RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

if its not I guess I will find out tomorrow at the range I'm sure it is its within the 10% mark they recommend backing off for a start load. well its more like backed off 9% but I think it should be enough. 1mile50 I want ya to have my email address [email protected]

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

I just looked at my scale still has a powder charge sitting in the tray. And ........... it was a 42.3 charge not 42.2 well I hope that will still be a ok start load.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

I never had luck with varget until you hit about 44gr. I load in 1 grain increments. I found the 46 worked like a champ and very slightly compressed. The 47 was compressed fully. Didn't work for me. So don't be surprised if 42, and 43grs is pretty inaccruate.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

I talked to The guys at Sierra today they said the 165 grain BTHP gameking performs the best at velocities between 2,500 - 2,700 fps and with the 42.3 grains I should be getting somewhere over 2,600 fps but the accuracy will depend on the bullet seating depth in the case. they said to start at a 2.750 COL and work up but some have better luck starting at 2.790 COL and working down. I decided to start at 2.790 COL and work it down since with factory ammo my rifle did real well with ammo loaded at 2.780 COL to 2.790 COL.
what were you loading with 47 grains of varget?? a 308 with a 165 grain pill??
according to all my load data that would be a hot load unless you were loading a lighter bullet like a 150 grain.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

Unfortunately, with Varget I have neither expertise, nor experience. But, if I had known earlier that your data called for a compressed load, I would have suggested a higher start load. With respect to the powder, you really are better off getting advice from someone who uses it.
When you loaded up your 50 rounds, how many of each load increase increment did you load? Have you considered trying the Audette method?

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

The what method?? I figured I'd just load a bunch I figured were a safe load and pop them off see what they did and burn a little time and get my moneys worth of the range fees. As much trouble as I was having with my balance scale and powder measure trying to hit the 42 grain mark I figured I'd play with the 50 I loaded up and worry about working it up next week when I get a digital scale. I'm actually not sure but assumed it was a compressed load because in the hodgdon load manual the sierra 168 grain match king with 46 grains of varget says its a compressed load but with my other data it does not specify its compressed load with a 165 grain jacketed bullet and 46 grains of varget but does specify a 42 grain charge is a safe starter load.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

Well, I hope you have a good load, or else you've wasted about 45 rounds. I had earlier suggested the small incremental increases because your initial primer choice was the WLR, best to be on the safe side. If you ran an Audette from your start to your max, you would be shooting the 15 rounds that I suggest below, at .3 grains per increment.
As copied from a post of mine in another thread:
Load work ups can be very frustrating. You can shoot many rounds without seeing the results you want. A man named Audette came up with a good method. Load your choice of powder/bullets for a particular test. Load 15 rounds total. Load the 1rst 3 rounds at the minimum listed load for your bullet/powder combination. Load the remaining 12 in equal increments to the maximum listed load.
Go past the grocery store and pick up some large white posterboard. Put a large target dot in the center. If you can, set the target at least 200 yards out. Shoot the 1rst 3 minimum loads to see were you are hitting. You want to be starting out 2" or 3" below the bullseye while aiming at the bullseye because your hits will tend to rise as you advance thru the loads. This is the time to make any corrections. Mark your 1rst hits, and number each successive hit, as often as necessary to keep track of them. If you have access to a chrono, use that too.
Keep your point of aim on the bullseye and shoot your loads, while keeping track of your hits and keeping your eye open for any signs of excessive pressure. Record your data for each test. Keep your target for each test. You will need to evaluate it later.
You are accomplishing several things here. Your shots should start to string up, as your loads increase. You will notice that some of the shots will group together, then start stringing again. The grouping indicates a sweet spot in your load, a spot for you to work on. There may be more than 1 sweet spot. You are only shooting 15 rounds, but you can tell if the bullet/powder combo has potential or not. You are also safely working up to the listed max load when you use the Audette method.
There is really a lot you can do to fine tune your loads. I would suggest you avoid CCI primers in your 7 mag. Also, I would start my O.A.L. .010" from the lands, tune your O.A.L. after you find your load.
Check out Varmint Als reloading page
There is a whole bunch of info for you there.
You say your range has a chrono for use. That's great, I'm impressed. Your "sweet spots" should show as flat spots on the velocity data. As you leave a sweet spot, your velocity will jump. If you pass your max, the jump will be considerable, and velocity will jump above what is listed. Sometimes velocity will flatten out, and even reduce slightly in the maximum zone, then jump sharply, very sharply, a warning that must be heeded. You are not extrapolating, so that should not be a factor. Just good to know.
Notice the reference to 7 mag. Like I said, it is from another post.
Man, what's with that scale? Midway sells a battery powered trickler, cheap but it works. Also, what is your distance from the lands?

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

For some reason, the guys at Sierra are very conservative on the 308win 165/168gr data. I can't figure it out. Everybody else in the business tells you 46 or 47gr is max. I wasted alot of time trying to get their numbers to work, by changing COL but accuracy wasn't there for 3 different rifles. Maybe they tell us that because the bullet doesn't perfrom well at 2800fps, which is were my 165game kings land. But I have taken 10 or so deer with it without any problems. I doubt you will reach 2600fps with 42gr of powder. Let us know how it does. I checked all the manuels, even barnes and don't see the loads being so mind. I talked to one guy at Sierra that said he doesn't shoot that low power of a load either and can't figure why they are so conservative, and shoots 46gr but then Duane (another tech) who said he did some of the testing for the manuel said stick to the 42.2gr.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

LOL Yea me too, After the first 5 or 6 rounds if the accuracy is so poor I'll quit take them back home and pull the bullets. I used a collet die and a seater no crimp I figured out an easy way to pull the bullets without damaging them. But thats my last resort If they have atleast the accuracy of factory ammo I'll save them and use them for deer hunting or varmints.

I would suppose they are but the tech I talked to I believe his name was paul he said that 42.3 grains is a fine start load. Then I looked on their web site for ballistic coeffients heres the link http://www.sierrabullets.com/bullets/bc.cfm Basically its says the bullets perform the best at 2600 fps or above or 1800 fps and below. I jusy have this funny gut feeling that my 42.3 grains won't produce above 2600 fps and Im gonna have some of the worst flying bullets. almost feel like maybe I should forget shooting them and just go pull them now.

RE: What primers to use in .308 loadings?
 

I loaded 15 rounds in just like the audette method explains I did .3 grain increments gonna hit the range thursday and see what I come up with. I have my COL OAL which ever is the correct way to say it set at 2.790 I figure since bullets seem to do better closer to the lands i figure I'll work it up to the 2.800 mark hopefully knocking out 10 or 15 loads if nothing happens with that then I'll go back to 2.790 and work it down.