Gents -
Recently acquired a very nice, older, low round count, R700 LTR / .308 / 20" / 1:12 twist.

Plan to start out w/ Lapua brass, Hrdy 168 A-Max, WWLR primers, & Varget.

Understand the whole "each rifle is an entity unto itself" concept, but wondering if anyone would care to share their accuracy load, w/ this (or a similar) combination? Plan to start on the lower end - & work up of course, but I'm thinking 42 - 44 grains Varget / 2.8" - 2.815" COL, should be the ticket.

If Varget doesn't work out, I'll go looking for some RL-15, or IMR4895.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, here are a few pics of the rifle in question.

should shoot with just about any thing.

Have a Precision Field rifle by Borden on a 40X action.Came with 300 rounds loaded with 40/Varget,168SMK moly,IMI Match prepped cases,2590fps.Shoots big 1s,little 2s.All I need.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
should shoot with just about any thing.

The Varget will work out!

H-VARGET is very good.
don't forget about RL-15 and IMR 4064
they shot the best for me in MY .308 and 7MM-08 but that's in my rifles also try some FED.210M primers..

Reloder 15


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Thanks for the input guys - looking forward to getting this project off the ground.

With a previous .308 (R700 5R MilSpec), I used Sierra 168MK's, & IMR4895 / 41 grns), but thought I'd try something different - this time around.

My accuracy load for my .308 is a Hornady 168 gr Amax and 44.8 grains of RL-15, Accuracy all day long.

Drop the dirty Varget & load/shoot some VihtaVuori N135/N140.

You won't go back to Hodgdon powders ever again.

Yes, my most accurate 308 load was with N140. However; now, it is, A; impossible to get around here, and B; twice the price of anything else; therefore, I no longer use it.

My accuracy loads have been:
168gr Nosler Ballistic tip
44.2gr Varget
CCI BR-2
Winchester Brass
COAL 2.814"

168gr Nosler Custom
44.0gr Varget
Rest same as above

150gr Nosler Ballistic tip
46.0gr Varget
CCI BR-2
Federal Brass
COAL 2.814"

when i kept played with a range of powders - i liked varget alot


now - for me ... it doesn't matter what powder as long as it is middle of the reloading chart, for cup and core bullets, -0.025 to -0.35 off the lands, very even seating depth ..

Well so far, 168 amax / Varget 42.0, or 43.0 /2.81 COAL / Lapua brass, WWLR, turn in fairly nice 5 shot, 100 yd groups - 4 rounds into 0.5", w/ a 5th round opening the group up just a bit.

Slight edge to 43.0.

Semi gusty conditions.

Problem - the Lapua brass necks, would seem to be a little too thick (0.0145" - 0.015" / 0.336" sized neck OD / 0.305" sized neck ID) for this rifle's chamber. I notice that a new .308" amax will just barely slide into the neck of a 1x fired piece of brass. 0.309" fired neck ID, & 0.347" fired neck OD.

Pressure - especially on the 43.0 grn, & 44.0 grn Varget groups seemed a tad high.

Tight neck chamber seems odd for a factory gun (??), but thinking I may turn the necks down a bit - on a small batch, & see if that helps.

Anyone have thoughts on minimum neck wall thickness? I'm thinking 0.012" - 0.013" maybe?

Also plan to drop the charge back a bit (40.0 - 41.0), & try a slightly longer COAL.