308 loading help

[Clem Bronkoski]

Just an update, loading seems to be going smoother. I've made my work bench much stiffer which I think really has helped with consistency. I recently started developing a hunting load for my 308. Shot 6 groups today with varget and the Berger vld 168. 2 charge weights shot very well 42 and 43 gr loaded to 2.825 as you can see groups are pretty good minus the flyer. SD were single digit and the es was less than 20. Bolt lift at the 43 gr was just barely stiff I was thinking of going up to 44gr. Would you guys play with seating depth tat this point? Thanks

I would. ..003" increments and 3 shot groups (5 shots is better if you can afford them). Berger VLDs like as much as .150" jump. In fact they recommend going .010", .050", .090" and .130" off the lands. They say that you should find something in there that your rifle likes. But IMO it looks like you're close where you are.

 

[308_Branden]

I would. ..003" increments and 3 shot groups (5 shots is better if you can afford them). Berger VLDs like as much as .150" jump. In fact they recommend going .010", .050", .090" and .130" off the lands. They say that you should find something in there that your rifle likes. But IMO it looks like you're close where you are.

I ended up loading 5 rounds going down in .003 inc from 2.825-2.10 roughly so we shall see. However I think the flyer may be from the federal brass I have some alpha I want to try as well. Thank you for the feedback

 

[Turpentine21]

I am using Federal brass. I totally prep the brass, anneal, ream primer pockets, deburr flash hole, FLR (Hornady One Shot lube) with expander ball removed, mandrel neck size, turn the necks and chamfer the case mouth inside and out. I use a Chargemaster for my powder drops. My son got a deal in 4 pounds of AR COMP, so I decided to try it in my .308. My .308 is a 1965 Winchester model 88 carbine, 20 inch barrel. The only thing that has been done to this gun was to take it apart and scrub the crud, probably factory crud, from the insides!! Just a side note, DO NOT EVER take a model 88 apart because when two pins are removed all the parts for the entire trigger/firing mechanism fall out of the enclosed mechanism. And…it takes about three hours and a couple of YouTube videos to to get it back together. Anyways back to the AR COMP. I did a ladder load using Barnes 165gr TTSX bullets. The powder metered nicely and dropped into the cases with no granules sticking to the case mouths. I wasn't concerned with bullet jump, it's a model 88 lever gun so not expecting too much, so bullets were set at 2.810. See that attached target. I could not believe the accuracy and the MV out of this 20 inch lever gun. The 2721mv was the collective average of 5 shots. If you have not tried AR COMP in your .308 loads, you might want to consider a ladder load with it.

By far one of the best medium powders out there. Lowest SD and ES i see in every caliber I use it in. 308, 6.5 Grendel, and 223. I mentioned I was using 41 in Win Brass but i think it may be 42. I need to check my notes. I know 40.6-7 is right with LC Match. I can't go higher than 42 with the 168. It starts getting warm. Every other powder I tried (7) in my AR 10 was around MOA. AR Comp will put 4 under .5 inches. Then the barrel warms up a little. The Grendel will do .375 or less with 5 shots. It's good stuff. There is a great node with it for the 123eldm or SST in 6.5 Grendel at 27.7 grains across 6 different Grendel's I have tried it in.
Almost makes me want to try other Swedish (Bofors) made Alliant powders. TS 15.5, RL16, and RL23. I just haven't hit the lottery yet.

 

[Turpentine21]

I ended up loading 5 rounds going down in .003 inc from 2.825-2.10 roughly so we shall see. However I think the flyer may be from the federal brass I have some alpha I want to try as well. Thank you for the feedback

With Federal Brass I would weight sort just like I do any other brass. The only brass I don't weight sort is Lapua from the same lot and sometimes I even weigh it. Some of the older Federal brass is a lot heavier. Some will tell you weight sorting is a waste of time. Possibly. But it can quickly let you know if there is an anomaly with a case. Or maybe a dirt dobber nest in there. You just never know.

 

[VinceMule]

Federal brass does not last long with the loads I shoot at peak pressure. I hand de-prime my cases and use a hand primer to check for loose primer pockets.

 

[Turpentine21]

Federal brass does not last long with the loads I shoot at peak pressure. I hand de-prime my cases and use a hand primer to check for loose primer pockets.

Yeah I can feel the loose pockets on my RCBS bench primer. Can't really use the hand primer any more due to arthritis. You can switch to Ginex primers when your pockets enlarge and get a load or two more. They seem to be decent primers. They are a bit hard and are slightly larger in diameter. Es and Sd have been good.

 

[308_Branden]

With Federal Brass I would weight sort just like I do any other brass. The only brass I don't weight sort is Lapua from the same lot and sometimes I even weigh it. Some of the older Federal brass is a lot heavier. Some will tell you weight sorting is a waste of time. Possibly. But it can quickly let you know if there is an anomaly with a case. Or maybe a dirt dobber nest in there. You just never know.

Absolutely great point