First reloads through my .308

[Metalhead0483]

Well I've had my .308 for about three months now and have been skating through on a case of Hornaday match ammo I got a smoking deal on. The rifle is an SPS tactical that I dropped in a B&C Light Tactical stock with a Bushnell 4200 6-24 tactical on top.

With the Hornaday ammo my groups were uninspiring, consistently around 1 MOA which I was a little disappointed in to be honest. My other remingtons (a .223 and .243) have both shot better than that out of the box. So when I ran out of the factory stuff I was looking forward to seeing if the rifle would do better with some handloads. So I ordered 250 Nosler 168grn BTHP Custom Competition rounds and sat down for some serious reloading.

The first load I tried used 44 grains of IMR-4064 with CCI 250 primers, and was a total flop. My groups opened up to about 1.25 MOA. So I went back and upped the powder charge to 45.5 and tried again. I printed 3, 5 shot groups with that load and low and behold, my groups measured 0.65", 0.60", and 0.50" respectively. Success!

 

[308sako]

Re: First reloads through my .308

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[z71rat]

Re: First reloads through my .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Metalhead0483</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I printed 3, 5 shot groups with that load and low and behold, my groups measured 0.65", 0.60", and 0.50" respectively. Success!

</div></div>

Hovering around .5-.6" from a 5-shot... I would say you found the groove!! Congrats!!

DK

 

[kstraughen]

Re: First reloads through my .308

how many times can you reload the same brass

 

[Metalhead0483]

Re: First reloads through my .308

I read a couple posts (here and elsewhere) where people had good luck with 44 grains, and also with the 45.5 grain load. So I tried the 44 first, and when that didn't work went on to the 45.5, which obviously did work. It's not quite a max load, but it's close (max load according to Hodgdon is 45.9 grains)

As to how many times I can reload the brass, I'll tell you once I've had to do it more than once. I've got a case worth of once fired match brass to go through first

 

[308sako]

Re: First reloads through my .308

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[Metalhead0483]

Re: First reloads through my .308

No need to apologize, it's all good.

 

["Partridge"]

Re: First reloads through my .308

i eventually winded up using varget exclusivly for the 308.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: First reloads through my .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Metalhead0483</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The first load I tried used 44 grains of IMR-4064 with CCI 250 primers, and was a total flop. My groups opened up to about 1.25 MOA. So I went back and upped the powder charge to 45.5 and tried again. I printed 3, 5 shot groups with that load and low and behold, my groups measured 0.65", 0.60", and 0.50" respectively. Success!

</div></div>

I really HOPE that you did not just jump from 44 to 45.5 with no steps in between (to watch for pressure signs). VERY DANGEROUS.

 

[Metalhead0483]

Re: First reloads through my .308

45.5 isn't a maximum load. Why would I be overly worried about pressure signs? Not being a wise-ass, I just don't understand...

 

[308sako]

Re: First reloads through my .308

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[okiefired]

Re: First reloads through my .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308sako</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've been loading the .308 since 1965, a few years all and all.

The point is that pressure that is dangerous can occur suddenly.

Try to use as a rule 1% of the charge weight as the increments you move up in. That would be 4/10's on a 40 grain initial charge call it a half grain on the 44 grain load. In the long run you will still
be able to count to ten using all your fingers. </div></div>

I completely agree. Max charge varies from on barrel to another. I usually go in .3 inccrements while using the OCW method. Especially when you KNOW your getting close to max, go in small increments.

okie

 

[Metalhead0483]

Re: First reloads through my .308

Good to know. Thanks guys.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: First reloads through my .308

Make sure you try some Varget in that rifle too. It tends to be even better than IMR4064 under 168s and 175s in the .308Win.

 

[smith934]

Re: First reloads through my .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Make sure you try some Varget in that rifle too. It tends to be even better than IMR4064 under 168s and 175s in the .308Win. </div></div>

Damn skippy it is. 175SMK/Fed 210M primer/44.5 gr. Varget & Lapua brass works in almost every .308 I've tried it in.

 

[1911.it]

Re: First reloads through my .308

^^ +1. I've settled on 45.0g Varget with the 175g SMK and 46.7g with the 155g Scenar. Very good velocity, low extreme spread, very accurate, no pressure signs, clean burning.