compressed varget loads?

[thenotoriousmo]

im not the most experienced reloader, but as i was looking through some of the 308 varget loads, i was seeing that some of the loads had 46+ grains of varget in there. now in the fgmm brass that i have been reloading, 45gr fills it up to the very top of the neck(mixed lots, trimmed to 2.10). im curious as to how all that fits in there???

[Divernhunter]

If you use a long drop tube it will settle more. However as long as you can start the bullet you will be fine. You might try Win748 also. Not sure what bullet or the purpose of your loads but the 748 works better for me with 125-150gr bullets for hunting.

[thenotoriousmo]

thankfully i've already found the load my rifle likes which is at 44.8 grains of varget with a 175 smk (i buy it in bulk because it works great in 308 at 223 with little compromise between the two). so this more of one of my curiosity questions

but i was more curious as to how it fits in there. i dont have the numbers of the case volume of h20 that i got with my brass handy, but i remember it would not fit no where near 46 grains... so i guess my question is that is it compressed, filled again and than compressed again

[RugerNo1]

...so i guess my question is that is it compressed, filled again and than compressed again

No, usually if you need more room in the casing for more powder you use a powder drop tube. Additionally, most 46+ grain loads are for rifles chambered with a longer lead (distance to the start of the rifling) so that the bullets can be seated out longer and open up more space in the casing.

[Ahhnother8]

Compress away, as it does not make any difference. I've loaded up to 49 grains of Varget in Win brass, with a 155 grain bullet. You don't even want to know what we do with .223 loads.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

You don't even want to know what we do with .223 loads.

I haven't really "pushed it" but I've been using about 25.5gr under a 62gr FMJBT. I had some bad luck with Wolf primers blowing out but since I switched to CCI milspec, it's been good. I think I can go as high as 26.4gr of Varget (which is a compressed load) and the Hodgdon website says it's okay.

[postal]

Most loads for 308 are in the 44 - 45 gr range, but some do use compressed loads. as long as you can get the bullet started without powder above the top of the case, it will crush the powder down as the bullet is seated.

It really depends on the chamber/throat of your rifle. Factory Rem has LONG throats and compressed loads will finally hit the signs of overpressure. My savage factory barrel has a tight chamber, short throat, and above 44.8 with 175 smk will start heavy bolt lift. I also use win/black hills brass which has a larger volume than fed.