Went today to try out my first round of reloads.Using rem.brass,fed210 primers,43.5grs.of varget pushing 180gr.hornady sst's.It didn't group very well.So planning to switch to 210m's and reducing to 43grs,it should be a good load for a .308.Any suggestions?
First reload test
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Grumulkin
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My suggestion would be to make up a batch of reloads with incrementally increased powder charges and see which load shoots the best.
rfwobbly
Member
+1
If you hopscotch all around, changing bullets and/or powders whenever a load doesn't perform like you thought then you're going to end up with samples of every bullet and powder made.... and zero workable reloads.
Every bullet has an optimal load, so why not find the one for the bullets you already have in hand? Do as Mr Mulkin suggests. That bullet may group better or worse than you thought, but one thing for sure: You'll never know until you do the incremental loads to find out.
You'll never be able to reliably estimate which bullets will do well until you have intimate knowledge of your rifle. And that knowledge comes one group at a time.
Crashbox
Member
+2. I agree 100% with the above- work up your loads until you find the sweet spot for your system (gun/brass/primer/powder/bullet).
Just a few days ago I finally got around to reloading for my .40 S&W and noticed the loads about three-tenths above minimum were not grouping well at all, so I continued to work up incrementally until I found the performance satisfactory for me while staying reasonably below max charges. The sweet spot was at the warm end of the middle. It was really interesting watching the groups tighten up- it was quite obvious, even with my eyesight of a mole.
Just a few days ago I finally got around to reloading for my .40 S&W and noticed the loads about three-tenths above minimum were not grouping well at all, so I continued to work up incrementally until I found the performance satisfactory for me while staying reasonably below max charges. The sweet spot was at the warm end of the middle. It was really interesting watching the groups tighten up- it was quite obvious, even with my eyesight of a mole.
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James2
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As mentioned, usually you can find a sweet spot just by changing the powder charge. If you change more than one thing at a time you will never know. I would not change the primer. Just work with the powder charge. I usually load 3 then add a few grains and load 3 etc. then go shoot. This is the thing that makes reloading fun, looking for that sweet spot where the group tightens up. There are several powders that should work well in a 308 and Varget is on the list.
I agree with the "change one variable at a time" method of load development.
I've found that increasing powder by as little as .1 of a grain can have some drastic impacts on groupings at 100 yards. I'll generally load a range of charges and see which ones perform the best. I've also found that more does not necessarily equal better.
For instance, 44.5 grains of 4895 works well with a particular bullet, but 44.8 grains tends to not group as nicely out of the same rifle, using the same components.
So work with one variable at a time and work up from there.
I've found that increasing powder by as little as .1 of a grain can have some drastic impacts on groupings at 100 yards. I'll generally load a range of charges and see which ones perform the best. I've also found that more does not necessarily equal better.
For instance, 44.5 grains of 4895 works well with a particular bullet, but 44.8 grains tends to not group as nicely out of the same rifle, using the same components.
So work with one variable at a time and work up from there.
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