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Going to be shooting some 155 HPBTs at 1000 yards. Anyone have a favorite recipe? Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | ||
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I shot Hunter Bench Rest for several years. When the full length 308 was in vogue, the 150 Sierra MK and a starting load of 39.5gr of 4895 was THE ticket. My gunsmith said start there and go up by 1/2gr increments and look for pressure at about 44. That rifle would stick 5-shots under an inch at 300 yards if I did my part. Rich | |||
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In the Blaser LRS-2 this shot well: 155.5 VLD Berger , 46.5 Varget, 210GM, Lapua case though it shot the Berger 175 MTBTLR's better with 43.7 Varget. In the M1A, H4895, AA2520, were my go tos. DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
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I'm with Idaho Sharpshooter on this one. | |||
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 There was a sight correction between groups and this was a 300 yard target... Rusty, Please work up to any load you wish to try, but it is said that Lapua 155's generally run best above 2900 ft/secs.  Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now! DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set. | |||
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Another Varget vote! Free men should not be subjected to permits, paperwork and taxation in order to carry any firearm. NRA Benefactor | |||
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varget, benchmark, or h335 .. rel10 if you got any opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Loads I shot for some years were as follows: 155 SierraMK's 46.2/IMR4064 175 SierraMK's 44.2/IMR4064 190 SierraMK's 42.2/IMR4064 Lapua Brass, Fed. 210M's Started using the above loads some 25yrs ago and couple problems w/ 4064 is long stick and had to use electronic scale to get precise powder charge and the powder is temperature sensitive. Keep the rnds. out of the sun. Did switch to Varget, not the exact same loads, but close, and Varget loads easily through powder thrower and is much less temperature sensitive Several skilled long range shooters in my area are using RE15 w/ good results as well. Still active older Palma shooter friend of mine does like the Berger bullet mentioned, but tells me that Sierra now has a new version of the 155 Palma bullet?? | |||
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308Sako, congratulations!   | |||
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What's your rifling? I have a Rem. 700 P 1:12" and all the data says to use 168 - 172 gr. bullets. 1000 yds sounds like a stretch for .308 Win. I'm working at 300 to 600 yds, and still figuring out an optimal load -- as soon as I find some Large Rifle Primers . . .  That said, I like H4895 because it's versatile, works well with a range of rifle calibers. | |||
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there are a ton of powders in the 4895 range. aa 2495 among them. but i find that one of the 2 4895's will do what's necessary in the 308. like rich said start at one end and tweak it when your bullets get close together. | |||
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The "gold standard" for the .308 Winchester is IMR 4064. Does not mean it will be the best in your rifle but "always" try it when working up a .308 W. IMR 4895 is a close second and Varget would be 3rd. I used to hate loading IMR 4064 due to its long coarse nature but since I got a RCBS Loadmaster, does not matter any more. That said, I have become fond of AA powders and next time time I work up a .308, I am gonna try AA 4064. Was on the verge of trying it in place of IMR 4064 when I got my Loadmaster. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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H4895 has worked very well for me, with second going to IMR4064. | |||
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varget 45.5-46.5 Mike Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Have any of you tried Accurate 2520 in your 308? I have a lot of it and have been meaning to give it a try in my M1A1. 2520 falls right between IMR 4064 and Varget on the burn rate charts. ______________________________ "Truth is the daughter of time." Francis Bacon | |||
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It's all Esa Verho's fault... need I say more. Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now! DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set. | |||
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11 twist in the Blaser DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mike_Dettorre...... Your learned knowledge list is quite amusing... Now back to the OP...varget, RL15, H/IMR4895 are all excellent powders for the .308 | |||
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7.62 NATO/308Win Rem URBR brass Fed 205M Sie/Berg 155/156 IMR 4064 or VV N135 @47.0gr. Soft seated/Single loaded | |||
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My favorite powders for the 308 are IMR 4064.I 4895,and Varget.  | |||
