Printable View
Just getting back into reloading after many years of factory ammo use. Suggestions for getting going - likely only 100m range available initially, but loading for accuracy rather than terminal performance or economy. New Lapua 308 large primer brass.
Bergara HMR 24”, Ruger RPR 20”, both 1:10 twist, Blaser R93 test beds to start with. Likely sort brass to neck size after first firing.
My go to for 308 is adi 2208 and 168amax /eldm
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
44gns of 2206H pushing a 165 SST is nice comfortable, accurate load for my rifle.
AR BM 8208 is my favourite for now. Meters well, no weighing. Best for lighter projectiles. Under 155.
Can you see it come out of the barrel?Quote:
Originally Posted by mimms2
Really need more info before suggesting anything, like what is uour intended use ? What sort of animals or is this a paper/gong rifle ? Will you be shooting over a dog ? What sort of range do you want to shoot out to ? There are so many options
Paper punching at 100m on range. But if bullet versatile for red deer preferable but not essential. If the opportunity presents gong shooting to longer range say up to 500. Thanks for the suggestions.Quote:
Originally Posted by dannyb
2206h or 2208. 2208 gives a bit more speed with the 165+. Cfe223 gives a bit more speed again and is what I use in 308 and 8x57.
I shoot quite a few different projectiles in my 308 but if I was only allowed one it would be the 178gr eld-x.
Greetings HandH,
I can barely remember not having a .308 Win in the cupboard. Have used most of the 4895 powders, including reclaimed WW 2 plus Dupont IMR 4064 in the .308 and have settled on AR 2206 H aka H 4895 due to its flexibility. I mostly use 150 grain projectiles and these days mostly on the range but AR 2206 H is good for the heavier projectiles as well. For a nice soft 100 to 200 metre load 38 to 40 grains of AR 2206 H produces 2,350 to 2,500 feet per second with any 150 grain .30 calibre projectile, 43 grains, not max, produces a factory equivalent 2,750 fps again with a 150 grain projectile. I also was able to develop a full power 200 metre zero load IMR 4895 with Norma 150 grain projectiles with a lighter load 43 grains IMR 4895 with US military 150 grain projectiles that shot dead on at 100 metres with the same sight setting. This was back in the early eighties when exactly one centre fire rifle was in my cupboard. As I said a very flexible powder and I only scratched the surface. My M700 didn't care for boat tails due to its longer throat but current rifles seem to have much tighter chambers so your results may differ.
Enjoy Grandpamac.
its a .308 so just about any load should be good n accurate. personally Im using 748 winchester powder as it was cheap and can also use in .223 2206 is the same duel use and a great powder.
125-130grn loads are mild as heck to shoot and seem to be accurate enough.terminally AWESOME on wallabies. speer TNT 125grns wouldnt be a bad place to start.
Too many choices! Really appreciate the pooled experience. Next I’ll have to dig out the old Oehler chronograph..
why???? if you target shooting at hundy yards.....speed matters not a tiny little bit.
True dat, but having a versatile load that I could use longer range has its appeal. And knowing the velocity is part of the journey and adds interest. Curiosity I guess....
just PLEASE remember a wise man once said "many a good load has been ruined by a chronygraph"
another wise man said "if it works dont muck around with it"
the need for speed is well and good for Maverick and Goose.......not quite so much for rifle loading LOL.
16" Bergara. Got two loads I'm honing in on. On paper the 1 in 8 twist is waaaay too fast for light bullets, but I'm getting great accuracy and speed with 130gr hollowpoints using either BM8208 or AR2206H, right up at ~2900fps. And ~2800fps with 150gr ballistic tips and AR2206H (all the manufacturers seem to do a Soft Point in that weight class for a cheaper alternative though).
For a true "one load to rule them all" that's good for game out to 500m and gongs out to +800m, the 175gr TMK or 178 ELD-X with a case full of AR2208 would be tough to beat.
Thanks again for accumulated wisdom. I’m looking forward to returning to a long-lost pastime! And I also have a 16” Bergara takedown so interesting.
