Loading Sierra 155's

[scorpion168]

Loading Sie 155 Match in once fired Hornady brass. I'm gonna shoot round robin 3 each with 8208XBR. Gonna start with 42 grains and bump up in 1/2 grain increments and stop with 45 grains. Shooting in a Savage 10, .308, 24", 1-12 twist. Sound about right? Should I try to go past 45? Am I wasting time starting at 42? Thanks .

 

[mdmp5]

42 sounds low, especially with 155s. You are using the Palmas (2156) right? Never tried 8208, but I did try Varget, up to about 45 gr before I scrapped using it; it was too slow. I shoot 47gr of H4895 with my 155s. Not trying to tell you start at those levels, but I do think that 42 will be slow. What I would do is start at 42, but make your next step to 43.5 or 44, then start the half grain increments. Use the 42 gr load as your peace of mind starting confirm load. If there is no pressure there (I highly doubt there will be), another 1.5 grains won't be the straw to break the camel's back. You will save yourself some ammo and time analyzing 2 extra groups that you likely won't use. I would load up to 46 gr, and only shoot them if your pressure is sound up to that charge. Then comes the real work...

 

[scorpion168]

Thanks. No, in not shooting the 2156's. It's the 2155's. Match, not Palma. I do have Palma , though. Thinking about staying with those. I hear they are much better for the small price difference.

 

[mdmp5]

Should be the same load data for both. The 2156 fly a little better at distance from what I am told, as well as the BC numbers.

 

[scorpion168]

Ok. I'm shooting 100 yes now. Wanna find a sweet load for 250-300 yes later.

 

[ArmyJerry]

I am using the 8208 for my 223 loads right now, I started a thread on the 8208 and 308, recommendations were to go up in tenths of a grain as this powder hits over pressure suddenly.

 

[scorpion168]

Thanks ArmyJerry. Just got a .223 here. Was thinking about 8208 as well. I'll look for your threads.

 

[ArmyJerry]

here it is.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/240070-8208-xbr-308-a.html

Thanks ArmyJerry. Just got a .223 here. Was thinking about 8208 as well. I'll look for your threads.

 

[LR-WSM]

I am running the 155 Scenars and 43.6 grains of 8208, it's piling them in on top of each other. After 200 or so rounds, when I am sure the barrel is broken in I will move up in charge weight. That way I know my speeds and dope won't change.

Thanks for that bit of knowledge Joe and Benjie

 

[High Binder]

This is my all time fav round for the .308. Here's some shots of my main load book with 9 and 12 shot groups with the 155SMK and Varget

 

[ArmyJerry]

What brass HB?

 

[bobke]

I'm using 44.9 8208 with 2156's/210M primers in Hornady Match brass with excellent result. About 2725fps in 21" Schneider Armalite GAP 10. Cold bore hits at 500 with regularity. Like Varget with these as well, with excellent results, but really like throwing charges of 8208 and speeding up the process by a node or three.

 

[mdmp5]

The issue with Varget and the Palmas is that I wasn't getting the velocity that gave the bullets any real ballistic advantage over 175 SMKs at range. By switching to a powder with smaller granules, I can stuff more of it in there, and I get about 2880 fps. With the Varget, I think I was getting maybe 2700. Not to say it didn't shoot well, because it did very good at 100-200 yds, and that is what convinced me to switch bullets.

 

[High Binder]

What brass HB?

This is with LC-LR 2007 brass.
Varget
F-210
Speed = 2861.4
The bullets are also hBN coated.

P.S. I have shot these out to 1300yrds and they out shot the 175s

 

[High Binder]

The issue with Varget and the Palmas is that I wasn't getting the velocity that gave the bullets any real ballistic advantage over 175 SMKs at range. By switching to a powder with smaller granules, I can stuff more of it in there, and I get about 2880 fps. With the Varget, I think I was getting maybe 2700. Not to say it didn't shoot well, because it did very good at 100-200 yds, and that is what convinced me to switch bullets.

What brass are you using?