My first handloads for Howa M-1500 range report

[unwise11]

Yesterday I went to the range with my Howa M-1500 chambered for .308 Win, I sighted in with PMC 147 gr FMJ ammo, and then fired my first set of 5 handloads, the results were not as good as they could've been, because I was flinching afraid of my loads exploding

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Heres the first group, Loaded a 168 grain SMK over 38.7 grains of Varget, CCI #200 Large rifle primer, Federal Once fired case.

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and here is the second group I fired, 168 SMK over 40.0 grains Varget, Hornady Match once fired case, CCI #200 Large rifle primer..

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I know the Howa can shoot better, and I know these loads can shoot better, and I'm going to shoot more tomorrow, with 20 more rounds loaded up of the second load, but in a Federal case.

Thanks to Freedom Fighter in Il, for setting me up with all the reloading equipment and the help, This is definitely more rewarding than just buying a box of ammo, that costs more.

 

[snakeman]

nice! don't worry about the flinching, it will go away once you get used to handloading. I did the same thing with my first handloads

 

[R.W.Dale]

Not to throw your well deserved caution to the wind, BUT As a 10 year handloader I don't sweat a modern bolt action. About the only possible way you can blow one up is to use an entirely wrong powder (faster) or obstruct the bore


It's the classics from when Victoria was queen or misc oddball autoloaders that give me pause and have me double checking my PPE.

 

[UT PROSIM]

not bad at all! my savage really likes about 44-42gr of varget anything lower or higher doesnt do so well. I understand keeping loads soft at first for safty but i find that 44gr with a 168 SMK .006" off the lands is the ticket.
but every gun is different and my favorite part about shooting is experimenting with new loads.
keep us posted with your next results!
Pat

 

[blackops]

JD, keep it up! You're young and ahead of many other guys your age. Stay on the same path and you're going to become very good with a rifle.

 

[unwise11]

Thanks, I'm hoping to find a good load for my rifle, I shot a 2.25"x2.5" group at 300 yards with a load the rangemaster loaded for me, as pictured below.

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I want to duplicate that or do better, and have a good load to be able to hit a 500 yard paper plate.

And Hornady factory loads are going to be hard to beat..

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I'll try to post tomorrows range report after I shoot, I just seat them to 2.8", I don't know the chamber dimensions or whatever of my Howa, so I can't say anything about the lands..

 

[sappyg]

cool... now you're really cookin.' it's fun chasing that perfect load.

IIRC you just cleaned the rifle and it will start coming to you. you might find that your rifle likes a different wieght bullet too. keeping notes is a must.

i'm really looking forward to your range reports.

 

[AR27]

Great job JD, if you ever have an appleseed in your area you should go. Its amazing how much those help shooters, even if you primarily use a scope on your own

 

[JDGray]

JD, How did those reloads feel? Pretty soft I bet 43-44gr seated at 2.800"- 2.805", will be alot closer to factory ammo, and group better. Keep your head up, you'll get the hang of reloading in no time

 

[unwise11]

Yep, I'm taking notes from now on, as the logbook in my picture shows.
The loads were light, I like light stuff for target shooting, I wish I could load this down to .223 recoil I guess I'll just need to get a .223 for that though..
I did clean the rifle, I didn't use the stinky copper solvent this time, there is a small amount of copper in my barrel, but not enough to need cleaning, I'm planning on lapping it soon..
I just started at Minumum to make sure I was doing everything right, better for my minumum loads to be a little over, than for max loads to be over.. But I trust my scale to be spot on, as I pick out any overages with tweezers, that is my favorite part
Thanks for all the advise and replies.

 

[Coltdriver]

Go look up "optimum charge weight". It is easily the best way I have found to dial in a load for anything.

I have been able to make all of my rifles shoot very well with a specific load determined using this method.

The only thing I have had to chase is the perfect powder but the choices for .308 are well enough published that it is not a long effort.

 

[unwise11]

Will do, I've got 20 rounds GTG for the range, with 40.0 grains varget again, and a fed case, 168 SMK CCI primer..
Leaving now, this will be fun. I'll make sure to snap some pictures.
Might try 2 5 shots at 100, and 2 5 shots at 200, see how that works, well, Range report coming soon.. I'll make a new thread for each one to keep it organized.

 

[788Ham]

JD,

If you've got 5 out of 6 rounds in the same hole, what's not to like?? It appears to me you're on the right track right off, well done young man! In your experimenting, you might try a couple different powders, this might be the missing factor in your quest! Keep up the good work, I'll stay tuned for your report!

 

[Geno]

JDM:

Good work. My rifles group extremely well with Winchester brass, 47 grains of Varget, and a 168 Speer Match projectile, and a Winchester primer.

FWIW, I form-fire my brass. Then, I resize only one-half of the neck. I prefer to use custom dies. Next, trim it, deburr the neck inside and out, true the primer pocket and flash hole. Then I sort the brass by 1/10th grain into groups. I also sort the projectiles. Trust me, even match projectiles can vary more than 1/10th grain.

Lastly, I set my powder thrower for 46.8 to 46.9 grains. I use my trickler to throw the last few granules. I watch for that last, single granule that falls into the dish, and tosses the scale to 47.0 grains. If 2 or 3 granules fall in and it goes to 47 grains, I literally use a pair of tweezers and remove 3, and toss them in one at a time until the scale goes back over to 47 grains.

Now, would two extra granules make a difference?! Hades if I know, but I sure have fun. For me, loading 15 to 30 rounds in an afternoon is aaaall I want. In terms of seating depth, my loads are seated to the absolute greatest length that they will freely travel up/down the magazine well. I don't recollect the exact OAL right now, and am admittedly too lazy to jump up and measure.

There is a reason that I do as I do with regard to the last granules. For me, it is an exercise in extreme concentration, flawless divided-attention and fine motor skills. That exercise pays dividends when concentrating on a target. For many they can't concentrate on the target and a 4 ounce trigger. I can, and I actually feel quite a bit of pressure on that 4 ounce trigger before if trips. Concentration, divided attention and fine motor skills.

Geno

 

[brandon_mcg]

good shooting. ive been handloading my .45 acp for about a month now. bene shooting my .308 a good bit in the past month so i'm contemplating reloading for it. you may have just given me a little motivation.

 

[jpwilly]

JD, Good Job now if you make some 5 shot ladder loads 41, 42, 43, 44gr varget I'll bet you get some tighter groups check for pressure as you go but none of those are hot loads.

FYI: With Federal Brass 44gr of Varget (47gr would be HOT in a Fed Case) and CCI Primers my Savage shoots 168gr pills at 2700fps. That is duplicating FGMM velocity.