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What powder closely matches Hornady's 308 168ELD-M load

LongArm

Problem Solver
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 30, 2007
1,206
21
Corpus Christi, Texas
What powder closely matches Hornady's 308 168ELD-M load. I'm trying to mimic the load. I have varget and IMR 4064 on hand. The factory ammo is running 2800 out of my 26.5" (1/10 twist) bartlien barrel.
 
I just started testing the 168 ELD-M in a new custom 18" 308 build. I'm using Varget and getting single digit SD's. Seating depth test up next.

43.8 - 44.7 all had single digit SD's. 44.4g was 2600 in my 18". 1xLC brass and 210M
 
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I shoot the factory loads this weekend at a club match and it shot great now I'm trying to mimic the loads. I think that hornady uses a blend but I'm not sure.
 
Varget

Try 44.8grs in lightweight brass. I'm getting 2785 FPS in my 26", but stay away from the lands with that load.
 
This is in my 18" Wilson AR10 308 but I was able to get out and do a seating depth test today with the 168 ELD-M's. They tightened right up at the shorter COALS in the 2.795 - 2.805 range. Very happy with the results.


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hornady's 168 eldmatch ammo is shooting 2800 out of my barrel, however 168 AMax tap is shooting 2742 and is much more accurate out of my barrel. I am going to shoot for 2740 as the preferred speed. Any recommendation on powder load for varget. I am thinking about started at 43.8 and going up.
 
I use 48.5g of Alliant 2000-MR and get phenominal accuracy out of my AR10. With 168's
 
46g of varget in winchester brass got me 2800 with the 168 a amax. 26" factory remington 1 in 12.
 
Shooting 42.6 imr 4064 with Lapua brass. Shooting a 28". Bartlein so I'm not loading hot. But it's a 1/4 to 1/2 moa load st 100 yards and petty solid out to 650 yards.
 
So I tried 43.8g of varget seated at 2.8" and it was 2800fps no pressure but didn't shoot good. I am going to try 43.5g of varget now.
 
You need to do a load development test for YOUR barrel. Then play with seating depth after you find your load. Every barrel's different.
 
Not the powder you mentioned , but I'm getting 2740 fps with IMR 8208XBR powder in LAPUA brass 168 g bullet treated with HBN out of a 20" 1n12 "barreled FN SPR . I am however at 5000' elevation . I really like the XBR , quite temp. insensitive and the load I developed for my Rifle is producing single digit SD and 1/2 MOA .
 
Not the powder you mentioned , but I'm getting 2740 fps with IMR 8208XBR powder in LAPUA brass 168 g bullet treated with HBN out of a 20" 1n12 "barreled FN SPR . I am however at 5000' elevation . I really like the XBR , quite temp. insensitive and the load I developed for my Rifle is producing single digit SD and 1/2 MOA .

XBR8208 is one of the more temp sensitive powders.
 
Look up info on accurate shooter and Hogdons site , they list it as VERY temp insensitive .I've shot it in 98 degree heat and 25 degree cold with no pressure signs and minimal POI shift .
 
I wasn't aware of that, I stand corrected. I always read it was very stable not quite as good as varget but close.
 
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.59 fps per degree seems pretty insensitive. I thought anything below 1 fps was considered insensitive.

What powder is better.

All the Hogden extremes, Tac, there are others as well. It is not hard to find the info online.
 
HS-6 1.21fps per *
H110/W296 1.24 fps per *
Imr4227 1.17fps per *
Lil' Gun 1.31 fps per *
RL10x .71 fps per*
Benchmark .44 fps per *
Imr3031 .73 fps per *
Imr8208xbr .59 fps per *
H4895 .23 fps per *
Alliant Varmint pro .89 fps per *
Alliant AR comp .77 fps per *
Varget .19 fps per *
W748 1.32 fps per *
Imr4064 .53 fps per *
Ramshot Tac .91 fps per *
Imr4895 .87 fps per *
AA4064 1.11 fps per *
AA2520 .98 fps per *
RL15 1.52 fps per * from 50* and up
PP2000MR .99 fps per *
Imr4320 1.32 fps per *
Ramshot Biggame .98 fps per *
H380 1.44 fps per *
VV N150 1.08 fps per *
H414/W760 1.42 fps per *
Imr4350 .64 fps per *
AA4350 .47 fps per *
H4350 .29 fps per *
RL17 1.42 fps per *
Hybrid 100v .78 fps per *
RL19 1.61 fps per *
VV N160 1.24 fps per *
Imr4831 1.19 fps per *
Ramshot Hunter .86 fps per *
H4831 .36 fps per *
RL22 1.71 fps per *
Imr7828 1.36 fps per *
Magpro 1.01 fps per *
H1000 .21 fps per *
RL25 1.59 fps per *
Ramshot Magnum .87 fps per *
Retumbo .49 fps per *
RL33, still trying to get my data for this one.
US869 1.68 fps per *
H50bmg 1.64 fps per *