As promised, .308 load test, 27 rounds

[Redneck with a 40]

I went out and tested my Varget load today, 27 total rounds. As you will see in the photo's, I did okay. I think I pretty much established a baseline of accuracy, which I'm pretty happy with. I think it can only get better from here. The average I calculate, discarding the garbage group #5, don't know what the hell happened there, is 1.2" out of 5 groups.

My handload = 44 grains Varget, CCI primer, Remington Case, 2.800" COL.

The Rifle = Remington 700 SPS Tactical, 20" heavy barrel.

Group #1 = Ultramax Remanufactured 168 gr HPBT......3/4" group, 5 shots, good ammo!

Group #2 = My handload, 5 shots, 1.25".

Group #3 = My handload, 5 shots, 1.25"

Group #4 = My handload, 5 shots, 1.5"

Group #5 = discard, don't know what happened, its an anomoly.

Group #6 = My handload, prvi partizan brass, 44 gr Varget, 1.25"

All shots were at 100 yards, calm winds, about 70 degrees.

I chrono'd 15 rounds and was averaging about 2580 fps, ES was about 40 fps.

I'm consistently shooting 1.25", I'm ok with that, good baseline.

Next batch of 20 is getting loaded at 44.7 grains, I'd like to push'em at 2650 fps.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Good job!

 

[jpwilly]

...what cases you using? You may want to try some ladder loads up to the max load of 46gr of Varget and Rem cases. I think your rifle can do better. Have you tried Black Hills Match or Federal GMM yet?

 

[Redneck with a 40]

The Federal and Black Hills is too pricey for me, I did print 3/4" with the Ultramax match load, it was only $16/box. In the article on sniper central, the Ultramax held its own against both the Federal and Black Hills. I'll certainly take 3/4" out of factory ammo. Now I've just got to get my handloads to match that.

 

[JDGray]

I chrono'd 15 rounds and was averaging about 2580 fps

You was right Thats pretty close to 2600fps

Our rifle barrels are obviously different, but I'll chrono some of my 168s, soon as my scope gets back. I've been shooting a bunch of 155gr SMKs, not Palmas, and got better results

Heres my Varget final work up on that load. I went with 43.6gr

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Ultramax claims 2680 fps from a 24" barrel, that's pretty close to what the sniper central test revealed. I was getting 2605-2630, so I'm losing around 60-70 fps, not unexpected.

 

[USSR]

Redneck with a 40,

I think you will find better accuracy with more powder. Varget is a fairly slow powder (compared to IMR4895), and doesn't perform all that well at low pressures.

Don

 

[Redneck with a 40]

USSR, I'm headin' that direction, I may end up at 45 grains, that's fine.

 

[jpwilly]

Yea, I'm with Don I've been messing about with Varget and different bullets here lately. Save for one load with one particular rifle I'm finding Varget loads work good near max...but a lot depends on the brass. I'm using Federal Brass and Max loads are around 44gr not 46gr like with Rem Brass due to reduced case capacity with Fed Brass.

 

[MCMXI]

JDGray & Redneck, very interesting targets ... did either of you change your point of aim or adjust your scope at all between each of the loads/groups shot?

 

[Redneck with a 40]

1858, I tweaked my vertical adjustment, as my impact on the first two groups was about 4" high, I brought it down to 2.5" high on the last two, which gives me a 220 yard zero.

 

[MCMXI]

Redneck, ok ... that makes sense. So did you find it mentally tiring to shoot 27 rounds? I find load development to be very tiring mentally since it requires a lot of concentration. I typically shoot 58 or 88 rounds in a match but don't find that anywhere near as exhausting (mentally) ... adrenalin helps I'm sure. So why 44.7gr for the next load? I seem to remember that you used 44.0gr at 200 yards last week? Have you worked up in 0.3gr increments from 44.0gr to 45.2gr? If I were you, I'd load 10 of each of 44.0gr, 44.3gr, 44.6gr, 44.9gr and 45.2gr for a total of fifty rounds. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it'll pay off big time, particularly if you shoot a "round-robin" system of 25 rounds (five of each load) over two weekends.

