I think this load is a little on the warm side.

[thump_rrr]

Went to the range today to test out a couple of loads for my 308 and my 6.5 Creedmoor.

The .308 is a Savage 10BA with an IBI 26” 1-10” twist 5R barrel.

I was testing out Berger 185 Juggernauts with 43.5, 43.7, and 43.9 gr of Varget.
These are way over book max so please don’t use my load data.
The velocities appear to be what I was expecting from past experience.



I then tested my 6.5 Creedmoor load in my Savage 12FV in an MDT LSS-XL chassis.That one has a 26” IBI 1-8” twist with 5R rifling.

I shot that load in a match a few weeks ago except in FC brass. I didn’t have enough FC brass so I loaded another 100 rounds in Lapua brass just in case we had to re-shoot a stage. The difference was the load was developed in 45F weather. It was averaging 2787fps. My dope calculated by StrelokPro was dead on out to our maximum range of 500M.
As you can see it is running much faster than I’d like even though there are no pressure signs.
I will load pictures of the brass when I get home.

 

[Walkalong]

Any particular reason you’re loading over max?

 

[jmorris]

Human nature, pushing boundaries they put in place.

 

[Kaldor]

The velocities dont look bad, but it is taking a bit of powder to get them there. You getting any weird pressure issues?

I ended up at 42.6gr of Varget, CCI 200 primer, 185 Jug seated 20 thou off the lands, Peterson brass which gets me 2641 fps with ES/SD of 13 & 5.
This is from a 26" Criterion on a Savage action. Shoots a consistent 1/2" 5 shot group, sometimes better, sometimes worse.

 

[thump_rrr]

It was not my intention to push the boundaries.
This was the original load development for the rifle with the original barrel.
It was performed in 0°F with no chronograph so I was flying blind.

I replaced the barrel a few months ago and shot the 39.8gr load for the first 200 rounds. It was shooting between 0.4moa - 0.7moa.
I had a precision rifle (service conditions) clinic/competition a couple of weeks ago and I set out to develop a load for the new barrel.
This was my work up for the new barrel.
This was shot at 37°F with Federal brass.
I only had 100 pieces of Federal and 100 pieces of Lapua brass.
There is a 4% difference in case capacity between the Federal and Lapua brass.

The day before the competition I decided to load an additional 50 rounds using my Lapua brass.
Last night when I got home, I pulled a few rounds and discovered that instead of loading 40.2gr I loaded 42.0 gr.
That was my mistake and a big one at that.

As for the .308 my goal is to not go transonic before 1000m.
My 178gr Hornady HPBT at 2620fps just make it there.

 

[thump_rrr]

The velocities dont look bad, but it is taking a bit of powder to get them there. You getting any weird pressure issues?

I ended up at 42.6gr of Varget, CCI 200 primer, 185 Jug seated 20 thou off the lands, Peterson brass which gets me 2641 fps with ES/SD of 13 & 5.
This is from a 26" Criterion on a Savage action. Shoots a consistent 1/2" 5 shot group, sometimes better, sometimes worse.

185 Juggernauts are not my typical 308 bullet.
I found someone who has 1,000 of them and is not shooting this year.
In Canada they sell for $104 a box so $1.20 each after taxes and before shipping.
I have 1,800 Hornady 178 BTHP that I bought right when the panic started in the USA for $0.58 a piece.
We were several months behind so I was also able to buy 5,000 each BR-2 and BR-4 for $65/1,000

I don’t believe it is worth buying them at that price for almost no gain at the target.

 

[Kaldor]

185 Juggernauts are not my typical 308 bullet.
I found someone who has 1,000 of them and is not shooting this year.
In Canada they sell for $104 a box so $1.20 each after taxes and before shipping.
I have 1,800 Hornady 178 BTHP that I bought right when the panic started in the USA for $0.58 a piece.
We were several months behind so I was also able to buy 5,000 each BR-2 and BR-4 for $65/1,000

I don’t believe it is worth buying them at that price for almost no gain at the target.

I think where the 185s really shine for me was at a 1000 yards being they are much easier to keep supersonic than a 178 of 175. Not to say you cant keep that 175/178 supersonic, it just ends up being a pretty stout load in my case.
I found the 175 SMK shot better than the 178 Hornady in my case after quite a bit of testing.
Nice price on those primers. I have 1 box of BR2s squirreled away, but with the complete lack of LRPs on the market right now, Ive been hesitant to start shooting them as a have a decent amount of 200s on hand.

 

[thump_rrr]

I think where the 185s really shine for me was at a 1000 yards being they are much easier to keep supersonic than a 178 of 175. Not to say you cant keep that 175/178 supersonic, it just ends up being a pretty stout load in my case.
I found the 175 SMK shot better than the 178 Hornady in my case after quite a bit of testing.
Nice price on those primers. I have 1 box of BR2s squirreled away, but with the complete lack of LRPs on the market right now, Ive been hesitant to start shooting them as a have a decent amount of 200s on hand.

