Hornady load manual starting loads 168 bthp wtf

[boomer81]

Im loading for a good friend. Hes not a precision shooter he has a socom II m1a. All he does is try to blow shit up (tannerite) and hunt hogs on a atv. He bought some varget and hornady 168gr bthp. I looked in the hornady manual and the starting load is like 32 grains of varget and max load is 44 grains for this set up. I usally start around 44 grains. So is this right i would rather set him in at like 35 and save powder as long as the gun cycles. But i damn sure dont want a undercharge. Thanks to all

 

[FLIGHT762]

In my Hornady 7th and 8th reloading manuals, Hornady lists Varget with the 168 bullet in their 308 "Service Rifle" Data section. Starting load @ 35.5 grains to a MAXIMUM of 42.7 grains. Your friend has an M-1A and Hornady used an M1-A for testing that data. I would think you'd get good functioning @ around 38-40 grains of Varget. I wouldn't under load it too much. Anything under that, velocity will suffer.