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`ForrestB' I've had very good luck with AA2520, 168gr SMK, Federal brass, and Federal 210M primers: Remington 700VS (also shoots good in the M-1A) 44.5gr 2520 2.830" OAL 2680 FPS MV <1MOA "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." | |||
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DAn, Way back when working up 125 Nosler BT's and VV 135 I seem to remember that at 46.5 grains pressure was up there... You are able to get that charge behind a 155? Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now! DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set. | |||
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Rusty How long is your barrel? Palma shooters use the 155gr Sierra because the rules only allow a bullet of 155gr or under. They mostly use 28 to 30" barrels and load HOT. Also what twist is your barrel? DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Gentlemen, no matter how good your 100, 300 or 600 yard groups are, the problem at 1000 yards is keeping your bullets supersonic. With standard 24 to 26 inch barrels this can prove difficult. Federal factory 168 Match will not stay supersonic to 1000 yards on most days. The old Lake City Match 172gr will. It usually did not shoot as good at 100,300 or 600 yards, but it always stayed supersonic at 1000, and shot better at that range. The old style Sierra 180gr bullets were great bullets for 1000 yards. When they changed the shape of them [shorter boattail] they no longer could stay supersonic at 1000 with most normal loads. The 175 Sierra Match Federal factory loads, and the 175gr Sierra bullet were designed to stay supersonic a majority of the time at 1000, while shooting good in 1 in 12 and 1 in 10 twist barrels. In a 1 in 12 twist, 24 to 26" barrel this is a good choice. If you have a 1 in 10 take a look at the 185 Berger, the 190 or 200 Sierra Matchkings. After you have a bullet and load that stays supersonic at 1000 yards, and does not blow your 308 up, and is accurate, velocity variation is very important. At 1000 yards 30 feet per second spread in hour loads makes a difference in your trajectory causing you lost points in verticle stringing. 1000 yards is on the ragged edge for a 308. Everything has to be right. PS, you will know if your bulllets are becomming subsonic before they get to 1000, they will hit the target sideways. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Something else to check out, last time I looked [but it has been a while] the 180 Sierra Gameking Soft Point Sitzer has the same boattail form as the old 180 MK. They will stay supersonic to 1000 with top loads and shoot good in 1 in 12 twist barrels. They are plenty accurate in most barrels as well, not near as finiky as Bergers can be. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Rifle Powders Reloder® 15 Smokeless medium rifle powder The best all-around medium speed rifle powder. It provides excellent .223 and .308 caliber performance. Selected as the powder for U.S. Military's M118 special ball long range sniper round. Broad caliber range Consistent in all temperatures High velocity | |||
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True- And many shooters are using it with good results. I tend to see more lot to lot variation with Re-15- JMO Just has not worked out well for my particular weapons. (though I do like it in the .405 with 400grainers) I have loaded it (and 3031 and 4064) for the various .308's I have shot over the years, with good results, just not as good as, nor as consistent as, Varget has been. DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
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Rusty the last competition loads I used at 1000 yards were a 185 Berger, moly coated, and Varget. They were shot in a 1 in 10 Polygon barrel. If your rifle barrel is 24 to 26 inches, and 1 in 12 twist I would try 175 Sierras, and Varget. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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DuggaBoye. what do you consider new. 2-3 years is not new. The Military tested many burn speed of powders. i dont think they went wrong with a long range sniper powder.. I have loaded VARGET & 4064 in my .308 but RL-15 is my choice. In my soninlaws savage 110 at 100 meters with 45.0 grs. and a 150 noslar bil. tip. it will lock holes. i load this powder in my .260, 7MM-08 & my .308...and, yes VARGET & 4064 & 4895 are very good in the .308.. i just like the 15.... | |||
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Compared to the decades I shot the OLD version-- yes 2 to 3 years is NEW.  Military contracts (particularly of late) very often have little to do with which powder (bullet-case- widget, etc) is " best" IMO; the "reasoning" behind such contracts is far more political than you may be aware. Alliant "won" the new contract-- as to the "new" production being better than the "old"-- again IMO, it has not proven to be so. Not bad ammo-- just has not held up to the consistency of the old-(in match and long range comp.) that's all, never said it was "bad". DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
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Tony, all- The rifle is a Savage 12 F/TR. 30 inch barrel with a 1-12" twist. Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | |||
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