Please double check my work

[Andrew03]

Alright folks so background is I shot a fair amount of precision rifle during my service time, got out, and have been venturing into PRS as a hobby. Up until recently I have used only factory match ammo (FGMM 168 and 175 SMK) to be specific. Fast forward to today I have stalked this forum endlessly, finally built a reloading bench with all or most of the tools and goodies needed. I have read over and over the how to guides and have followed them to a T.

I’m shooting a .308
I have about 200+ pieces of FGMM brass that I have am using to reload my first batch.
Varget
Cc br-2 primers
And Sierra “tipped” match Kings (175gr)

I am starting the charge weight at 41.0 and working up .2 gr per every 3 rounds to 43.4 ish or until I see signs indicating pressure issues.

After having prepped all my brass, primed it and bumped the shoulder .2 thou i loaded my first bit of brass and have noticed that at a mere 41.0 gr I hear powder being crushed by the bullet slightly and lost most noise when I shake the round indicating free space. I don’t understand how this could be compressed, or is this normal? My COAL is 2.810 and I have made sure I load specifically to that.

Am I good to ho or should I scrap these and start over ? Definitely have the first time loader jitters and don’t want to destroy my gear, gun, or face.

Thanks in advance!

 

[918v]

Drop your powder into the case using a funnel with long drop tube. Your powder will settle better in the case.

 

[Andrew03]

Drop your powder into the case using a funnel with long drop tube. Your powder will settle better in the case.

I’ll give that a try, currently using the rcbs goldish colored one that came with my kit. It has a fairly long nose the pour the powder but maybe I’ll try something else or work on leveling it differently

 

[spife7980]

 

[Andrew03]

thank you! I will try slower loading and the longer funnel!

 

[hambone1971]

Do you have a way to double check your scale? Just to make sure your 41g is 41g? Throw a 175 g bullet on if all else fails and just check if it is there at 175 +_ 1g .. My Lyman book says your Varget should be good up to 45 g with a 175 projectile. max load. Good luck. HB

 

[918v]

Not in a FC case unless you want to blow primers.

 

[Deleted member 113831]

I load Varget into FGMM cases every week. I have loaded many thousands at 43.7 grains of Varget at 2.8" COL, and I don't crush grains. There is no way you should be crunching powder with a 175 at 41 grains and 2.810" COL.

Something is bad wrong either with your weighing or your measuring. Whether it is unsafe or not is impossible to tell, you are the only one who knows how bad it is crunching.