I have been shooting Varget in my 308's for some time now, and have been quite happy with the resuls. The magic 45-46gr with a 165-168 seems to work wonders.

Lately though I have been reading about the benifits of Rl-15 and am pondering giving it a shot.
Does anyone have recomendations for a powder charge with Rl-15 and 165-168's?

Hello Thomas,

I don't have an RL15 load for 168s, I use 4895 for those. I do use RL15 with 190 HPBTs as my 1000 yard load - 42.0 gns nets me 2515 fps from 26" barrel, and that remains supersonic to 1000 yards. Bullets are DANZAC coated.

So, 42.0 gns of RL15 should be a safe/mild load for 168s, but work up. I didn't have the success that I heard about when I tried Varget/175s, this winter I am going to try RL15 with the 175s.

Regards, Bill

Thomas -
Alliant shows a MAX of 42.8 w/168 Sierra HPBT and F210M primer. I'm guessing those are uncoated bullets.

Interesting, they show 45.5 as MAX with a 165 Sierra Spitzer, and 44.0 with a 180 Speer, at roughly equivalent pressures, so, the HPBT's longer bearing surface must factor in there.

In my 700 VSSF, 42.5 R-15 does well with 168 MK's or Nosler J-4's. That load is set up in LC-81 Match or Fed. Gold Medal Match cases, F210M's and 2.815" o'all.

R-WEST

bill M,
45.5gr of varget behind the 175gr sierra shoots very well in my gun. It is quite a hot load, so work up.

Thomas and R-West, thanks to both of you! I only tried a very few groups with the Varget/175s, so maybe I need to do some more testing (yes - I was using CCI BR primers ). I will also try R-West's RL15 load with the 168s.... R- Glad you posted Alliant's data and mine weren't "dangerous" in comparison.

I want to find a load for the 175s that works in both my M77VT and M1A, but I might go crazy looking for one If I DO find a good one, I won't need 168s or 190s anymore - I'll just use the 175s for everything from 100 yd Hunter Class to 1000 yd BR!

Regards, Bill

just took a quick look through my manuals, Nosler lists 44gr of RL-15 behind a 165 grainer, while Barnes lists its 165 X at 45gr of RL-15, interesting because the barnes bullets usually create more resistance and pressure.

I recently shot some Nosler 168gr J4 bullets and RL15 in my McMillan A5-stocked 700VS LH 308Win. I loaded up 45 rounds. 15 each with 44, 45, and 46 grains of RL15. Bullets seated to COL of 2.825", to fit in the magazine. These are .03" off the lands. Brass was Win, fireformed, and neck resized with Lee collet die. Federal 210 primers.

I shot 5 3-shot groups with each load. The average group size of the three loads:

44gr: .465 (best .312)
45gr: .496 (best .422)
46gr: .854 (best .523)

No signs of excess pressure. I weighed the Winchester brass and some military brass out of curiosity. The Win brass averaged 161 gr. The military brass 180 gr. So my charges would probably be too hot in military brass.

Weather was calm, 78 degrees, overcast, a beautiful shooting day.

I intended to chrono all of these, but because I failed to bring the tripod adaptor, no dice.
MM

Maybe this isn't relavent here but I worked up to the maximum load reccomended by Barnes for the 180 gr. XLC (44.5 gr. Varget) tis is a hot load in my rifle and shoots better than I can shoot it. I really like this powder. having dsaid that I have started using BLC-2 recently for the 130gr. version of the XLC. This too shoots very well even at maximum load which is heavily compressed. HAppy shooting.

RL-15 From 35.2 grains to 47.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

I have a new 308 with a 26 inch barrel,cause I shot 5700 rds through the old barrel which was a 20 incher.Shot a .46 5 shot group with 5700rds the last time I shot it. It averaged .6 5 shot groups with just about any powder bullet combination . Shot several pounds of RL 15 through it, was one of the more accurate powders and good velocity. Most of the shooting was from 500 to 1000 yds for the short barrel H380 and 200smk were the best for 1000 yds. But when I got the new rifle with the 26 inch barrel,went back to Varget and 155 gr Lapua bullets. With the 26 inch barrel the velocity is 3026 average and was getting a 3065 with a max.charge printed in the new Nosler manual. This VLD lapua 155 has a BC of .508 which allows me to shoot to 1400 yds with a .308 Win.,using 20 moa tapered bases and Leopould M3 LR 30mm scope with the 300win mag turrent cap on the elevation turrent knobe.Laser range the distance form 100 to 1400 yds and dial the range with one turn of the turrent. Can't ask for a better long range load from a .308 than that.Capable of hitting pop cans at 1000 yds and 18 inch rocks at 1400.Find an accurate consistant load for your rifle and go shoot it ...a lot. the more you practice the more fun you have and sometimes your shooting improves....

in the 308 Win Reloader 15 is a excellent powder and now the choice for the Military M118LR sniper round in 308 Win.

With the 165/168 grain Sierra GK/MK

44.0 grains
Fed 210 Match primers
Fed GM Brass

43.5 for 175 MK
2.79 to 2.80" COL

Excellent hunting and target load.

[ 10-26-2003, 15:14: Message edited by: Alaska Bush Man ]