[58BlackFlag]

Hi all, I would love to hear some recommended load recipes(or even factory ammo that has proven accurate) for my Remington 700 SPS AAC-SD .308. I've tried quite a few factory loads and some handloads and have not found anything that has been consistently at or below 1 MOA.

I'm hoping to be able to shoot out to 600-800 yards or maybe even 1000 eventually but I'm aware it may not happen since its a 20" barrel, but I'd like to try.

I would prefer to use heavier grain weight bullets >155 but if anyone has had success with a similar set-up with lighter bullets I'd love to hear about it anyway.

Thanks!

[Kingcreek]

165gr Sierra MKs with 40gr of 4895 (or accurate 2250) in LC match brass works in 3 different rifles for me.

[58BlackFlag]

Thanks King! Are any of the three a shorter barrel like mine?

[RyeDaddy]

175 SMK in Lapua brass with 44 grains Varget, CCI BR-2 primer. Fantastic. You can tweak the powder charge up and down to find what suits your rifle, but the 175 SMK and Varget with CCI BR-2's has been magic in EVERY 308 I've seen.

I'm also having good luck with 44.9 grains of IMR8208 XBR with the 155 AMAX.

Both these loads stay around .75" at 100 yards from my 16.5" semi auto 308 with 10" twist rate.

[briang7511]

my best load so far has been 46.5 gr reloader 15 with 155 amax or 155 sierra palma mk's. i use it in a rem 700 1 in 12 twist that i had the barrel cut down to 18in and ported. works just as good in my savage mod 12 with a 26in barrel with a 1 in 10 twist. holds about .75 moa in both factory rifles. for factory ammo i have had excellent results from hsm with 155gr amax and federal gmm with 168 mk's.

[58BlackFlag]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will def get some 175 SMK's to try out. I was thinking those might be best considering the fast twist my barrel has.

We have tried quite a few different combos with both 155 and 168 amax bullets in mine as well as some lighter bullets with results worsening as the grain weight goes down so that's why I thinking heavier may work better.

Thanks again and keep em coming!

[MtnCreek]

Just to add another: 178gr amax. With the heavier bullets, Varget is going to be hard to beat.

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I shoot a load VERY similar to Kingcreek's. I also have a 700 SPS AAC-SD. The 165 and 168 Sierra MK's are ole faithful to me. They give a very good constant performance. I also like the A-MAX 168gr. , it is what I am working a load with now. I think it will be my favorite once I get it dialed in.

[58BlackFlag]

"I shoot a load VERY similar to Kingcreek's. I also have a 700 SPS AAC-SD. The 165 and 168 Sierra MK's are ole faithful to me. They give a very good constant performance. I also like the A-MAX 168gr. , it is what I am working a load with now. I think it will be my favorite once I get it dialed in."

Are you using 4895 powder as well? Mine seems to like a powder charge towards the upper end of the recommended range...how bout yours?

Thanks!

[REL1203]

I have a R700 AAC as well, and have worked extensively with it since I got it. I found 2 fantastic loads with 168 grain bullets. My original load was 43.0 RL15, it worked great, but the FPS was a little low, so i tried 44 and it worked just a little better, and gave a little more FPS.

44.0g RL15 Winchester Brass with both 168SMKs and 168 AMAX's. They both shoot ragged one hole 5shot groups for me. The SMKs are only good to 600 though, the Amaxs are good for longer.

I have been working alot in the last 2 months trying to find a good 1,000yard load with 175SMKs, and found that you really have to push these bullets to get 1k from a 20", so i found 43.1g & 44.5g RL15 to both work well, as well as 45.0g Varget all work well.

This is 5shot with 43.0 and 168SMK at 100yards
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-rQC9-GNGA/TXxFL5K2ctI/AAAAAAAAKmo/WjXCSfCbOSo/s854/photo+%283%29.JPG

This is 300yards, first 3 shots were the lower left ones, i came 1click up, and 1 click right for the last 2 shots. This also was 43.0 RL15 168SMK
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YNLgtFUjGtk/TguoEm_ZY4I/AAAAAAAAMKc/BEuMYbRaOuk/s854/1000000008.JPG

[ZXD9]

43.8g Varget under a 168g MK shoots less than MOA out to 400y.

[chrome_austex]

I'm now getting 0.8" groups (or better) at 100y using 44.0 grains of 4064, CCI BR2 primers, Hornady Match brass, and 168 Sierra MK loaded to 2.800 in my Rem 700 AAC-SD

YMMV.

[58BlackFlag]

I have a R700 AAC as well, and have worked extensively with it since I got it. I found 2 fantastic loads with 168 grain bullets. My original load was 43.0 RL15, it worked great, but the FPS was a little low, so i tried 44 and it worked just a little better, and gave a little more FPS.

44.0g RL15 Winchester Brass with both 168SMKs and 168 AMAX's. They both shoot ragged one hole 5shot groups for me. The SMKs are only good to 600 though, the Amaxs are good for longer.

I have been working alot in the last 2 months trying to find a good 1,000yard load with 175SMKs, and found that you really have to push these bullets to get 1k from a 20", so i found 43.1g & 44.5g RL15 to both work well, as well as 45.0g Varget all work well.

