.308 load help

[cdb.308]

Hello, I'm fairly new to reloading and am wondering if anyone has any experience with a .308 Winchester load I am working on for an upcoming cow elk hunt. My load data is as follows.

Lapua brass- never fired- full length sized
CCI 200 primers
44.0 grains Varget
165 grain Nosler Accubond
Seated 2.800"
Remington 788- 1 in 10 twist- 22 inch barrel

The powder charge is mid range from Nosler's load data. I first used this data with Nosler 168 grain Custom Competition bullets and experienced no issues. When I switched to the Accubonds, I noticed what might be some over pressure signs. The bolt is harder to lift but the brass extracts fine. There is a slight dimple on the case head from the ejector but no brass flow into the ejector hole. There is also some primer flattening but no more so than factory ammo. I know this could be due to the fact that the Accubond is .100" longer than the Custom Comp but Nosler doesn't specify different O.A.L. for different bullets of the same weight. Does anyone have experience with this particular load? Should I back off on the powder charge even though I am not near the max? I would like to stick with this load since it shoots well and I want to be in the 2700fps range. Thanks for your help.

 

[jwrowland77]

Did you recheck you OAL to see how far/close to lands you are with the new bullet?

Different bullets have different lengths and different ogives.

I would definitely back off to a starting load and work the load up properly. Start at min and workup towards max. NEVER just jump right in the middle of a load range.

I would also check to see where you're at in relation to the lands.

 

[BigBore45]

to be honest 2600 fps- 2700fps, you will never notice that in the field. work the load up like your suppose to. that kind of change in bullet length can make a huge difference.

 

[rcmodel]

Try coloring a seated bullet with a magic marker, then chambering & ejecting it.

Look to see if there are any rifling marks shown in the rubbed off marker ink?

In the future, you probably should start at the Starting Load, and work up till see these pressure signs before worrying about it later.

rc

 

[cdb.308]

Thanks for the quick replies. As I am new to reloading, I haven't begun to factor in jump/jam from the lands. I'm not even sure how to measure that. But I think you're both right about backing off my load. I'm not so set on 2700fps that I'll do it at the cost of safety. I know pressure signs can be misleading and I wasn't sure if what I was seeing was enough to be concerned.

 

[rcmodel]

Measure it like I said with a magic marker colored bullet.

If you see rifling marks in the ink when you pull it out of the chsmber and look at it, you are seating too long.

A $1.25 magic marker is a more accurate seating depth tool then a $200 seating depth measuring tool!

rc

 

[cdb.308]

I'll give that a try. How does the bullets proximity to the lands affect pressure, aside from the change in case volume?

 

[rcmodel]

If it is jammed into the lands?
It effects pressure just like your car would if it was jammed into a brick wall when you stand on the gas.

It doesn't want to start moving so much as if there is no brick wall in front of it holding it back.

In bottle-neck rifle calibers?
Jammed into the lands will typically raise pressure much more then seating deeper and giving the bullet a running start before it gets resized and rifling marks engraved into it.

rc

 

[hvychev77]

You can buy the Hornady COL case gauge off Amazon for like $30. I did and it works great. Make sure if you do to purchase the modified case for the caliber you are working on. In my. 308 I am setting to .015 off the lands and it shoots really good. There are youtube videos on how to use the case gauge. It's real simple

 

[Hummer70]

since you have fired cases you could just run the case into the die and just barely size down the case mouth like 1/32", enough to hold a bullet and very carefully ease it into chamber. When the bullet contacts the lands it will move to the rear and stop.

Open the bolt and remove the case. If the bullet does not come out you know that OAL has jammed the lands so back off.

Very gently run a cleaning rod in the muzzle making sure not to let it rub on the inside of the barrel and bump the bullet out, adjust your seat depth down about .010" and try it again.

When the bullet comes out in the case you have arrived as it is not jamming the lands.

 

[USSR]

The powder charge is mid range from Nosler's load data.

And the load data uses Nosler brass while you are using Lapua, which is heavier with less case capacity. Sounds like you are on the edge pressure-wise, and the longer bearing surface of the Accubond bullet is putting you over a bit. Personally, I would back off a bit.

Don

 

[Delmar]

I believe that the Nosler manual cautions to work up loads from the starting charge listed especially on this style of bullet.