168gr Amax Development

[supergolfer18]

Rifle: 308 Win Savage 10 FXP w/ 22" sporter barrel
Stock: BC Medalist A2
Caldwell Bipod, rear sand bag

Brass: Virgin WW
Primer: Federal 210M
Powder:Varget
Bullet:168 AMAX
OAL:2.2880"(2.240" ogive)

**200 Yard Initial Ladder Test and to test actual max load**
93 Degrees: 5-8 mph wind: overcast
Load 1: 43.0
2: 43.3 called pull on this shot as soon as it broke
3: 43.6
4: 43.9
5: 44.2
6: 44.5
7: 44.8
8: 45.1
9: 45.4
10: 45.7
11: 46.0

[DanSavage]

I'd load a bunch at 44.9 and zero it in and head to the fields for some long range wood chuck poppin. Yeah you could fine tune with seating depth, but that load should be 1/2 MOA or better.

[DanSavage]

Any pressure sign's near 46?

[supergolfer18]

no pressure signs I could tell. No sticky bolt lift and primers looked good. I do not have a chrony so not sure where velocities are......

[supergolfer18]

Here is the new barrel. Shilen Select Match 26" 1:10twist in Varmint Contour



Here is first load workup with the new barrel. Shot 4 sighters on another target first.

1=43.6
2=43.9
3=44.2
4=44.5
5=44.8
6=45.1
7=45.4
8=45.7
9=46.0
10=46.3

[devildogandboy]

just curious, are the primers and powder fresh(not stored)?

[skypilot]

Looks like a node anywhere between 8 to 10 but somewhere around 9 or less is probably gonna be the highest velocity and practicle max charge. I gradually go up on charge until I see a pressure sign and call that max, pick the node closest to, but less than that max charge, and call it a job unless you are going to depend on that load for a shot over 200 yds.

I like the look of the new barrel.

[supergolfer18]

devildogandboy: primers are 1 week old and powder is cannister varget I have had a few months. What makes you ask this? Just curious

[supergolfer18]

Here is groups from this morning to verify 45.7-46.3. Shot @100 yards off bipod. I think I rushed/pulled the 2nd shot in group 2 but oh well. Think I am getting close to my load for this bullet

[supergolfer18]

Got out and shot this morning with lighter loads. Loos pretty good. New Shilen Barrel from Jim@NSS is shooting great. 1st load is 43.3 and goes up by 0.3gr each group. Shots with red x in them were ones after my scope lost zero due to it falling over

[devildogandboy]

devildogandboy: primers are 1 week old and powder is cannister varget I have had a few months. What makes you ask this? Just curious

well, i live in Arizona, probably one of the driest and hottest places in the country and one year during our monsoon period i had some powder go bad due to moisture absorbtion(best guess on my part). it was in an enclosed area that is my reloading room and known loads that shot well in the past had gone helter-skelter on me. they were all over the place. i replaced some primers and that didn't work then went on to the powder and that put the same old loads that had always performed back to shooting like they used to. can only figure it was the older powder and moisture that screwed everything up.

re-reading your post this may not even apply to it! sorry!

[supergolfer18]