I have the hornady 7th edition manual and I'm reloading my .308. I bought an 8lb can of Varget and I'm using federal large rifle primers. The bullet is 168gr BTHP match
from the Hornady manual using Varget it shows the min thru the max load. The max load states 41.3 gr for a .308 service rifle.
Hodgdon web site shows min 42gr and a max 46 using a SIE 168gr BTHP.
Their max load isn't even listed in the Hornady manual for the .308 service rifle.
I know there are differences between a service rifle and non-service rifle but it seems the powder load is a lot different.
My first set of bullets using Varget was based on the Hornady specs and I loaded 3 sets of 5 each beginning with 38gr, 39.4, and 40.6gr.
At 100 yds with about 20mph cross wind the lighter loads hit way to the left of the target with the 38gr bullets barely hitting the edge. The 40.6gr dumped all 5 within the bull with 2 breaking the inner bull ring. My conclusion was the Hornady manual was way off and the Hodgdon load data is closer to what I should be using.
It's confusing so I thought I'd post here before I increase my load from 40.6 to 41.3gr.
from the Hornady manual using Varget it shows the min thru the max load. The max load states 41.3 gr for a .308 service rifle.
Hodgdon web site shows min 42gr and a max 46 using a SIE 168gr BTHP.
Their max load isn't even listed in the Hornady manual for the .308 service rifle.
I know there are differences between a service rifle and non-service rifle but it seems the powder load is a lot different.
My first set of bullets using Varget was based on the Hornady specs and I loaded 3 sets of 5 each beginning with 38gr, 39.4, and 40.6gr.
At 100 yds with about 20mph cross wind the lighter loads hit way to the left of the target with the 38gr bullets barely hitting the edge. The 40.6gr dumped all 5 within the bull with 2 breaking the inner bull ring. My conclusion was the Hornady manual was way off and the Hodgdon load data is closer to what I should be using.
It's confusing so I thought I'd post here before I increase my load from 40.6 to 41.3gr.