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308 load.
jdr308
Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
hey guys, I have a savage tactical 308. I believe these have a 1:10 twist.? I put a nikon monarch 6-32 scope on it and am ready to load some rounds up and sight it in. I have federal match brass and have match primers as well. My question is- what is a accurate load for this rifle.? Is anyone else shooting the savage tactical with a accurate load.?? I have shot this rifle in the past with 155gr. nosler custom competition bullets and varget powder. did pretty good but I want to really see what kind of groups this rifle is capable of and try for the most accurate round I can create for this gun. If you have a 308 load that is a tack driving round and you are willing to share it with me I would greatly appreciate it.!! thanks in advance...
Comments
Can't remember how much powder, but it was not max from the manual.
45gr Varget
168gr pill
primer that works best on paper
Mine is a 10 twist Hart Barrel
43.8 Varget
Lapua brass
155gn A-max
CCI BR-2 primer
CCI BR2, IMI Match brass, 2685 fps out of a 26",
sub half inch groups if I do my part
With my Savage tactical in .308:
Lapua brass.
42.5 gr. of H4895X
168 gr. SMK or Nosler CC
CCI 450 Primer (Bench substitute wouldn't hurt here)
2650 fps.
Or,
41 gr. of H4895
175 gr. SMK or Milspec FMJ (the SMK shoots tighter but the FMJ replicates M118LR)
CCI 450 primer.
While the H4895X (X for Extreme) works well the best powder for this case is probably Varget. You can also substitute RE-15 for the H4895X loads.
I recommend you drop two grains and work up a ladder (2-3 cartridges at each powder weight) and work up in .5 gr. increments and see where your barrel best likes these loads. Work up to as high as 44.0 gr. But you may probably need to stop before then. One, because you have found your accuracy node. And two, because that is max in some books and over max in others. Just be prepared to pull any bullets you have that are over the last one showing pressure signs.[;)]
-good luck
What he came up with used that brass, the Fed 210GM primer, the Sierra 168 MatchKing and 41.0 4064. It shoots!
The complaint about being too soft is curious, as reloaders take considerable effort to anneal brass for the sole purpose of making it softer.
In my limited experience with it (I have only about 200 pieces) Federal brass seems to be a bit thicker and a bit softer than (for example) Winchester. It is also accurate as all Billy-damn.
The complaint about being too soft is curious, as reloaders take considerable effort to anneal brass for the sole purpose of making it softer.
I can't get federal brass to load up and still pass through my 45acp gauge. All other dimensions being OK, federal is the only brand I have a problem with all others load up and gauge just fine. It has to be the thickness of the case wall(s)
Next, buy a really good digital scale because its going to be your best friend. Sort and weigh everything. You want consistancy.
Buy bulk bullets and lapua brass. Weight and sort all your individual bullet and brass.
The M118LR round is a pretty darn good round. I like it alot better than the old 168gr with the IMR4895 load that works so well the M1A at 600yards. Use a 175gr Sierra Match King with RL-15. The load seems to vary depending on where you get the data. Best I've come up with is 43.1grs of RL-15. It seems to match the velocity in my 26" gun to what the milspec is. But it also seems to group amazing.
As to what Rocky said about the necks being thicker that is true. And yes, even only turning them down to 7mm-08 requires you to turn necks on them usually (depends on your gun). .260 is a must. I've also found Federal to be very consistent, therefore accurate. It's just that when the brass won't last at the upper end of the pressure scale they get a lot more expensive to buy.