Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

[vonbalkenbush]

Have plenty of RL-15 and Varget on hand. Using Lapua brass, have both CCI and Federal BR primers. The two loads I have been shooting for the last few years are:
#1 Sierra 175, 44grns Varget, Fed 210M - 2750fps
#2 Lapua 155 Scenar, 46.5 grns RL 15, CCI 200BR - 2950 fps

Anyone wanna give me a starting point for the new Berger 185's? I would like to push them at 2700, which is what I will need to get my 1.2 Mach number out to 1k. Also, has anyone had trouble achieving this kind of velocity well keeping the bullet seated to mag length?

Thanks!

 

[MEDICGORDO]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

I did some pressure work ups a while back on the 185 BT and 190 vld.If I recall I got them to 2700 varget but they were faster with n550.I chose to shot the 190's because I got lucky and that shot less than .25 moa @200 and 400 out of my AE loaded to mag length so I didnt do any futher work with the 185 BT.N550 works great with both and it's a very clean burning powder.BTW look at lapuas data for n550 and hodgdons data for start and max.Bergers info. was big time light on the charge,im @ 350' ASL in Louisiana.

 

[onlyfineknives]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

Please note! - I am loading 2.90 because of running out of an AI chassis!

This load may not be safe when run at 2.80 so work up.

I ran 43.0gr varget with wolf primer, lapua cases, and 185 bt - 2675 from a 26" krieger.

I switched to winchester cases and loaded 45.0gr varget with wolf primer and 185bt - 2750 from the same gun.

I thought it was interesting that I also have a 20" 308 that runs the 45gr varget load at 2675.

Again, make sure you work up

 

[Frostbite Slim]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

The data Berger sent me was 38-42.1<span style="color: red">(MAX)</span> with RL15, and 37-41.6<span style="color: red">(MAX)</span> with Varget. I'm going to try RL17 with my LC brass soon, let me know how you fare with your loads. I'm using a 20" 1/12 barrel and trying to keep them at a minimum of 2500fps.

 

[Leaddog]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

I talked with Walt Berger and he suggested 41.6 of Varget for my rifle. It chronos at 2580 and is quite accurate and suitable for 1000 yards. No need to push them over 2700. The downrange fps will still be there if you launch them in the high 2500's. In a .308, faster is not always better.

 

[Frostbite Slim]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

By the way, I am seating mine at 2.825, which fits very well inside the magazine on my Remington 700.

 

[vonbalkenbush]

Re: Loads for .308 Berger 185 Target BT Long Range?

Wow guys, thank you so much for all of your personal recipies! This will give me a good place to start. I'm running a blue-printed Rem 700 SA with a 25in K&P cut rifle barrel. It's shot really well for me over the years, I'm just looknig to try some new bullets and recipeis! Thanks again!

-SS