Results with varget in .308, too hot?

[Fiend]

I found my new favorite load,I just hope I'm not too close to maximum as I've seen ratings from 43.8-45.0 as maximum for varget


I've tried 43.6, 43.8 , 44.0 , 44.2, 44.4 , 44.6 , 44.8, 45.0 using 175gr nosler Custom Comp and a handful of Sierra matchking 175's I borrowed/was given and got garbage accuracy with all the loads above Except the 44.6 and up

I can't find a difference between 44.6 and 44.8-45.0 so I'll stick with the 44.6. With 44.6, as with all the others tried I'm using Hornady Match Brass, CCI BR Primers and I've got the COAL at 2.805 which is .005 from the lands and also have the shoulder barely bumped back about .003.

I'm getting .48-.53 4 shot groups at 140 yards from a savage 110fp currently running a take-off/trade 308 24" varmint "factory" barrel. Now if I go anywhere higher or lower than 44.6 the groups start opening up to about 1.5 inches.

43.6 gave somewhat decent groups but shot about 1.5-2 inches too low so it seems the .6 with this lot of powder is my magic number

also to be noted I can't tell any difference between the nosler and sierra 175's... so when I buy more I'll get whichever runs cheapest.

44.6 Varget , Hornady Brass, CCI BR primer, Nosler 175gr Custom Comp = ;D

MY n140 burns a little cleaner but I get slightly better accuracy with the varget "in this caliber/gun". my .223's prefer the n140 so to each their own.

[Senderofan]

Did you have a chance to run those rounds across a chronograph? If not...you might want to see what your ES is. You also didn't say if you started seeing any signs of pressure...which I don't think you probably did.

My rifle is different than yours...but I found a "Node" at 43.0 gr of Varget pushing a 185 gr. Berger VLD / Hunting. I'm getting 2760 fps out of a 30" tube with an ES of 10-12 fps. I've toyed with the idea of going up to 44 gr. of powder...but at 43.5 my ES went up and my groups opened up.....so I don't think I want to mess with success.

I think if 44.6 gr. seems to be the load for your rifle....no sense in throwing more powder down the tube. It certainly sounds like you're getting some nice groups....Guess I might stay with that load for a spell.

Speaking of a dual powder.. .223 / .308....Have you looked into RL 15? I'm going to try this one next...I'll be using the Varget for the .308 and work up a load for .223 pushing 75-77 gr. pills. But I've heard very good reports on the RL 15...seems to be more consistent lot to lot. Which I've read is more of a complaint with Varget.

Wayne

[Fiend]

wish I had acess to a chrono, always used my uncles... took it with him when he moved to oregan. would be nice to know the fps I'm getting. barrel is 1:10 twist and 24" long shooting a .175gr projectile maybe somone more adept with math then me can figure it out lol

[Dennis]

42.6 varget, Berger 175's touching the lands should do the trick!