SMK
Federal Brass
Federal Primer
44.5gr IMR4064
2708 FPS
shoots in the 3's

Whats OAL?

 

[squib]

Whats OAL?

I don't use OAL, I use CBTO and they feed out of the mag so <2.850

 

[HairyDemon]

I don't use OAL, I use CBTO and they feed out of the mag so <2.850

Ok ill give........WTF is CBTO, reloading for 7 years I have never heard this term or acronym so I will bite. Please blow my mind.

 

[squib]

Ok ill give........WTF is CBTO, reloading for 7 years I have never heard this term or acronym so I will bite. Please blow my mind.

Cartridge Base To Ogive .

 

[heytonyman]

AX with 24" AINA barrel (Tooley cut Bartlein). 185 Berger Juggernaut, 45.0 Varget, Lapua Brass, GM210M primer, 2.915" average OAL fits and feeds great from AX mag. I also seat for consistent CBTO's but can't remember what the base to ogive measurement is. My gauges are likely different than yours anyways. .020" off the lands. 2725fps with an ES of 8 for 10 shots. Stoooopid accurate and consistent. 20+ firings on the brass, still going strong.

***STOUT*** load, lost a few primers shooting in the rain once, but if you're looking for all the .308 can offer, this one nips at the heels of a 6.5 CM. Don't blow your face off lol

 

[GIXXER2000]

On my AT the barrel is 1-12 26in Win Tactical. Shoots very well better the 1/2 moa. I am shooting the 178 ELD-X as the ELD-M weren't available at the time. I soot this load out over 1000 yards all the time and is very accurate at range. I will get the ELD-M when I reorder next time

Brass = Lapua
Primer = BR2
Powder = Varget
Charge = 43.1 gr
C.O.A.L = 2.88
AVG FPS = 2702
ES = 11