.308 Loads with RL-15

[abrasivereshaping]

Hi Everyone,

I'm fresh to reloading and have a few questions.

To start with my rig is a Savage 10FCP HS Precision stock, Sightron 8-32x56 LRMOA scope. With Box FGMM 168gr, I have attained a best 4 shot group @ 100yds that is dime size but overall 4 shot groups are quarter size to a hair bigger. I have found in measuring, that the 2.810" gave the tightest groups. While anything in the 2.790-2.800 would yield larger groups.

I bought RL-15, New Winchester Brass and Sierra 168 & 175 Matchkings. So I sized / prepped all the brass and loaded all them to 2.810"

I loaded 5 rds of the following RL-15 charge weights, 42.5, 43.0, 43.5, 44.0, 44.5.

Alliant states max is 45.0 with IMI brass and from what I have read, Winchester brass is generous in volume compared to IMI...

Do you think my last to loads are too hot and I should pull them apart and maybe make them at 41.5 & 42.0?

Thanks for your help

[barrel-nut]

I have done 44 grains of RL15 in Lapua brass with 168gr Hornady A-maxes and found it a little warm, especially on summer days. ( pun intended). Backed off to 43.5, still a stout load but not excessive. Averages a hair over 2700fps, and accurate enough for me out of my 24" 10FP.

Are you using the 168's or 175's? I don't think you stated, unless I missed it.

Oh, and welcome to the forum, and to handloading. Both are extremely addictive.

[abrasivereshaping]

Oh yeah, forgot to say I was starting with the 168 smk first. Thanks Barrel-nut for your help, you are correct about the addiction. I can't wait to shoot every week. I'm fortunate that my son shoots juniors small bore and soon junior high power cmp. Gives us excuses to shoot once a week.

[barrel-nut]

That's great! Get them shooting young. Great way to bond with the kids!

[barrel-nut]

Since you are using Winchester brass, which as you stated may have slightly greater capacity, I'd leave the 44 and 44.5 as they are and try them, assuming the manual lists 45 gr. as max as you stated. They may be alright in your gun. Just start with the lowest charge you have loaded and work up slowly, watching for pressure signs as you go. If it becomes excessive, you'll know it.

[GaCop]

You could probably tighten up groups if you measure overall length (OAL) to the ogive of the bullet rather than the tip. Length to the tip can vary as much as .026". Roughly, the ogive on the bullet is the point where the cylindrical portion of the bullet starts it's taper to the nose. Hornady sells a good tool for measuring OAL, it requires a modified case of the caliber being used. A sized case with two slits cut with a Dremel can also work though it's a little harder to remove the case w/o disturbing the measurement. With practice it too is a viable measuring option.

[barrel-nut]

You could probably tighten up groups if you measure overall length (OAL) to the ogive of the bullet rather than the tip. Length to the tip can vary as much as .026". Roughly, the ogive on the bullet is the point where the cylindrical portion of the bullet starts it's taper to the nose. Hornady sells a good tool for measuring OAL, it requires a modified case of the caliber being used. A sized case with two slits cut with a Dremel can also work though it's a little harder to remove the case w/o disturbing the measurement. With practice it too is a viable measuring option.


+1

[abrasivereshaping]

Would you guys be so kind as to show me which tools you are recommending.

Thanks again for your help

[cgeorgemo]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/231904/hornady-lock-n-load-bullet-comparator-basic-set-with-6-inserts?cm_vc=S014570611
in conjunction with
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/570611/hornady-lock-n-load-overall-length-gage-bolt-action?cm_vc=S014231904

[abrasivereshaping]

Awesome you guys rock ;D
I will order these up tomorrow.

[stangfish]

Maybe I am too anal but I find paying attention to case headspace to be an important part of my resizing as well.

[GaCop]

Maybe I am too anal but I find paying attention to case headspace to be an important part of my resizing as well.


+1

[brtelec]

I use 49.9 grains of RL-15 with a Remington 9.5 primer in Remington Brass with the Hornady 168 gr. A-max. I use this load in Arizona summer heat and have not seen any excessive pressure sign. This load is deadly accurate in my Remington 5-R and with 48.7 gr. It shoots nearly one hole out of my friends 10 FCP-HS.

[Shooter2112]

abrasivereshaping -

I have the exact same rifle - a 10FCP w/HS - 1:10 twist. The most accurate load that rifle has ever shot was 43gr. RL15 under a SMK .010 off the lands, BR2 primers, Winchester brass. Primers are flat as a pancake but not cratered or pierced. 41.5gr of IMR4895 under a 168SMK .010 off the lands was a very close second. Both loads are running around 2650fps on my chrony, in low humidity, 75DegF temps at 5500ft elevation. Both loads in that rifle shoot under .250 when I do my job. I assume you aren't shooting the 5R 1:11.5 twist model. I use a RCBS precision mic to measure the seat depth and ensure that I have seated the bullet the prescribed .010 off. I also use a Redding competition seating die and a Redding competition collet neck sizing die using a .330 collet for the Winchester brass. I find that I need to full length size about every 4-5 loadings - but by that time I usually start seeing loose primer pockets in the Win brass and into retirement they go...........
You are going to love reloading - and all the work you put into tuning your loads for your rifles will pay off in smaller groups!
Cheers,

[Texasshooter36]

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz200/txhunter35/photo4.jpg
100 yd

http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz200/txhunter35/296749_2300228192694_1458865262_32543636_7606231_n .jpg
200 m'
This is out of 10 pc All same load, oal 2.150 with Hornady oal gauge. Only run about 2405 out of 20" barrel.

[abrasivereshaping]

Well I think my load is very close with RL-15.

New Winchester Brass
44.0 gr RL-15
168gr SMK
COAL @ 2.810

I need help posting pics

according to OnTarget the gun is doing

Max: 2.007", 0.639 moa
ATC: 0.795", 0.253 moa
Width: 1.741", Height: 1.500"
Target Distance: 300.0yd

I also have a 600 yd target on the same day as well I'd like to post

[abrasivereshaping]

Hey All,

I just got my Hornady Bullet Comparator and measured several of my handloads and they were 2.228"

[lal357]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/lal357/11-12-11168gramax100yrds.jpg
heres my best 5 shot group
168 amax
lapua cases trimmed
fed. gm210m primers
rl-15 42.5 gr.
i went back to using varget since rl-15 was temp sensitive. as far as off the lands what works in mine may not work in yours i just start touching and back off till i find the sweet spot this one is .005 off the lands
heres another using a different bullet
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/lal357/target%20rifles%20and%20target%20pics/savagetiger.jpg
5 shot group

rifle is a
lrpv mod.12
trigger set at 10oz.
shilen select match 30" bull barrel
it had a bushnell elite 8x32x40 power on it since then i have swapped to a sightron 10x50x60 lrirmoa scope and it has made a world of difference in my shooting (i normally shoot at 300 yds )

[abrasivereshaping]

WOW!!! That's awesome shooting, I'm sure with some more load tweaking and more trigger time I can get this to be a 1/2 moa gun for sure. I just put this setup together last Christmas and it has only 100 rds down the tube.

I see you're running a Sightron scope as well...I have to say I love my 8-32x56 SIII.

Do you have any 300yard range reports to share?

Thanks for sharing your results

[lal357]

i'll have to dig thru my targets i usually practice on a mr-63 f class target since that is what we use in matches. its alittle different shooting at an all blcak target verses an orange dot .if not it might be a few weeks (going out of town next week and shooting a match the next )but i'll set up some dot and shoot some groups (also have to load up some with rl-15 lol).