Suggested load with varget

[.308djc]

Being new to reloading for the .308,i think of going 44.5gr.of varget as of right now using regular federal primers but thinking of switching to fed.210M's or CCI primers.The bullets i'll be using mostly will be in the 175gr.to 180gr.mostly towards the 180 grainers.Is this a good load?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

43.5 grains is popular...

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, .308djc.

Varget usually does not need mag primers with the short charge column in a 308, but if you choose to use them, there is nothing wrong with that. Just use them from the start load, and when you are working up.

IMO, 165gr bullets match up much better in the short necked 308, where 180gr bullets have to be seated deeper in the case, and hog into the powder space to be able to fit in the magazine.
I'm guessing that these are hunting loads.

A word of caution about starting to load with 44.5gr of Varget and 180gr bullets. This is a near maximum load according to www.hodgdon.com site data. It's a good way to have a bad experience for a new reloader. The start loads are there for a reason. You don't know how your rifle is going to react with each powder listed. A smart reloader is always cautious. Start low and work up towards the maximum. Often your most accurate load is somewhere in between start and maximum.


NCsmitty

 

[redbullitt]

work up the load and watch for pressure signs. Just diving in to the upper end of the load data can be pretty risky. You may not even need to go that hot. Id start at like 42 and go up until you find something that shoots how you want it to.

Most 308s I have played with (175 smk) worked best somewhere between 42 and 44 grains. I have never needed to run mag primers with supersonic 308 loads.

Dont worry about wringing out a few extra fps. Go for what is accurate. Whatever you are shooting wont know the difference. AND you will get better brass life.

 

[hancjamk]

I loaded 44.2 gr. of varget 168gr sierra cci benchrest primers. This load is very accurate in my rifle, however the primers are showing sighs of excessive pressure (flattened primers). A heavier bullet would only increase that pressure. I started with 42.5 and worked my way up to 44.2.

 

[dardascastbullets]

In my past life of highpower competition, I loaded 46.0 grains of Varget, 190 Dardas boattail, with an RWS primer and Lapua cases. It was a compressed load and would clean the 600 yard target. I do not condone the use of this load other than in my rifle in front of my shoulder!

 

[USSR]

Being new to reloading for the .308,i think of going 44.5gr.of varget as of right now using regular federal primers but thinking of switching to fed.210M's or CCI primers.The bullets i'll be using mostly will be in the 175gr.to 180gr.mostly towards the 180 grainers.Is this a good load?

Depends upon the brass you are using. If you are using Winchester or Hornady Match brass, no problem. Any other brass and I would start lower and work up to it.

Varget usually does not need mag primers with the short charge column in a 308, but if you choose to use them, there is nothing wrong with that. Just use them from the start load, and when you are working up.

The Fed. 210M primer is a match primer, not a magnum primer, so no problem there.

Don

 

[Jim Watson]

44 grains of Varget is as much as I want to load with a 175 gr SMK.

 

[amlevin]

I load 44 gr Varget in Lapua cases with 175gr Nosler Custom Competition HPBT's and they shoot inside 1" @300 yards.

You will want to work up the proper load for YOUR rifle. For my Rem 5-R Milspec I started at 41.5 gr, shooting 5 round groups. Increased each batch of 5 by .5 Gr. Found that the tightest vertical groups were at 44 gr. for my rifle.

Every rifle has it's "sweet spot" when it comes to loads. Find one that works well for yours and you'll be pleased with the results.