308 Winchester Reloading- RAMSHOT TAC- Hornady 180 Grain SST

[bluejay75]

Greetings Gents,

Wanted to post this in a generic format so when guys are searching the web for either 180 SST Data or Ramshot TAC data for 308 they could find it easily.

Rifle Specs:
-Stock Savage Model 110 Tactical 308
-20 Inch 1:10 Twist Barrel
-Only modification was to have it headspaced to minimum spec
-Ebay Generic 300 BO Muzzle Brake
-Bushnell Nitro 5-20 (shot at 15x)

Load Data:
-Lake City LR '08 308 Brass (near identical case capacity as Lapua)(do not sub for standard LC) 2.005 trimmed on a LCGW
-Winchester LR Primers
-Hornady SST 180 grain Seconds (Midway)(OAL length varied on the bullets by quite a bit)(COAL averaged 2.805 but had a few at 2.799-2.813)
-42.7-43.3 Ramshot TAC
-Finished with a light touch of a LFCD(Trimmer left a clean sharp edge that I wanted to flatten out)

Results: (5 shot groups)
42.7 grains-Velocity Average 2650 FPS, 21 ES, 9.8 SD, 1.1 inch Group
43.0 grains-Velocity Average 2649 FPS(started in the plateau), 37 ES, 13.7 SD, .808 inch Group
43.3 grains-Velocity Average 2677 FPS, 17 ES, 7.8 SD, .617 inch Group

Conclusion:
I am a hunter first and foremost. None of these loads gave any semblance of flash. I had one stocky extraction on the first shot at the lowest load but I think my brass was too squeaky clean and chamber was dry. Sierra lists 43.4 as the 180 grain accuracy load for their bullets so Im sure a little more load development will yield better results but I am happy at 43.3 for hunting. Load is still going 1800 FPS at 500 yards and 1200 FPS at 1000.

So this may not be suitable for some of the one hole target guys, but for comparison 4064 and Varget shoots about a quarter MOA better but at 100 less FPS. My Magneto Speed chronograph historically cost me roughly a quarter MOA so Im sure these shoot a little better but I can live with either of these three groups for 500 yard killing. Hope this helps someone out there.

Share some of your 308 180 grain successes as well. Any comments on Max effective range with SST bullets would be welcomed also.

JB

 

[bluejay75]

 

[bluejay75]

Hornady 178 ELD-M and Ramshot TAC in 308

Rifle Specs:
-Stock Savage Model 110 Tactical 308
-20 Inch 1:10 Twist Barrel
-Only modification was to have it headspaced to minimum spec
-Ebay Generic 300 BO Muzzle Brake
-Bushnell Nitro 5-20 (shot at 15x)

Load Data:
-FC 7.62x51 Brass (FC07 HS) 2.005 trimmed on a LCGW
-Federal 210 Primers
-Hornady 178 ELD-M (COAL averaged 2.825)(178 AMAX, ELDm and ELDx and 180 SST are different lengths and ogives)(ELDM and ELDx usually want to be closer to the lands)
-43.3 Ramshot TAC
-Finished with a light touch of a LFCD(Trimmer left a clean sharp edge that I wanted to flatten out)

Results: (8 shots 2 x 3 shot groups and 2 x fouling shots)
43.3 grains-Velocity Average 2646 FPS, 22 ES, 6.7 SD, .468 & .497 inch Groups

 

[bluejay75]

Does anyone have any experience hunting with the 178 ELDm? I have some ELDxs but for longer range having a softer bullet is a plus. This is going into the book as a long range hunting load. At 2648 FPS its still going 1756 fps at 600 yards and 1300 fps at 1000 yards. Perfect speed for this bullet as I know it will still expand down to 1400 FPS.