.308 Reloading help

[bigjake83]

Thanks SPANKY..LOL looks like varget and IMR are my best bet.

does any one think my redding dies are a overkill, would i do just as good with RCBS??

[bigjake83]

Also, I have shot 1/2" 5 shot groups at 100yrds with Fed match ammo, so am i really going to get better groups with handloads???

[RonPogi]

Rifle = AI AE MK III .308 24" Folding Stock 1:12 twist
Powder = Top 2 target IMR 4064 43.8gr and 3 target below is RL 15 43.5 gr
Bullet = Hornady 168 HPBT match grade
Brass = Assorted
Neck size = 331
Primer = CCI #200
OAL = 2.820"
COAL = 2.806" +/- 1
Crimped = Slight

Result = 5 shots per group @ 100 yards until I ran out of ammo to test and some jealous guy trying to shoot or ruin my target with .223 :P

[bigjake83]

NICE SHOOTIN Pogi, but that did not answer my queston. Can handloads shoot better then high quality match ammo???????????? im already shooting 1/2" groups

[bigjake83]

And thats also a $4,000 rifle Pogi VS $1,100 REM,....cheater, cheater...

[Don29palms]

Handloads are usually much more accurate when you find a load that works in your rifle. The load I use for 168gr Hornady match bullets is 40.4grs of RL-15 .010 off the lands. Here's my best targetof 10 shots at 200yds.

[bigjake83]

thanks Palms

[RonPogi]

NICE SHOOTIN Pogi, but that did not answer my queston. Can handloads shoot better then high quality match ammo???????????? im already shooting 1/2" groups

YES!

[Samtech79]

On my 5R I used to use IRM 4064 and it was a good powder. I used 42.5 grains with a 168 grain bullet. Rumor is that comes out very close to Federal Gold Medal Match specs.

Hahaha... I only shot my crony a few times working up that same load. I ended up at 42.6.

[neal0124]

AR comp is another alliant powder that works well for heavy projectiles, although you may not want to use it in a bolt action. I've been using it for a while now loading 175gr smk's for my .308 and 77gr smk's for my .223. I've noticed that it will create higher pressures than reloader 15 and varget with lower charge weights. On my .308 I get higher velocities and tighter groups (no crono, I need less moa to get out to 1k, so I pretty sure I'm getting higher velocities).

I stick with cci #34's, they seem to fit better/tighter in my casings.

[BraveUlysses]

Handloads are usually much more accurate when you find a load that works in your rifle. The load I use for 168gr Hornady match bullets is 40.4grs of RL-15 .010 off the lands. Here's my best targetof 10 shots at 200yds.

That's very nice at 200 yards (obviously very nice). I do slightly better than that at 100 but that's much better than my 200.

I use 168 SMK with 42.5 gr of Varget through an FN 308.

[SunkenShadow]

168 gr Hornady HPBT, 44.0 gr of Varget, Winchester Primers

worked fine for me and this is the recipe for Hornady A-MAX loads.

[RugerNo1]

I only skimmed the discussion, but what kind of distance are we talking. There is not much use in developing the perfect 168 SMK load if you plan on shooting out to 1000 yards.

"Friends don't let friends shoot 168s at 1000 yards."

[CK_32]

I've been told the perfect load of 168gr bullet can actually be more consistant than the 175 SMKs from 100 to 800 yards.. And some can build a 1000 yard load but it's pretty hard to match the 175 SMK.

But some guys like sub 700 yard group shooting some other like 1000 yard shooting thus the need for 168/175.. I have seen some amazing groups from a few 168gr loads at 100 to 600 yards..

[Thatguy80]

I only skimmed the discussion, but what kind of distance are we talking. There is not much use in developing the perfect 168 SMK load if you plan on shooting out to 1000 yards.

"Friends don't let friends shoot 168s at 1000 yards."

+1, it was pain getting the 168's to 1000. I use the 175's with Lapua Brass and 43.5 of Varget to get out to 1000. The 175's laugh at the wind