I need some help, advice, and opinions.

[Don-n-Texas]

I need some help, advice, and opinions. When I bought my Hornaday press and dies I got a lot of free bullets. I'm a new reloader and have yet to build a bullet. That will change in the next few days.

Loading

Remington 700 SPS Varmint .308 Caliber 26" Barrel 1/12 twist
Hornaday #3031.308 150 gr SP, IMR 4064 powder, Federal 210 primers, Remington cases

Here is what I have. Hornaday sent me 500 Hornaday # 3031 .308 150 gr SP. The bullet is 1.074" in length.
Hornaday gives a maximum Cartridge Over All Length at 2.735" for that bullet.

Using my Hornaday OAL gauge I get 2.870" Cartridge Over All Length and 2.313" to my O-give. I'm a .135" over the 2.735". I also put a bullet in a Cartridge Closed my bolt and came up with the same measurements several times.

That leave .156" of load bearing surface in the case. The case neck is .281"

The Maximum Cartridge Over All Length is 2.810" for .308. But that still leaves me .060", 070 at 2.80 from my lands.
I've heard low volume causes dangerous excessive pressure.
I know I can alleviate some with SMK, A-MAX or Nosler,but I 'm still a long way from my lands.

I have the same problem loading 30-06, .270, and .243. The 243 carries a warn about low volume in the case. So I'm really worried about that.

My question is how far can I move a bullet out to my lands and it's safe for me, others around me, and my gun.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: I need some help, advice, and opinions.

Rule 1) Your mag box on your Rem 700 is 2.850" long. If you want your new round to feed from the magazine, I would not load them any longer than 2.830". So 2.830 is your MAX COAL, unless you want to single feed them.

Rule 2) Your case neck should be near .30" on a .308 win. It is always a good plan to have at least one caliber of bearing surface of the bullet (in your case about .30") inside of the case, so it does not come out, bend, or get lost.

So .308 case max length is 2.015" long, bullet 1.074" long, putting .30" inside the case" leaving 0.774" outside.

That will yield you a new COAL of 2.789" with that bullet give or take. And no you cannot get it close to the lands, and a waste of time to try. They don't call factory Rem 700's 308's "Deep Throat" for no reason.

Then just work up your loads from below. Once you load longer bullets, you will fill that space in your mag box, pronto.

 

[wcrenz]

Re: I need some help, advice, and opinions.

You will never get too much pressure by seating a little too deep. You can easily get excessive pressure by seating long. Low powder charges have to be extremely low and are more dangerous in large straight wall cartridges. The first question is what are you going to shoot at. What are you developing the load for. I dont shoot 150's I shoot 168 and 178's. Usually if it fits in the magazine it is not too long. In a .308 if you are pushing normal velocities the only thing that will be dangerous is seating too long not a low charge. In my opinion max oal is fine as a reloader you just have to find the bullet powder combination it likes. All my .308 guns incuding the AR shoot 178 pushed by 44.0 RL-15. The 150 is consistant in length from bullet to bullet. When I measuer I would just use calipers and measure .oal to tip. No need to measure ogive etc.

 

[Don-n-Texas]

Re: I need some help, advice, and opinions.

Thank you BobinNC and Longbow You both gave me information I can use. I can use this information on all my calibers.

I usually single feed. One of the ranges where I shoot demands single feeding. Unless you have and AK with a 30 round clip and shoot from the hip spaying brass everywhere.

I shoot targets.

I have some federal 168 Sierra Matchking I haven't shot yet. The COAL is 2.796. If they shoot ok then I'll reload at 2.796. I'm going to get some 168 SMK tomorrow.

Thank you both for your time and interest
-Don