.308 Loading help

[Wilburt]

It's been a while since I've been here at THR. Reloading has taken a backseat. Anyway, I have a DS Arms SA58 (Fal) with a 16" barrel I am trying to develop a <3 MOA load for. I'll admit I'm not the most accurate shooter. When I bought the gun I would get 2.5-3 MOA with off the shelf American Eagle and Magtech 150 gr loads. I've always reloaded b/c it is cheaper. Now I am willing to spend a little more to see if I can be more accurate.

I have started with 147 gr Mil Spec M80 bullets from wideners. I know they are not the most accurate, but I was hoping to develop a 3 MOA load with them. So far I have tried:

Bullet: 147 gr FMJBT M80
Brass: Mixed brass
Powder: 41.1 grs IMR 4895
Primer: Rem 9 /12
COAL: 2.790"

This gets about 7 MOA at 100 yards. I have been using a small base X-Die to size. Any ideas to tweak this combo? I would be ok with buying a different bullet it is wasn't too expensive, I but I still have 800 of the 147's.

 

[MEHavey]

With that short a barrel, I'd go w/ faster IMR3031 (it'll also fill the case) and get the velocity up to at least the mid-2,650s or so.

 

[Coltdriver]

Look up optimum charge method and give it a try. I have used this method on several rifles and it never fails to get me to the right load for a particular rifle.

 

[bfoosh006]

+1 on the faster powder.. IMR 3031... you'll have more through in the barrel burn... less powder still burning as it is exiting the barrel, which means less blast to upset the bullet.

 

[dhfenno]

What's the twist on that barrel?

 

[USSR]

Wilburt,

You need to bump up the charge weight a bit there. My FAL runs on 43.0gr of IMR4895 with the M80 bullets.

Don

 

[medalguy]

I agree. I have a short barrel FAL and I use 42.5 gr of IMR4895 which gets me right up to 2720 fps with the M80 bullet. My OAL is 2.780.

 

[MEHavey]

What length barrel do you use, and have you chronographed that 2750 load ?

I ask because that 42.5gr/IMR4895 would ordinarily only reach the mid/high 2,300s in a 16" barrel.

 

[NCsmitty]

Try substituting some 150gr Sierra or Hornady game or match style bullets, to see if the M80 bullet is causing the problem.
Chances are that you'll halve your groups right off the bat, but if you don't, then work on the powder and charges.



NCsmitty

 

[Walkalong]

Hey Wilburt. Good to hear from ya. Go with Don's advise.

I have a DS Arms SA58 (Fal)

I'm jealous.

 

[Wilburt]

Thanks guys. I will try a higher charge and see if that helps. Hope everyone is having a good memorial day weekend!

Oh and the twist is 1:11. I have chronographed it a while ago and I believe it was around 2200-2400 fps, but I'll have to check my notes.

 

[A-FIXER]

Got this for the load
147 gr FMJBT
45.0 gr = TAC powder
WLR = Primer
2.800 = COL
Got a scope on it and its a better shooter than I can keep in the target during rapid fire....

 

[A-FIXER]

Have you measured the COL with a cartridge overall length gauge maybe your off on your rifle and I do put a crimp on those rounds.

 

[blarby]

FWIW :

I've developed a few separate .308 loads for various bolt and auto cycling rifles.

Using 4895, all of them arrived within 41.5-43 grs. of powder weight behind either a 150, 160, or in the last "offering" ( and this research being partially the cause of my absence from posting beyond moving across the northwest) custom 167 gr semi spires.

I understand that this gives a wide berth of powder range and projectile weight, but as someone stated above yours looks a little low. Looks like you already picked up that advice- I just wanted to second it.

One thing you may benefit from in an FAL is a uniform and correctly applied crimp on the bullet.
( wait for it, someone is screaming and swearing at this)
The magazines have a noticeable travel gap between bullet tip and magazine frontwall, and this has been shown on occasion to dislodge softly seated bullets during even reasonably brisk firing, or rough handling of the weapon.

This variance in cartridge capacity after the adjusted bullet depth can result in significant pressure differences in your loads, and effect detectable accuracy accordingly at distances even as short as 75 yards.