hand loading Remington SPS varmint .308

[Clayne B]

Been doing some work with different loads. I have a load that shoots good with the 168 SMK, But I am looking for a load that will have better long range performance (800-1200)


Next 3 pictures
The bottom 2 rounds are loaded with 168 SMK the middle one is loaded to the max I can fit in a McRees mag. the top one is touching the lands in the factory rifle.

(EDIT add 1.003 to the OAL of the top bullet, Just realized I measured them with the ogive tool.... DUR)






In this picture they are all loaded at max oal to fit my mag





After all this. I think this rifle has way to much free bore. Its very had to tune a good load with anything but the 168 SMK, I have noticed the 168 SMK Ogive is alot more toward the tip of the bullet than any of the others.

 

[wyomingblizzard]

My 308 started life as a sps, still has factory barrel. I shoot 155 a-max loaded to the factory mag length very well. I just switched to a drop mag. I also have been testing 185 berger jugernots, so far they are grouping very good, but I havent shot them over 200 yards yet. I am still working on the load, so far it looks like they are going to shoot good with about every combo Ive tried. And yes my sps has a ton of free bore. I just load to mag length, with the wytts mag it is 2.860 oal not 2.890 as advertised. With the factory box mag I used 2.820 oal.

P.S. I never had any luck at all with any 168s in this rifle. Bryan Litz states in his book that the 168 smk has dynamic instability problems at long range (page 284).

 

[MudRunner2005]

I load everything from Nosler Custom Competition 168 & 175 to Berger 168 VLD & 210 VLD. All using Varget, Lapua brass, and Federal 210 primers.

The 168 & 167 Nosler CC's are set at SAAMI spec length. The 168 VLD's are at random length. And the 210 VLD's are up against the lands.

 

[stater61]

I've loaded for 3 Remington SPS 20" barrels, 1 Remington 26" varmint barrel, 1 Accuracy International 24" barrel, all in 308.

I wanted a load for long distance primarily, but they all grouped well at 100yds. also. I tried several bullets, powders, etc. The 168's just don't cut it beyond 650yds., for me anyway.

The 175's carried much better stayed trans sonic much longer , had more energy and grouped much better at 1000yds. and beyond. I used Amax's, Berger's, SMK's. I finally settled on SMK's due to performance and availability. I have nothing against the other bullets mentioned, but due to a combination of grouping, cost and availability I stuck with the SMK's.

I've found the following to work extremely well in several different rifles, you might give them a try in yours. Please work up to these loads as 45.0gr. is max with these combos according to Hodgdon.

20" barrel Remington
44.8 gr. Varget
Winchester brass
Federal 210
SMK 175
2.222 measured with Hornady bullet comparator. @ .002 longer than factory OAL (Mag friendly)
26?? fps (I'll have find my notes)

24" barrel AI
44.6, 44.8, 45.0 Varget (I went with 45.0 because of velocity, as all 3 charge weights shot well)
everything else same as above
2715fps

26" barrel Remington
44.6gr. Varget
everything else same as the others
2713fps

The 26" load was hands down the best for that barrel length and for some other people who tried it in their 26" also. The same can be said for the 20" barrel load as used in 3 for me and a few other shooters also.

I full length resized, uniformed primer pockets, deburred flash holes inside and out, used a micrometer bullet seater and measured with a bullet comparator. I can't guarantee that these will work for you as well as they have for me, but I would be very surprised if they didn't.

Good luck, JH

 

[Clayne B]

Thanks for the info.

I will give the 175s a shot

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Im a big fan of bergers 185 and 190's out of remingtons factory 1:12 tube.
They buck the wind well and pack a wallop when they hit.

 

[Clayne B]

Here is what im up to next...

next time the wind is not blowing like crazy

 

[rick523]

Clayne,
This is the receipe I use for 175smks,
43grains IMR4895
Win. case trimmed at 2.005
Fed. 210 primers
Loaded length 2.875, this puts me .010 off lands
ogive to base is 2.330
Vel. is right at 2625fps
This is in a 700 vssf 26" factory barrel, jewel trigger set at 1.25#
with a brake. Here is pic of group with this load, 3 shots @100yds.View attachment 308group1.bmp the small square is 1/4" group measures 0.151 center to center. First time I shot it at 1060 yds, group was just over 1/2 moa. Your milage may vary.

 

[Clayne B]

wow that is very good! Thanks for the info!

 

[Clayne B]

Well here is what I learned today

Longer is better, .... Yeah I know... "thats what she said"

155 SMK Palma







168 Berger VLD

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Looks like your rifle likes the bullets right off the lands.

 

[benchracer]

My rifle is a 700 VS. It has quite a bit of freebore as well. With 185g Berger Hybrid Classic Hunters, max base-to-tip COAL was 2.930 to the rifling. I backed the bullet off .040" and started load workup with RL-17. When I had my final load, my rifle was shooting the smallest groups it has ever fired, well under .25MOA for five shots @ 100 yards. I didn't even bother to tune seating depth and I think it may not be necessary with the Berger Hybrids.

A good friend of mine has an SPS that shoots very well with Hornady 178g AMAX's. He took second place in the April 600 yard F-Class match at ENGC. He recently replaced the factory stock with a laminate stock and he says it has made a big difference in his scores over last year.

 

[Clayne B]

Alright guys, Went and shot some more today

207 yards
Wind 18-29 MPH
155gr PALMA
2.161 to the Ogive
2.823 to the tip
Varget powder used
CCI 200 Primer
Winchester brass


I guess with the huge fluctuation in wind I am focusing on the vertical spread...? Or is that the wrong way of thinking?

 

[Korhil78]

Load testing in the wind is pretty much just wasting powder, and barrel life. I know its frustrating when you have the time to go shoot but it is really windy. You just have to be patient and wait unitl its not windy. When you have gusty conditions like that, it is really hard to tell what load is going to work.