JDGray hasn't replied yet but if he didn't make any adjustments to his scope or point of aim, I'd like to hear his explanation for the obvious change in the POI between the three groups.

 

[JDGray]

JDGray hasn't replied yet but if he didn't make any adjustments to his scope or point of aim, I'd like to hear his explanation for the obvious change in the POI between the three groups.

Hey man, I was watching the Red Wings

I was trying to adjust also. Wanted to see my groups, but kept hitting black.

Had a Friend sitting next to me on the picknic table, and he kept jiggling the table, would shoot before I got all my rounds through. Sometimes I prefer to shoot alone

Load developing is very nerve racking! You want so badly to see a trend in your groups, and hope the human element dosen't come into play!

 

[MCMXI]

Load developing is very nerve racking! You want so badly to see a trend in your groups, and hope the human element dosen't come into play!

So true and thanks for the explanation re the change in POI. I try to remove the human element when working up loads but I just can't shoot worth a damn with the butt of the rifle supported on a bag or rest. I seem to get worse data when shooting that way. Anyway, both you and Redneck are doing a great job so well done to both of you!!

 

[JDGray]

Anyway, both you and Redneck are doing a great job so well done to both of you!!

Thanks for the kind words

Just started shooting, and reloading, for rifles last fall, and its been a rewarding hobby! Soooo much to learn!!

 

[Redneck with a 40]

1858, I'm trying to get these rounds up to 2650 fps, which I figure 44.7 will get me close. If my groups tighten up from where they are now, great! If they actually get looser, I'll try 44.3. I'm really hoping I don't have to drop below 44 grains to get good groups, because out of my 20" barrel, velocity is gonna suck.

I also have some H-4895 I can play with, based on my initial load of 42.3 grains, they ran 2640 fps on the chrono and 2" groups at 200 yards. So far, H-4895 delivers stronger velocity.

 

[JDGray]

Personally, accuracy would be the only thing I'd look for in a load. Record the velocity, so you can duplicate it with a different lot of powder. If your shooting 1000yrds, you will need enough velocity to keep super sonic at the long end, but thats about all you need it for. My Savage would group 168s at about an inch, I swithed to 155s, and consistantly cut that in half. Might be worth a shot

I also have some H-4895 I can play with, based on my initial load of 42.3 grains, they ran 2640 fps on the chrono and 2" groups at 200 yards. So far, H-4895 delivers stronger velocity.

Nothing wrong with that, how they do at 100?

 

[LTR shooter]

Redneck , JDGray -Thanks for posting pics of a whole series of targets! If it were not for the unavailability of primers I would seriously consider a 700 SPS Tactical in .308. I handled one a few months back and I was so tempted to take it with me! I have a 700LTR in .223 at the moment.

 

[JDGray]

Heres my chrono results
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=454545

 

[Walkalong]

Load developing is very nerve racking!

It is best done alone or with someone who knows what concentration it takes, and can be helpful, not distracting.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I do agree that load development is mentally taxing, I was pretty fried mentally after my last group, 27 rounds. I've got a good baseline now to work off of, which is cool. If 1.25" average over 5 groups is a bad day with a less than optimal load, I'm ok with that!

 

[1858rem]

those groups look a lot like when i thought i f#@$ed up my rem788 stock..... maybe it was partly due to using low loads of varget?

 

[JDGray]

You would have to mention a stock problem. I'm running a Choate UV stock, that uses v-block aluminum pillars. I recently floated the rear tang on that stock, I sanded quite a bit of plastic to get it to not touch. My 200yrd groups have never been great, but not including the top group, they all have been sub moa. My 100yrd groups are usually .570"-.580", but not today.

 

[jerkface11]

It shot that good with ultramax? Wow

 

[ClayinAR]

I believe Remington guarantees that gun to shoot minute of angle with match ammo. Guy there told me if it wouldn't send it back and they would fix it or replace it.
CC