I was at the range yesterday. Shot paper at 100yds. 45gns 2208, 155gn Dyer HBC bullets, Fed GM215M primers, Lapua LR brass, 27 1/2" barrel, 13 twist, ancient Nikko Sterling 6-24 x 56 LRX reticule, on 22X. No idea what speed - it's my LR load out to 1000yds also. At 1000yds, all 12 shots in the black, although the score isn't as good as the experts
Shot steel at 200yds with this load - 12" square, 6" square and 3" square. Without dialing (100yd groups approx 3" high POA), dinging or whacking at lower edge of the 3" steel. Nearly spun it around the target frame.
Also shot these steels as well with a variety of trial loads, from 45.5gns ->46.2gns 2208. Very little change in POI.
IMHO - 308 is a real versatile cartridge and this old Omark actioned Palma rifle from 1979, last rebarreled in 1994, shoots as good or better than I can.
Range shooting is so much fun and very sociable with the current 'gang' I shoot with, that I'm seriously thinking of selling off my Parker Hale Safari deLuxe 308 hunting rifle, to get another target rifle I've been offered.
Those HBC!s are a good projo. IMHO
You could always keep it and shoot hunter class
I was going to like that till you said sell of the safari......they are a lovely rifle.....but then again if a young hunter buys it instead of a souless plastic T3 all is good in the universe I guess.
Every .308 I have had over the years shot well with 45.5g 2206h and 150g bullet,i bush hunt though so no real world long range experience.
My experience too, in both regards.Quote:
Originally Posted by The bomb
Accepting the standard practice of reducing loads when changing components - what is the personal experience using Lapua 308 brass versus others?? Tends to have less capacity than say Winchester, is it really such a big deal in practice??
Don’t think so as long as you are not compressing powder and using the right powder or going really hot loads.
Yup and the ADI manual doesn’t specify brass. Definitely not compressed with 43-44 gr AR2206H.
for bush hunting loads where sub moa isnt a requirement and loads arent super hot.....I will happily swap all sorts of components around while still sticking to same powder charge weight for projectile weight.... different brass has never given me issues.....if a load is going to be pushing boundaries hot,the rules are there for your safety and all bets are off. mild loads are just that,mild. even if you took a mid range load in .308.....gave it smaller capacity brass and fired on hot day you SHOULD still be lower pressure than a hot rodded load.
True, but they do specify starting loads, which it is recommended you start from each time you change a component, or even a different batch of the same component. But if your load is at or close to starting loads there shouldn't be any problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by HandH
Greetings All,
While the ADI on line manual does not specify the brass used the Hodgdon on line manual does. Hodgdon has developed most of the data in the ADI manual as they market ADI powders under the Hodgdon label. Loads for AR 2208 (Varget) and AR 2206H (H 4895) appear to have been developed in Winchester cases. After lunch, perhaps well after, I will round up some of my findings on case weight and post.
Grandpamac.
After a fine lunch, thanks Russel, I got back to my notes which revealed the following. Mostly I have weighed a sample of each batch of cases feeling that case weight gives a good indication of capacity. With the most current samples of R-P, Winchester and Lapua weight with primer varies from 170 to 176 grains with Lapua at the heavier end. This would equate to less than 1 grain of powder. Norma (an old batch) averaged 165 grains and Federal together with some LC 79 and 81 cases averaged 183 grains. Older WW-Super and WW cases were lighter than current Winchester cases at around 160 grains. So what does all this mean? With the middle batch, R-P, Win and Lapua, there should not be much change in pressure or velocity. With the outliers some adjustment is likely to be needed to achieve the same velocity. What I would do is to load a small batch, say 3, with a charge 2 grains under your current load, with each case keeping everything the same other than the case. Chronograph the loads on the same day and set up. If the differences in velocity are minimal then so is pressure. If not then a small adjustment in charge should bring them into line. In any case do check the actual weight of a sample of both your current and new cases as cases change over time.
Regards Grandpamac.
Thanks so much for the considered and thorough advice. Very much appreciated.Quote:
Originally Posted by grandpamac
Greetings HandH,
Thanks for your kind words. My hand loading adventure started in the mid seventies with a basic loading manual and some basic kit but without anyone else to give advice. Being naturally cautious I didn't get myself into too much trouble but the learning curve was steep at times. Now, closing on 50 years later and still learning I feel a responsibility to pass on what I have learn't in those ways that I can so you are welcome.
Regards Grandpamac.