[jbpmidas]

We are working up a load for my new .308. Right now we are trying to find the correct torque for the action screws. The gun is a Remington Target/ Tactical with VTR 5-R barrel. It came in a Bell & Carlson A5 stock. Upon arrival, the rear action screw was not torqued at all. The front was 45lbs. The best groups we have gotten have been at 42.5 front/ 40 rear. We got a .402 3-shot 100 yard group with Nosler 168CCHP over 41.2 grains of H335. We were not able to duplicate that group, however. When rechecking torque, the front action screw would be loose. Also, we checked chamber length and found it to be 1/10" longer than the Savage 10BAS-K .308. I loaded 2 different test loads to .010 off the lands. Those loads were 43.0 grains of IMR4895 under SMK 175's and Nosler CCHP175's.

My question is, when we get the torque set, is there a minimum velocity I need to load for? I want to try 600 yard F-Class this summer and maybe 1000 one day. I know I need to keep the projectile super-sonic to the target. What is the minimum velocity for the 175 SMK?

 

[crazyace85]

My software shows around 2400 muzzle velocity will put you close to the sub/supersonic line at 1091fps at 1000 yards. And around 1480 at 600 yards with that projectile.

 

[jbpmidas]

Thanks! What software?

 

[rdinak]

You will have good luck with Varget and RL15 with 175 SMK's. A good place to start is to chronograph some factory Gold Medal Match Ammo and duplicate the velocity with either of the above mentioned powders. Your reloads with Varget can safely exceed the factory loading's velocity.

42.3-43.3 RL 15, Federal GMM primers, Sierra 175 Match Kings with easily produce the accuracy you are looking for. I worked these loads up in new Lapua brass for three different .308's. It works great. Good Shooting.

 

[jbpmidas]

That Sierra 175MK over 43.0 IMR 4895 grouped .79 at 100. I would be happy with that as starting point if we can duplicate it. The velocity I saw listed for that load was 2750. I know mine may be slightly higher or lower. I'm curious as to how much room I have to play with to stay supersonic out to 1000. Thank you cor your info!

The GMM's are around 2650, right? If that's the case, I have alot of wiggle room!

 

[X-Ring]

What is the twist rate and length of your barrel?

 

[jbpmidas]

26" 1:11.25"

 

[msredneck]

I tend to start with loads that will run 2600 fps. These are generally the middle of the road loads in most of the data I've seen...

I'm waiting on some 175's to come in...so I'm right behind ya


works ok so far at 600 yards...at 1000 the lil ole 308 is about to run out of gas

Only way to know for sure is to chrono you loads...

as a new F class shooter...personally I think I've spent too much time worrying about finding the "magic load"....when what I really need to spend time one is the basics of rifle shooting prone...

Shooting technique is afffecting me a whole lot more right now than any of my loads....my newbie 2 cents... :lol4:

 

[jbpmidas]

I learned from 22 F-Class that prone shooting is a whole new ballgame. I've seen a lot of posts about whose rifle shoots what from the bench, but the scores aren't reflecting it. Prone adds a whole new level of difficulty. When I get my load narrowed down, I will shoot prone exclusively. I quit shooting my 82G from the bench a while back.

 

[moredes]

... 42.3-43.3 RL 15, Federal GMM primers, Sierra 175 Match Kings with easily produce the accuracy you are looking for. I worked these loads up in new Lapua brass for three different .308's. It works great. Good Shooting.

I agree with this. I've got three .308's, too, and this is the exact recipe I used though I didn't have to use more than 43.0 of RL-15 to get 2650fps out of the 175smk's. If you have the patience for LONG extruded powders, or find a good price, you might substitute IMR 4064 for the RL-15.

For accuracy beyond 600yd, I moved to 178AMAX with the same load--42.5 RL-15 or 42.5-43.7 IMR 4064, FGMM, and Lapua brass. 4064 showed the potential for tighter groups, but I could never shoot it as consistently. I dunno if it was me, the gun or the load. Is your ".402" in inches or MOA? that is to say, is this a hundred-yard measurement or longer?

edited to clarify the 178AMAX load

 

[jbpmidas]

That is inches at 100 yards. SGMJody shot a 3-shot .062" group with it, but we have been unable to duplicate it.

 

[jbpmidas]

I did however shoot a couple of .3+ groups. the 175's went .35 while th eNosler 168 was .34.

 

[Beladran]

why does everyone hate on 4064???

 

[crazyace85]

Because varget is better lol. Some folks get good results but I've tried it and about all I could get was one inch groups. Varget gets me under an inch. I also tried and still working with imr 8208xbr. It's not proving to be very good at all in my rifle. I also got some ramshot tac to try but I think my remmy is addicted to varget.

 

[moredes]

I should have made myself more clear about my favoritism with the 178AMAX--I really, really like that round for the 600+ yd distances. It seems much more stable in my rifles at the farther distances. All my sticks are all 1-12 twists and 24" barrel lengths.

For 600 and under, and especially at 100yd, I haven't found anything better than the Nosler J4 168s.

As to 4064, I "like" it because I found it on sale. Bigtime--22% cheaper than RL-15. I've got a powder measuring setup that isn't painless, but it's accurate. However, as I said, RL-15 seems to give me consistently better groups. With 4064, 1 out of 4 to 7 five-shot groups will have a flier that opens the group by >25%. The RL-15 shoots predictably all day long.

I can keep the RL loads under .7MOA; sometimes it's a struggle to keep the 4064 at < 1MOA. These numbers are good out to 400yd. Beyond that depends on the usual "factors".

 

[jbpmidas]

I tried the 168 A-Max's and the gun did not like them as well. I do not have any of the 178's.

 

[msredneck]

why does everyone hate on 4064???

Me loves 4064

red boa luvs it...and you can always find it

I'd say its time to shoot some at 300 yards and find out what you really have...

You plenty good to come shoot F class now....I would not wait till summer...life is short...come shoot...doing it is a lot more fun than reading about it

 

[jbpmidas]

I'd love to cone shoot. Time is my enemy right now. That, and I'd have a 4-5 hour drive, but I will make t down.

Our range only goes to 200, I wish it was 300+!

 

[nonnieselman]

I have been tryin some 4064 with 175smk, 175ncc and 185 scenars. Think im gonna go back to varget and try the scenars and smk. Being a 20" stick and 10 twist i dont think its gonna be all that great at a long range blaster. Hopefully it will do good enough at 600.
But the 26th im thinkin hard bout taking my 22-250. Saturday im taking it to 600 and see what it will do if its not too windy.