Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

[JelloStorm]

I'm going to try to make it down to my dads to load up a few Hornady SST rounds that I'll be using for hunting this year.

I have 165gr SST and will be using Varget and once fired Federal brass. Barrel is a 26" Rem 700 .308 varmint 1/12 twist. All shots will be within 300 yards as you don't have much space here in PA to shoot far.

Anyone load SST and can offer any advice on them?

 

[plant.one]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

i have a load for my 30-06 Remington 7600 that i'm using the 165 SST in so far that shoots sub ½ MOA at 100 yds with varget and rem brass. Going to be doing some testing for a LR-308 next weekend with 165 SST, cci 200 primers and varget in Federal brass. I'll let ya know what i find out.

 

[ricehombre]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

Somewhere between 42.5 & 45 gr RL15 will be a bingo.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

I don’t recall the case capacity of Federal brass vs. the Winchester brass I use but my 168’s loaded with Varget in Winchester brass the top node is between 45.5-46g with a lower node about 1 -1.5 grains lower. Your 165’s should be similar. So I would load some at 44, 44.5, 45 & 45.5 and tailor from there.

 

[BCP]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

44 Varget.

 

[Randall Cook]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

Doing some load development and will have more in the near future. So far...

100 yards
AR-308 16" 1-11.25 twist
Win brass
165 SST
8208 XBR 38.5-41.5
41.5 is max for me
WLR primer

Interesting note: the POI was the same for all charge weights with 40.5 the best group at .425

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

Stuff some Varget under them and call it good.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

One thing I'm not certain on is neither Hornady or Hodgdon lists load data for the SST so how do you know what's safe for 165gr SST? Do you go by Hodgdon's list of 165 GR. HDY SP?

Hodgdon lists:
165 GR. HDY SP
min - 42.0 2582fps 40,800 CUP
max - 46.0C 2773fps 50,500 CUP

 

[Rob01]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

Use 165/168 load data. With Varget you should find the load between 43.5-45.5grns.

 

[JGorski]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

44grs RE15, CCI primers. In my 700SPSS I use 42grs RE15 under a 168AMAX & CCIBR primers, Lapua brass(holds less powder than other brass) Im getting around 1/2MOA out to 300yds. I gave up on varget, it plain sux in my 700.

 

[plant.one]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing I'm not certain on is neither Hornady or Hodgdon lists load data for the SST so how do you know what's safe for 165gr SST? Do you go by Hodgdon's list of 165 GR. HDY SP?

</div></div>

HOrnady Handbook 8th edition page 494 has loads for the 165 SST in hornady brass w/ federal 210 primers for the following list of powders
a2495
IMR 4895
h 4895
Varget
IMR4320
8208 XBR
rl-15
viht n-150
2000 MR

they show load for hornady 165 SST over varget to be min 32.6gr and max load at 44.0gr.

same load(s) for 168 AMAX, 168gr BTHP, 165gr BTSP, 165gr Interbond, 165gr SP and the 165gr GMX

 

[z28kid]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

The 165 SST over 42.8gr IMR 4064 shoots better than my match bullet loads.

 

[ohnomrbillk]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

We recently ran 42 of Varget under the 165 SST in testing a recent build.

With my buddies at the wheel, it was a bughole load.

With me driving, it was still well under a minute.

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

I just completed an OCW workup on my Savage 10PC in .308 - 20 inch barrel.

Using 150 gr SST's I found the sweet spot at 46.5 grains of Varget. Hornady match brass, CCI large rifle primers. COAL 2.735". Shots ran over my pro chrono chronograph @ 12 feet averaged 2750 ft./sec.

Note: This would be considered a hot load, bordering on compressed. It is above published max. loads from hornady, and just under from Hodgdon.

Brass shows no pressure signs, no primer problems and no hard bolt lift.

Hodgdon's online load data shows 42 - 46.0C for a 165 Hornady SP. The Hornady manual lists SP and SST's under the same table.

Read up here http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#/ocw-load-recipes/4533485759

If you want to take the time to run through the OCW method, it will get you close to where you want to be in a hurry.

I personally didn't save any powder, bullets or brass doing the OCW method, because I ran through the test 3 times tweaking various powder charges, but the test did just what it claims it will do. I just wanted to totally rule out shooter error, so I did it more than once to prove to myself repeatable results.

 

[plant.one]

Re: Anyone here load 308 for Hornady SST?

so i finally got out last weekend to run my Ladder with the varget and the 165 SST's in my LR308.

Best 100 yd group was just under .750 but i'm fairly comfortable to say it was me. i was having a 2nd round flyer type of afternoon - just like below. I have two other loads that performed great except for me going 'ahhh crap' as soon as the trigger broke knowing I flubbed the shot before it even hit paper. I plan to go back and reshoot all 3 and im probably going to load up a bigger group of the 37.6gr loads. YMMV.



DMPS LR308 - 18" 1:10 Twist Free Float w/ trigger job
Hornady 165 gr SST .308
2.750 OAL
37.6gr Varget
Once fired FGGM Brass
CCI 200 Lg Rifle Primers