1000 Yard .308 Reloading

[LXnastynotch93]

Hey all, I'm about to get into reloading with my dad, as ammo is starting to get expensive.

I'm looking for a .308 load that is going to stay supersonic out to 1000 yards. I was thinking of using the Hornady 178 grain A-Max bullet, RL15 powder, but need help on the primer choice, depth of bullet in the brass, and any other powder choices.

I'm going to be using my Weatherby Vanguard with 22" #3 contour barrel, 1:12 twist for this (in my sig).

Any recommendations for how much powder? I've heard 42.5-45 grains is good for around 2650-2700 fps, which happens to be a good node for the .308 bullet.

I'm going to be experiencing with probably a couple different loads, but I would like it to be close on the first try as I don't have a chrono at the moment. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[jlamb]

My good friend shoots 155gr AMax's pushed with 45.0 grains of Varget. They're leaving the barrel at 3000fps. His rifle is a 1 in 12" twist also.

 

[trigger puller]

I use Varget it is Temp stable and 308s love it. Start low and work up I have had a load @ 43.5 that was accurate but slow my current load is 44.6 gr of varget w/175 SMK,it is running 2690 out of a 20" Broughton 5C THIS LOAD IS SAFE IN MY GUN. DO NOT try it in yours work up and find a load that your guns likes and good luck.gun)

 

[emn83]

My good friend shoots 155gr AMax's pushed with 45.0 grains of Varget. They're leaving the barrel at 3000fps. His rifle is a 1 in 12" twist also.

what's the length on the bbl? That's some pretty impressive speed

 

[MTBULLET]

i would recommend visiting with some bench rest/palma/high power shooters at your local range first, BEFORE trusting any "some one" or"my buddy shoots" info. The trick is not so much "super sonic" as "mach speed" at that range, I use mach 1.2 as my MINIMUM speed for accuracy at that range.

 

[LXnastynotch93]

I'll definitely see if I can get my hands on a chrono because the last thing I want to do is ruin my rifle. I'm basically trying to mimic this cartridge:

http://www.right2bearammo.com/shop/catalog/pdf/117.pdf

 

[MTBULLET]

go to "the riflemans journal" site, look up acticle index for german salazar articles on the .308. TON'S of info for you.

 

[Bart B]

The following's good info on .308 Win. loads for 22 inch barrels at longer ranges. Note some of them are way over max safe SAAMI pressures, but they worked well in M14's

The Rifleman's Journal: Cartridges: 7.62 NATO Long Range Match Cartridges - Part 1

The Rifleman's Journal: Cartridges: 7.62 NATO Long Range Match Cartridges - Part 2

Over the years, one load's been popular and if it doesn't work in your barrel, you may need another barrel or your barreled action refit (bedded?) in the stock. And the shooter may well need to be replaced, too. 43 grains of IMR4064 under a 175 Sierra HPMK with the bullet seated to touch the lands when chambered. 42 grains if IMR4895's been a close second. Sierra's 168's and 180's in HPMK style are not too good for the longer ranges; they tend to go subsonic before 1000 yards when fired from .308 Win. cases. I doubt you can shoot 155's fast enough (3000 fps) out the muzzle of a .308's 22 inch barrel; they need to leave that fast to remain supersonic in most atmospheric conditions.

Wolff large rifle primers are among the best for accuracy. So are commercial cases. Full length size your fired cases correctly. Ensure your rifle's firing pin is up to factory specs; weak ones cause poor accuracy at the longer ranges as velocity spread will be too great.

Bullets need to be a few ten thousandths inch bigger than groove diameter for best accuracy. Slug your bore then compare the lead ball's diameter to what your bullets are. If the bullets are smaller than the barrel's groove diameter, don't expect great accuracy, but it might happen.

 

[LXnastynotch93]

I've been leading towards the 175-178 grain round. Around 2700 fps. I think that would be somewhere around 42.5-43 grains of powder from what I've read. I'm going to have to double check the Miller stabilization number of the 178 gr Hornady A-Max round as well.

 

[jlamb]

what's the length on the bbl? That's some pretty impressive speed

His barrel is 24". Note we are also shooting at 5800 feet.
He pulled his original load back from 46.0 grains as he was seeing done pressure signs.

 

[jlamb]

i would recommend visiting with some bench rest/palma/high power shooters at your local range first, BEFORE trusting any "some one" or"my buddy shoots" info. The trick is not so much "super sonic" as "mach speed" at that range, I use mach 1.2 as my MINIMUM speed for accuracy at that range.

My post was to lend some guidance. As always, work up a load in your rifle and stay within the limits. I shoot weekly out to 800 and have been thru many loads, calibers etc. Also reference accurateshooter.com.

 

[srlamy]

this load is for my gun. Its a 5r mil spec 1 in 11.25 twist.

lapua brass
44 grains rl 15
178 hornady bthp match
210 match primers
coal 2.860
4k of neck tension

this load shoots stable to 1200 yards in the summer and 1100 in the winter here in az. mv from my oehler 35p 2725

as always work up your own load

 

[LXnastynotch93]

this load is for my gun. Its a 5r mil spec 1 in 11.25 twist.

lapua brass
44 grains rl 15
178 hornady bthp match
210 match primers
coal 2.860
4k of neck tension

this load shoots stable to 1200 yards in the summer and 1100 in the winter here in az. mv from my oehler 35p 2725

as always work up your own load

That sounds about right, but I'm guessing the Lapua brass can probably withstand a little more pressure than most other brass on the market.

If this load is coming out at 2725 from a 20" barrel, it would probably be a little too hot for my 22" barrel, so I'd probably only load 43 grains (start with 42.5 and work my way up). I'll be sticking with RL15 powder as well.

 

[Nomad]

RL-17 is the new powder on the block, shooting a 180gr at 2742 on a 22" barrel with 210M...
This is a sporter barrel.
Luck to you.....