Long range Savage 308

[TallSDYoteHunter]

I have an older(pre accutrigger) savage 10FP 24" barrel that I am just starting to work up some loads for. I am set up with Springfield armory rnage finding 6X scope. I have used it for 5 years with factory ammo and good success out to 500m but i want to start getting my own lead down range. I loaded my own 168gr Combined Tech bullets and BLC2 powder. they shot well but wondering if you have any tips or ideas to really start to feel out an accurite load. Also, do you think I will need to put on a new barrel to get the best from my rifle? thanks

 

[Bart B]

I suggest using extruded powders. Ball powder's never been good in accuracy departments for the .308 Win. With 155 grain bullets, Varget is an excellent choice. For 168 to 190 grain bullets, IMR4064's the powder that's been used to win the matches and set the records.

If you barrel's got more than 3000 rounds through it, it's peak accuracy has slipped a bit. A new barrel will do better.

 

[TallSDYoteHunter]

Thanks for the info, my round count is about 900 right now, so you would say at 3000 it will start to slip off. thanks for that, i do have some varget to load with also some 335. I will have to try some other powders and see what happens. thanks for taking the time to help me out.

 

[Fitch]

I have an older(pre accutrigger) savage 10FP 24" barrel that I am just starting to work up some loads for. I am set up with Springfield armory rnage finding 6X scope. I have used it for 5 years with factory ammo and good success out to 500m but i want to start getting my own lead down range. I loaded my own 168gr Combined Tech bullets and BLC2 powder. they shot well but wondering if you have any tips or ideas to really start to feel out an accurite load. Also, do you think I will need to put on a new barrel to get the best from my rifle? thanks

The other thing, besides the barrel, to check before you spend the money on load development is the bedding in the rifle. If the bedding isn't stress free, it will shoot better after it is properly bedded. I'm starting to think I should just bed the rifle when I bring it home, then go shoot it.

My Savage Model 10 benefitted a lot from being bedded.

What I do, not necessarily in order:

Get a good look at the barrel with a borescope. Check the crown, the chamber for roughness and concentricity, look at the throat and for any obvious issues in the bore.

Replace or adjust the trigger.

Dual Pillar + epoxy bed the receiver to the stock.

Make sure the scope is good and the mounts are tight.

That gets rid of the variables and leaves the load as the primary variable which greatly simplifies load development. A properly bedded rifle with a good barrel will be much less finiky about loads.

Fitch

 

[Catfish]

First, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND???? Definately bed the action and work on the trigger at least. If your field shooting you will need a good range finder. You can go with Blastic Raticals in the scope, but they are expensive and are only good for 1 bullet BC at 1 velocity. I prefer a scope with tatget knobs and a drop chart. I check the range, look at the chart and dial in the drop. But then you get into wind drift. Play with your .308 a while then if you want to go for the gusto rebarrel it to a 6.5 x 284 or something similar.