New to the site, advice needed

[jimq1]

Putting together a combination of a Remington 5R in 308 and a 5.5 x 22 NXS for deer hunting and coyotes. Would I be better off to go ahead and get it bedded before I start tinkering with loads for it. I am currently looking hard at the 168gr Amax with my longest shot being in the 600yd range. ALL advice will be much appreciated!

 

[Browninglover1]

I personally would bed it before you start doing load development. It will give you a better shooting platform to find your most accurate loads and will help to eliminate any weird fliers associated with bedding issues.

 

[MSLRHunter]

I have a 5R in 300winmag and I shot it as is for a few months before having the hs precision stock skim bedded and I could tell a difference in how it shot. So I would recommend going ahead and getting it bedded. Mine is a consistent .6 moa

 

[backwoods83]

Bedding never hurts, not to late to trade it for a Savage 10 FCP-McMillan!

 

[WildRose]

Yep. I'd say go ahead and get a good pillar bed/free floating done before doing anything else. It will likely save you considerable aggravation down the road and quite possibly a lot of time.

 

[trebark]

Definitely bed it first.

 

[jimq1]

Appreciate the advice gentlemen. I am going to get the bedding job done and then try to work up the best load for it. Then I will tinker with the headspacing to see what that will do for it. Am I on the right track so far?

 

[backwoods83]

Tinker with the headspace? You mean seating depth? I load for 4 different 308s and I will say win brass, cci primers and 45grns of varget with a 2.845"oal is a great starting poing as is the 168 or 175 SMK. Good luck.

 

[liltank]

I had a load with 168 a-max's, but can't think of it now. I believe it was Norma brass, Federal 210 primers, RL15, and about .010" from the lands. I never played with the 168's much. I have a great load with Nosler custom comps, RWS brass, F210M's, 45.0 RL15, and 2.800" OAL.

Tank

 

[jimq1]

Yes you are correct. Does anyone have any increase in accuracy by moving closer to the lands or backing it away from them. Any starting loads are much appreciated. Thanks agin for your help

 

[backwoods83]

In the 308 I shoot on a regular basis, I call it my Johnny Cash one peice at a time rifle. I have tried several loads well under .5 moa, but I shot a 7 shot group with a final measurement of .271" with winchester brass, CCI BR2 primers, Hornady 178grn bthp match, 47grns of Varget, and the OAL was 2.904" or .010" in the lands, 24" 10 twiist is my barrel btw.

 

[liltank]

In the 308 I shoot on a regular basis, I call it my Johnny Cash one piece at a time rifle. I have tried several loads well under .5 moa, but I shot a 7 shot group with a final measurement of .271" with Winchester brass, CCI BR2 primers, Hornady 178grn bthp match, 47grns of Varget, and the OAL was 2.904" or .010" in the lands, 24" 10 twist is my barrel btw.

I would caution this load for anyone who wants to try it. It's a hot load from my experience with Varget and 178 bullets. Start at 44.0 grains and see if you can work up to it. Especially if it is set in the lands, that is a lot of pressure for a .308 case. I know a couple guys that swear by 43.0 grains of RL15 w/ 175 SMK's. 43.5grains is the standard for 168 SMK's. The military sniper load M118LR is 43.0grn of RL15, LC brass, Federal 210 match primer, and 175 SMK. Their match grade is with Federal brass in the same load specs.

Tank

 

[backwoods83]

Tank is correct that is a grain over max with 180grn data, work up from 44 or 45 as mentioned, mine shows no pressure but yours may. RE15 is a good choice as well, I use it when I want more speed and don't mind a slightly larger group. Imr4064 is another good choice. If you need brass I reccomend Lake City or Lapua but I have 9 loads so far on the win brass, it was all I could get in a timely fashion when I bought it. Also always reduce your loads by 1 grain when using federal brass because it has less capacity.

 

[Greyfox]

I'm on my third Mil Spec 308, having shot out the first two. For competition/target I used Lapua brass, 43gr Varget, Fed match primers, 168 SMK's. OAL 2.820. For hunting, 45.3gr Varget, and 165 Ballistic Tips. Both loads .25-.5 MOA. No pressure signs with the hunting load. Never did anything with the bedding with the HS Precision stocks. Just torqued them to 65#.