This is 5shot with 43.0 and 168SMK at 100yards
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-rQC9-GNGA/TXxFL5K2ctI/AAAAAAAAKmo/WjXCSfCbOSo/s854/photo+%283%29.JPG

This is 300yards, first 3 shots were the lower left ones, i came 1click up, and 1 click right for the last 2 shots. This also was 43.0 RL15 168SMK
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YNLgtFUjGtk/TguoEm_ZY4I/AAAAAAAAMKc/BEuMYbRaOuk/s854/1000000008.JPG
Thanks so much! I was hoping someone here would have the same gun with some proven loads! I believe the combination of the shorter barrel and faster twist makes this gun a bit particular with what it likes. I've tried all the loads my dad has had success with in his Savage LRP .308 and they have not been so great in mine.

[58BlackFlag]

I'm now getting 0.8" groups (or better) at 100y using 44.0 grains of 4048, CCI BR2 primers, Hornady Match brass, and 168 Sierra MK loaded to 2.800 in my Rem 700 AAC-SD

YMMV.
Great! Thanks for adding the length as well!

[REL1203]

No Prob, mine is definitly a shooter, i am getting ready to drop a new trigger in it. First thing is to get rid of the factory Hogue stock, get something truely to free float the barrel. Next is to determine what you want out of the rifle. If all you care about is closer than 600, stick with 168's, they seem to work the best i found. If you want to push it further, concentrate on 168AMAX, 175 or 178 bullets. I am getting ready to attempt some Lapua 155 Scenar loads, but the little bit I have read is that the 20" is the bare minimum, and can struggle, with getting the 155's hot enough to really benefit from what they can do, i have 400 of those bullets, so hopefully i can figure something out.

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

If you do happen to like the Hogue stock then take a dremel and a barrel sanding bit and sand the inside of the forearm until it has clearance. If you need, I can show you photos of mine after sanding the stock a bit and getting the clearance issue fixed. The stock feels great but on a bench or a bipod the stock does rub the barrel. If not get an H&S precision stock or comparable stock and enjoy.

Yes it is 4895 powder I use but I am running a slightly hotter charge. I am running 44grs.

[redbullitt]

175 smk or 178 AMAX will do the trick. FWIW you can shoot 1000 yards just fine with that 20 inch barrel. Sure, it may take a little more elevation than a 26 incher, but it will go. The longest barrel I have on any 308 is 22 inches (it goes 1000 just fine) and the shortest is 16 inches. Even the shorter one gets there with some extra elevation.

Usually I have wound up somewhere around 42.5 to 43.2 grains of varget and a 175/178 bullet seated to 2.820 (SMK)/2.850 (amax). Velocity is close to 2600 in the longer barrel w/ very good SD. Not a particularly hot load, but I get very good case life.

[M.Weier]

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/mtwotr1111/0d367f98.jpg

Out of my Savage 10 1:10 22"

[chrome_austex]

Great to see someone else settled on 44.0 gr of 4064.

FWIW, my velocities vary a bit, but the average out of my 20" Rem 700 AAC-SD is 2640 @ ~8ft

[Magichelmt]

I have two loads I am playing with for my .308 right now. My gun has a 22 inch barrel and a 1 in 10 twist. I got them from a friend as a starting point......
The first has given me a group of .65" at 100 yards. At 500 it was about 12". The load is as follows: 168gr Sierra MK 46.0 gr Varget CCI #200 primer loaded to the lands on my gun.

The second gave me .750" at 100 yards but 5.9" at 500 yards. It is 168gr Sierra MK 42.8 gr IMR 8208xbr CCI#200 primer loaded to the lands on my gun.
I just started my own load development so I have a lot to try. Here is the thread of my trip this weekend with a picture of my IMR load @ 500 yards. This was my first time shooting long range.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=658188

[Branden967]

Tag for later...

[58BlackFlag]

Thanks again to all who have answered back!

I went over to my dads tonight and grabbed some loads he made for me and actually made a few myself. He doesn't have any SMKs but we loaded up some 168 amax, 168 bergers, and 155 lapuas with varget and then some more amax with 8208. Unfortunately I've got to head out of town thru the weekend so no test firing till next week.
I'm planning on ordering some SMKs to work with next time.
As soon as I get to the range next week I'll update how everything worked out.

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Here is a good starting point...

http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

[Kingcreek]

I just realized my typo in post #2
should be Accurate 2520 interchangeable with IMR4895
(not 2250)

[Swampman]

I'll give a big "Plus 10" to REL1203s comments about the Hogue stock, particularly when fired off a bipod or with a suppressor attached. My 700 AAC SD has many fine features but the "stock" stock is not one of them. Before you spend too much time or components, try this simple test, using old fashioned sand bags, place them directly in front of and underneath the magazine on your rifle. Shoot several groups with known, accurate ammo, FGMM works well, but your dads proven handloads would probably be just as good. Then using the same ammo, but your normal shooting rest, try again. If your results are anything like mine were, you'll be looking for a new stock (if you can afford it), or breaking out the Devcon 10110 if you can't (like me). The good news is that once the forend is stiffened up a bit the rifle will probably begin to behave much better. Mine went from 1 and 3/8ths" to just over .60" at 100 yards off the bipod with a rear bag. My load was 45.8 grains of Varget with CCI BR2 primers in Hirtenberger cases under 168 gr. SMKs. It still won't really behave with the YHM 7.62 suppressor installed, but it's a whole lot better than it was.
Bottom line is that while they are awesome rifles for the price, Remington had to cut costs somewhere to keep them affordable and the stock was the logical place to do it.

