Way late update, but after firing 40+ rounds I decided to re-measure a few dummy rounds. Mainly because I bought 178 gr ELD-Match bullets from Hornady. I knew the ogive would be different.
I started with a 168 smk sharpie/dummy round and got 2.82". Which blew my mind because before it read 2.760". So the throat may have been rough making it never truly touch the lands on the previous dummies?
Anyway I decided to try the 178 gr Hornadys and got a measurement of 2.832" with the sharpie method. So I loaded up some 178's in my new Sig Sauer Elite .308 win brass (seems like good stuff) with imr4064 and cci br-2 primers.
I went from 40.0gr in increments of .5 up to 42.5. All coal being 2.830". I found nodes only at the complete high end and low end. So I played with the high end.
308win, 2.830", 42.0 gr imr4064, cci br-2 lr, virgin Sig Brass, 178 Hornady ELD-Match, 5 shots @100yds.
My only complaint is the reticle I chose on the Luepold VX-Freedom. The freedom has real nice glass for the money but I went with the Tri-MOA reticle.
The hash marks are so fine and close together the reticle becomes just a gimmick. The 3 big hash marks could be of use. Maybe. Cause those are all you really pick up when looking through it.
Anyway, loving the rifle. My first SS. Still getting used to the looks. Absolutely love the AccuTrigger.