.308 Winchester vs .308 Winchester Service

[Zane]

I'm fairly new into reloading. I've been loading .45 ACP and decided to try reloading some of the .308 Win brass that I've been saving.

I'm loading for a DPMS LR-308L with a .308 Win chamber. Most of my brass is Prvi Partisan, that has been run through my rifle. All of it is headstamped .308 Win. Primers are CCI large rifle and I'm using Varget. Bullets are 168 gr Hornaday BTHP. I am weighing each charge individually right now.

Hornaday shows 44.0 as the max load. Lyman shows 41.0 as starting and 45.7 as the max load. Hodgdon shows 46.0 as the max. It looks like that as long as I'm not compressing powder charges, I'm not going to exceed max pressures. After reading Sierra's primer on reloading for service rifles, I notice that the Hornady book also shows 42.7 as the max for .308 Winchester Service.

I'm assuming that .308 Win Service means 7.62 Nato and that the 1.3 gr difference in the Hornady book reflects the thicker brass and reduced internal capacity.

I stopped my test loads at 42.5 at I don't want to approach top end loads, but I don't want to be anywhere close in case I make an error weighing the charge. I guess I'm just looking for confirmation that I'm well within safe.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

You'll need to use the service rifle data...it has nothing to do with pressure, at least not in the general sense.

Some powders don't have the appropriate pressure curve to operate the action...it will cause problems (short strokes, mis-feeds, etc.)

That may not have been what you were asking...but I thought I'd throw it out there. (Varget will do fine...just follow the load data)

 

[243winxb]

Brass Make or Brand can make a Difference.

I notice that the Hornady book also shows 42.7 as the max for .308 Winchester Service.

I have seen 2 posts on Prvi Partisan brass making over pressure loads using starting loads. The one posted here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=501655 was proof it was a brass problem, if i remember correctly. (i am not reading it again) The link has photos also.

 

[x_wrench]

one thing about reloading. everything is set up as a general guideline. it is not black and white clear cut 100% of the time. USUALLY, if you follow the load data correctly, you will have no problems. but nothing is 100% "bullet proof". there are always exceptions to every rule. some low quality rifles, can not be loaded anywhere near max loads and expect to live. some brass is also weaker or more brittle than others. every lot of powder is a little different than the last, rifle and pistol data are not to be interchanged, etc., etc., etc.. the thing is, that as you gain experience, and CAUTIOSLY experiment, you will gain knowledge about how to do things in general, and more importantly, for your specific firearms. BY ALL MEANS, keep asking questions! it is way safer to put off loading up some rounds, than it is to load them up, fire them, and have a real problem. you will make some mistakes. it will happen. just be as carefull as you can be. ask for guidance, and NEVER assume that it will be ok. i have had some problems myself, where only my guarian angle has kept me from being hurt. one of those, was from loading tired. just be cautios, and learn from you mistakes. if you are lucky, you might even learn some of it from others mistakes.

 

[918v]

I use 44.4 grains in Winchester brass with Hornady 168's in a bolt action. AR-10's can use bolt-gun loads. "Service" loads are meant for M1's with their pressure-curve dependent particularities.

I haven't tried Privi brass. How much does it weigh?

 

[Zane]

Most of the brass is between 170-173 gr. Although it looks like there are two headstamps. Some of it is "PPU" and some of it is in, I assume, Serbian. Some other brass, such as Fiocchi is also between 170-173. S&B brass I have is a little higher at about 178. The nickle plated Federal is 180gr.

 

[243winxb]

Zane, your at the lower end of the powder charge. If accuracy is good , you dont need to add more powder as long as the action of your DPMS LR-308L cycles correctly. Defective brass seems to have been the cause in the link i supplied above. Mostly, i was just pointing out that different components, brass, bullets, primers, seating depth, can all case pressure to rise or fall with a given powder charge.. You have done your homework by looking at many different sources for data, as your should. I feel that you are "safe".

 

[Zane]

Thanks. I hope to get to a range this coming week to see how they work.

 

[Walkalong]

"Service" loads are meant for M1's with their pressure-curve dependent particularities.

Yep, and very important if you are reloading for Garands etc.

 

[Zane]

Thanks all. I took my cartridges out today and was quite satisfied. I went as high as 43 grains of Varget. Once I get a new scale, I may go higher. The best precision was with 42.5 gr. While not much of a feat for many, at 50 yards, many of the holes were touching and I was quite happy.

 

[kennedy]

Never had a problem with the PPU brass, I did measure the volume and compared it to my winchester brass I used to work my loads up, and adjusted the amount of H4895 powder and shot a 100 yd, 5 shot group of .4 inches(once) in my rem 700. I did notice it felt harder than rem or winchester when sizing and priming.

 

[yooper_sjd]

I reload for CETME, I use about 10 different type of head stamped brass. I try to keep to military brass, and try to stay to IMR4198, 38 gr and 147-150 FMJ bullet. Not really noticing any difference in accuracy. I hit what I am shooting at. But I am not shooting in long distance match shoots with this. If I were, I would stick to PRVI Brass, and use a Military load.