I’m literally at 1098fps with the 178’s at 1000m.
I might shoot 1000m once a year.
This summer there is an ELR and Jr ELR that’s interesting.
The ELR is up to 2,600m and the Jr is up to 1500m.
There is a maximum bullet diameter of .264 for the Jr and .338 for the ELR.
Someone I know is shooting the ELR with a 338 EnABELR which takes 130gr of powder.

 

[Nature Boy]

Understand that these loads below were developed for use in F/TR matches. They are on the ragged edge.

I have a developed load using Juggernauts with 43.5gn of Varget and found my brass life greatly shortened. Only 3 cycles with Lapua brass and the primer pockets were toast.

I switched to H4895 and got better results by hitting the same node with less powder and less pressure signs. Still, brass life was shortened.

Only after switching to small pocket Palma brass did I get case life that I could tolerate.

Unless you’re trying to wring the most out of you load for competition I’d suggest dropping down to something around 41.9gn of Varget. There’s a node around that spot that Juggernauts really like (in my rifles).

100 yards

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Understand that these loads below were developed for use in F/TR matches. They are on the ragged edge.

I have a developed load using Juggernauts with 43.5gn of Varget and found my brass life greatly shortened. Only 3 cycles with Lapua brass and the primer pockets were toast.

I switched to H4895 and got better results by hitting the same node with less powder and less pressure signs. Still, brass life was shortened.

Only after switching to small pocket Palma brass did I get case life that I could tolerate.

Unless you trying to wring the most of you load for competition I’d suggest dropping down to something around 41.9gn of Varget. There’s a node around that spot that Juggernauts really like (in my rifles).

100 yards

View attachment 1150368

Forgive if this is a dumb question but, do you/can you also hunt with your competition loads?

I understand that may not be the most economical thing to do but, for me, the two had to be kept separate because I was shooting SMK’s and FMJ’s for milspec equivalents and those were not legal in Florida for hunting on public lands.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You guys are shooting 1 ragged hole with 39.8 !

I mean Good To Go!

 

[thump_rrr]

You guys are shooting 1 ragged hole with 39.8 !

I mean Good To Go!

That was a different barrel at 0°F
I’m going to go back and play in that area once again.

 

[thump_rrr]

Understand that these loads below were developed for use in F/TR matches. They are on the ragged edge.

I have a developed load using Juggernauts with 43.5gn of Varget and found my brass life greatly shortened. Only 3 cycles with Lapua brass and the primer pockets were toast.

I switched to H4895 and got better results by hitting the same node with less powder and less pressure signs. Still, brass life was shortened.

Only after switching to small pocket Palma brass did I get case life that I could tolerate.

Unless you trying to wring the most of you load for competition I’d suggest dropping down to something around 41.9gn of Varget. There’s a node around that spot that Juggernauts really like (in my rifles).

100 yards

View attachment 1150368

Thanks
I’ll take a look at that area.

 

[thump_rrr]

Forgive if this is a dumb question but, do you/can you also hunt with your competition loads?

I understand that may not be the most economical thing to do but, for me, the two had to be kept separate because I was shooting SMK’s and FMJ’s for milspec equivalents and those were not legal in Florida for hunting on public lands.

Some target bullets such as the Sierra Matchking are not recommended for hunting applications.
They are not designed to expand and create a large wound channel. Despite this many prey both 4 legged and 2 legged have been taken down with these bullets.

 

[Nature Boy]

@thump_rrr

You may want to also try the Berger 185 Hybrids. That became my go to for 600 yard F Class. I made High Master shooting those with 43.5gn of H4895

Better BC. Very accurate.

0.45 MOA 10 shot group at 500 yards

 

[thump_rrr]

@thump_rrr

You may want to also try the Berger 185 Hybrids. That became my go to for 600 yard F Class. I made High Master shooting those with 43.5gn of H4895

Better BC. Very accurate.

0.45 MOA 10 shot group at 500 yards

Nice.
Finding any Berger in Canada has always been hit and miss.
For the last 2 years it has been impossible.
As for H4895 I haven’t seen any for over a year.
When I do find powders they are now $69.95-$74.95 a pound.
I have tons of other powders such as 15lbs of Varget, 17lbs of IMR 4064, 6.5 lbs IMR 4166, 26 lbs H4350.

 

[JustSomeGuyinCA]

Human nature, pushing boundaries they put in place.

 

[N555]

Mine likes them way over book coal like 60 to 80 thousands and at or slightly over max.
I have loaded some of the brass 6 times now, primer still feels factory tight.

 

[thump_rrr]

Mine likes them way over book coal like 60 to 80 thousands and at or slightly over max.
I have loaded some of the brass 6 times now, primer still feels factory tight.

Mine are loaded to magazine length pretty much