Help or suggestions with 308 load development

[jimwest]

165 grain Speer BTSP, Savage 26" varmint barrel, once fired Lake City brass, CCI 200 primers, IMR 4895, Bullet concentricity was within .002 inch. Full length sized without expander and then expander mandrel used to set neck size.

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice/suggestions on this load development. It's not my first, but in the past I didn't gather as much data as I have done with this load. I assumed that the load with the tightest group size was the one to go with. The Speer 165 grain my not be my first bullet of choice, but it's the one I chose for this load development. My expectations are for this load to be effective out to 500 yards max. Anything further than 500 would approach or exceed my confidence level. I'm looking at loads between 41.4 and 41.6 as having the greatest potential. Bullets were seated .0020 off lands for all. Is my next best move to load at 41.4 and 41.6 but change seating depth?

Graph: Velocity vs load (also SD listed, example)
41.2,SD:13.4

 

[Mram10us]

How'd did the groups look on paper?

 

[Len Backus]

Moving this to RELOADING sub-forum

 

[jimwest]

Load Amt. Velocity SD Group Size In.
39.8 2564 6.8 1.15
40 2579 23 1.2
40.2 2591 23.3 0.9
40.6 2616 12 1.5
40.8 2635 23.4 0.55
41 2655 14 1.05
41.2 2646 13.4 0.7
41.4 2673 3.8 1.0
41.6 2687 16.6 0.75
41.7 2692 9.0 2.0
41.8 2676 10.4 0.8
42 2715 25 0.9

 

[Dmagna]

I would use that 41.4 load and mess with seating depth and see what you can get the group down too.

 

[User4302021]

With the brass, powder, and approximate bullet weight you are using, I can't count the number of times I have seen a good tunable load show up between 41.4 and 41.6 grains.

Personally, I use 41.6gr with both 175's and 165's. It seems to shoot equally well with either weight. Every rifle is different, but the odds would be heavily in your favor IMO.

 

[Mram10us]

I'd use whatever gave you the best group. If you're only shooting to 500, don't need to worry too much. Just me