cornchuck
Well-Known Member
I am planning on doing the OCW version of load testing. What I want to test is 178gr. A-Max being pushed by a load of IMR 4064 and a load of Varget. These are being shot out of a Rem 700P in .308 with factory barrel with virgin brass.
As Dan Newberry stated for the work up for this type of testing, is to consult at least 3 loading manuals to get a max load. I checked 5 manuals with Hodgdon's website as being one of them. Here is what I came up with:
IMR 4064 Varget
Lyman 48th edition 44.3 max 44.0 max
Sierra 42.8 " 41.7 "
Hornady 41.3 " 43.2 "
Nosler (180gr. load) 44.0 " N/A
Hodgdon (180gr. load) 45.2 compressed 45.0 compressed
43.5 grs. for an average for both powders. So I rounded it up to 44.0 grs. of both powders to be my max load. And I'm following Dan's instructions for this test. Starting low and working up ( as anyone testing new loads should do). 44.0 grs. is where I stopped. Even though the instructions say to go 1 gr. higher than max.
For some reason, my gut is saying that once I get to the higher loads, I'm going to get into some trouble. My load for this gun now is 175 SMK, 42.5 grs. of Varget, and CCI-BR2 primers. I have shot up to 44.5 grs of Varget with this bullet but it didn't group as well as the smaller charge. I have seen other guys post some of their loads for the 178 A-Max to be around 42.0-43.0 grs, of IMR 4064. I just wanted to try something differnet.
I have already loaded them up but haven't tested them.
What do you guys think? Do I need to pull some bullets or am I good to go?
Opinions/Advice will be appreciated.
Jason
As Dan Newberry stated for the work up for this type of testing, is to consult at least 3 loading manuals to get a max load. I checked 5 manuals with Hodgdon's website as being one of them. Here is what I came up with:
IMR 4064 Varget
Lyman 48th edition 44.3 max 44.0 max
Sierra 42.8 " 41.7 "
Hornady 41.3 " 43.2 "
Nosler (180gr. load) 44.0 " N/A
Hodgdon (180gr. load) 45.2 compressed 45.0 compressed
43.5 grs. for an average for both powders. So I rounded it up to 44.0 grs. of both powders to be my max load. And I'm following Dan's instructions for this test. Starting low and working up ( as anyone testing new loads should do). 44.0 grs. is where I stopped. Even though the instructions say to go 1 gr. higher than max.
For some reason, my gut is saying that once I get to the higher loads, I'm going to get into some trouble. My load for this gun now is 175 SMK, 42.5 grs. of Varget, and CCI-BR2 primers. I have shot up to 44.5 grs of Varget with this bullet but it didn't group as well as the smaller charge. I have seen other guys post some of their loads for the 178 A-Max to be around 42.0-43.0 grs, of IMR 4064. I just wanted to try something differnet.
I have already loaded them up but haven't tested them.
What do you guys think? Do I need to pull some bullets or am I good to go?
Opinions/Advice will be appreciated.
Jason