Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

[Wannashootit]

Hi guys.
Happy New Year. Be safe...

Blew through some boxes of Prvi Match FMJ's with our new .308 Savage yesterday. Granted she's not broken in yet, but accuracy was less than expected.

I'm ready to get down with some reloads...
Any suggestions for a starting point for bullet type/weight for this 10 twist would be appreciated. Right now punching paper 100-200 yards.

We use Varget primarily with our .223's, so if that works well with a .308 load so much the better. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

If you look up at the top of the Reloading Forum there is another forum link to the reloading depot. Here is a link to the 308 loads, all 10 pages of them:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=323517&gonew=1#UNREAD

You really need to decide what you want this rifle to do. Usually a hunting bullet isn't going to work the same as a long range paper punching bullet. I have basically 3 different loads for 308. One for 300 yards and less on paper is 150 grain flat base hollow point.

Out to 1,000 yards on paper for me the 175 Berger works well.

For hunting I usually use 165 grain either Nosler PARTITIONS or Barnes "X" bullets. I don't ever shoot at game over 500 yards anyway. So they are loaded for 500 yards and closer.

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

Thanks, Victor.
For some reason, I never noticed that up top...

We've had very good results with Bergers in our .223's as well.
You pay, but it seems you get what you pay for.

I was looking for load data on their VLD's and sent an email at like 6:00 the day before Thanksgiving. I had a response from Walt Berger in little more than an hour... you can't pay for customer service like that.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

I met Walt and his wife Eunice at the Super Shoot one year. They are indeed nice people.

I believe their grandson Eric is actually running the show now.

 

[Suasponte]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

you should start at the minimum and work up. i found spots from 42g up to 44.8g to show promise with varget and 168g smk. just need to narrow them down and try a grain up & down

 

[scottsnipe]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you should start at the minimum and work up. i found spots from 42g up to 44.8g to show promise with varget and 168g smk. just need to narrow them down and try a grain up & down </div></div>

+1 on this, I have had alot of luck with varget for hot and cold weather on 44.5grains of varget and 168 SMK's. RE-15 is also another powder I like as well.

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

my best two rounds are the following.

168SMK
39.0gr IMR3031
CCI 200
Winchestor brass
OAL 2.807

175SMK
43.7gr BL-(C)2
CCI 200
Winchestor brass
OAL 2.814

They both are sub 3/4 MOA 5round groups at 100.

Good luck,
Merritt

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Load/bullet suggestions for Savage .308 , 10 twist

Really appreciate it guys.
Nice to have a starting point!

My 13 year old likes to send these rounds like he still shooting his AK...I'm gonna go broke buying the factory ammo...

I'm surprised his skinny little shoulder can take it!