[ArchAngelCD]

I just realized my typo in post #2
should be Accurate 2520 interchangeable with IMR4895
(not 2250)
And AA2495 too...

[58BlackFlag]

I'll give a big "Plus 10" to REL1203s comments about the Hogue stock, particularly when fired off a bipod or with a suppressor attached. My 700 AAC SD has many fine features but the "stock" stock is not one of them. Before you spend too much time or components, try this simple test, using old fashioned sand bags, place them directly in front of and underneath the magazine on your rifle. Shoot several groups with known, accurate ammo, FGMM works well, but your dads proven handloads would probably be just as good. Then using the same ammo, but your normal shooting rest, try again. If your results are anything like mine were, you'll be looking for a new stock (if you can afford it), or breaking out the Devcon 10110 if you can't (like me). The good news is that once the forend is stiffened up a bit the rifle will probably begin to behave much better. Mine went from 1 and 3/8ths" to just over .60" at 100 yards off the bipod with a rear bag. My load was 45.8 grains of Varget with CCI BR2 primers in Hirtenberger cases under 168 gr. SMKs. It still won't really behave with the YHM 7.62 suppressor installed, but it's a whole lot better than it was.
Bottom line is that while they are awesome rifles for the price, Remington had to cut costs somewhere to keep them affordable and the stock was the logical place to do it.
I have already replaced the stock with a B&C Medalist. I started there to try and tighten up my groups.

What do you mean by "it wont behave with the YHM suppressor"? I have a Gem-tech Sandstorm 7.62 suppressor on the way for my rifle. Is the suppressor negatively effecting your accuracy?

Thanks!

[MtnCreek]

I think he was sayinng the additional weight from the suppressor was adding to the flimsy stock problem.

[chrome_austex]

My factory fimsy Hogue stock has a date with the dremmel tonight.

[REL1203]

Great to see someone else settled on 44.0 gr of 4064.

FWIW, my velocities vary a bit, but the average out of my 20" Rem 700 AAC-SD is 2640 @ ~8ft

That is a good sounding load, and damn fast, i really need to pick up some IMR4064

[Swampman]

Gem-Tech Sandstorm 7.62 = 13.3 Ounces

YHM Stainless Q.D. Phantom 7.62 = 28 Ounces

MtnCreek hit the nail right on the head, the weight of the YHM still causes the barrel to contact the stock when fired off the bipod, which has serious negative impacts on accuracy, especially at longer range.

The suppressor actually improves the accuracy of my M1A, PSL and 59/66 SKS. It has a huge POI shift on all of them, but it's very repeatable as long as you tighten down the suppressor to the same notch each time you install it.

With your shorter, much lighter can and a far stiffer stock, I doubt you'll have any similar issues.
On the other hand, you won't have near as good a field expedient club, hammer and rolling pin. ;-)

[58BlackFlag]

I finally made it to the range today and tried a few of the loads my dad and I put together thanks to all the friendly recommendations from you all!

My best results were two separate, five-shot groups, both just under and inch at 100yds using 175gr SMK's with 45gr of Varget, Winchester primers, and various once shot brass set to 2.23 OGL. Muzzle velocity was between 2600-2630fps (not bad for my 20in barrel).

I did notice today after using the chrony, my shots seem to speed up bit by bit as each group progresses. I'm guessing this is due to the barrel heating up and expanding slightly. Does that sound like a good guess to those who have maybe had the same experience??

In addition to that combo we also tried some lapua 155s, 168 amax's, and 168 berger vld's all with varget. The results were not as good. We also tried the 175SMK's with RL-15 but the groups were not as tight.

After shooting at 100yds we went out to a bigger area and set up at 300 yards on a steel gong target I just got. I "guesstimated" for a 15 inch drop and adjusted my scope up 20 clicks (5 MOA) and put three shots in a 1.5 inch spread on the 10 inch steel target. I have not ever done any windage/elevation adjustments with my scope to compensate for distance before so we went back to 100yards, I dialed back down 20 clicks and was able to hit the one inch bullseye on the first shot:).

Thanks again to all who made load recommendations! Looks like the 175 SMK's and Varget are the ticket my Remmy. We are going to tinker around with that combo adjusting the powder charge and seating depth and see if we can tighten the groups up more.

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

The stock is an easy fix to eliminate the touching issue. After sanding, the factory Hogue will give good clearance to the barrel. Until I find the right McMillan or H&S stock I will be content. I shoot 5/8" patterns at 100yds with mine with 168gr Sierra MK's. I am hoping that I can get atleast as good with the A-Max load I am working on.