Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

[Boomstick308]

I picked up some IMR 4895 the other day, but I was wondering if this would be the best "starting point" to start experimenting/loading with. I should also mention that I want to use a Hornady LNL to load, so I would like for the powder to meter accurately.

A few other options according to the Hornady manual:
-A 2495
-H 4895
-Varget
-IMR 4320
-8208 xbr
-RL15
-N150
-2000 MR


Any idea why IMR 4064 is listed under the 178gr but NOT under the 168gr loads?

Rifle: Savage FCP .308 24" 1:10 twist
Primers: CCI #200

I welcome any load information (at my own risk) that points me in the right direction with rifle/bullet choice. Accuracy and powder metering ease are top priorities.

Thanks

 

[nashlaw]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

I just got back from the range and my load of 44.0g of R15 performed wonderfully in a new stick. My brother let me shoot some of his 175s over a dose of Varget(pretty stiff load) and it did well in another rifle.

Lots of options. Start dumping powder and go play.

 

[bschneiderheinze]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

I shot 178 amax 44.5 grains of varget with lapua brass and win primers yesterday at 500 and it was sub moa.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

Varget! My go to .308 powder. Temp insensitive and gives good velocity.

178 min 42grns max 45grns
168 min 43grns max 46grns

That's per Hodgdon. I find most find a good load between 43.5-45grns with the 178.

 

[bschneiderheinze]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

I have also had good luck with 168 amax fed 210 and win brass with 45 grain varget

22" rem 700 1/12 twist

 

[nashlaw]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rubicon1996</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shot 178 amax 44.5 grains of varget with lapua brass and win primers yesterday at 500 and it was sub moa. </div></div>

I think that was the load my brother let me use. Produced .5 moa at 100. And Rob01 is right- Varget is as insensitive as an ex-wife.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

Hornady, Nosler or Rem brass. 44gr Varget w CCI200, sub moa with both bullets. 44gr RL15 w WLR sub moa with 168. Hornady brass 2000MR CCI 250 showed some promise between 45.5-46.0gr with 178, it was -20F not as tight as I like, by a bit, but I suspect it was me.

 

[Boomstick308]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

Well what's done is done. I called to see if I could swap the unopened powder and the store said "No". So I'll just have to work up a load with the IMR4895 for now.

A lot of the loads I've seen around are recommending powder charges that are above what Hornady has in their book. What gives? are these hard and fast limits or more "lawyer friendly" maximum charges.

 

[bschneiderheinze]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

i had 41.5 grains of H4895 as one of my loads. Didnt shoot as good as the varget but was still MOA with win brass and 168 amax

 

[Bob 964]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

I would think that, in Los Angeles, you could find a gun dealer that is a little bit more customer-friendly. The owner must do one helluva volume to be able to place so little value on your business.

 

[Bob 964]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

Varget seems to be the "gold standard" for .308 shooters. There's another thread on this forum where people are asked "if you could only use one powder, what would it be?", and Varget is being named approximately 6-to-1 over any other brand (for the .308). I like Varget in the .308 as well, but I have recently been testing the Alliant Power Pro 2000MR and I like it quite a bit for the heavier .308s (I am shooting the 178 and 208 Amax).

 

[Bennyboy]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

With Lapua brass and 178 AMAX, I use WLR primers, and 42.5 gr of Reloder 15. OAL is 2.800, avg velocity is 2678.

This is shot out of a Savage 10 FCP-k with 24" barrel and will shoot 1/2 MOA.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

If you check various manuals you will see different max loads, sometimes even in different editions of the same manual. Obviously liabilty comes into play. Also the manufacturer is attempting to accomadate variables like scale accuracy and consistency, primers, brass, seating depth, chambering, bore, firearm age and condition, and enviromental factors.

Always work up in your firearm from below published max until you have a grasp of things, I would never start with a new powder over published max. Know what pressure looks like and look for it. FWIW Often the loads found to be most accurate are below book max.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Loading some 168gr & 178gr A-Max. Powder choice?

There's no reason I can think of why IMR-4064 should not be listed for 168's (and 150's) as well as 178's. Often such an absence simply means the testers didn't get around to testng that bullet and powder. For example, the current Sierra manual does not list loads with H-4350 for the .260 Rem. Imagine that.

IMR-4895 should work for the 168 and 178 with somewhere in the neighborhood of 42gr. As usual, start 10% low, work up.

Greg