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Starting loads for 308 Win with 165 gr Aframes and Varget

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19 October 2014, 04:56
Austin Hunter
Starting loads for 308 Win with 165 gr Aframes and Varget
Hello,

Does anyone have any recommended loads? I have the Swift manual, but it doesn't have a recommended OAL for this combo. It lists max load as 46 gr.

I'm aiming for 2,700 to 2,800 fps.

Thanks!


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
20 October 2014, 02:28
hivelosity
2.75" to 2.80" oal tip of bullet to base.
I loaded varget to about 45 grs that all I could I could get in the win case with out packing it tight.
Velocity will be what ever maybe 2700f/s.
Dave
20 October 2014, 02:38
shootaway
If you have a standard chamber start at 40grs.
20 October 2014, 05:14
Austin Hunter
Here's what I went with:

Starting Load: 45 gr 2.790" OAL
46 grs at 2.790" and 2.810"
46.5 grs at 2.790" and 2.810"

Probably try and check them next weekend or the week after.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
20 October 2014, 05:38
hivelosity
Are The 46 grain loads compressed?
If So check and see you you bullets creep out.
Had that problem with 168gr nosler BT. and imr4064
20 October 2014, 05:42
Texas Killartist
go to accurate shooter.com and look at the 308 page.
20 October 2014, 06:44
Austin Hunter
the 2.790 OAL are slighlty compressed at 46 grs+, but not by much.

I think I'll have to go with 2.810" to get an uncompressed load.

My plan is to start with the 45 gr loads, make sure there isn't crazy velocities or pressure, and then move the 2.810" OAL loads. If those work, I'll stop there.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
20 October 2014, 17:47
Brad
My 308's can handle 2.815" OAL.

Generally, depending on the brass and chamber, my Varget/165/168 loads are 45.5 - 46.0 grains.

Velocity should be in the 2,735 fps range in a 22" barrel.


21 October 2014, 02:20
Austin Hunter
Good idea on the OAL over max.

I started to measure seating depth for my rifle, but the bullet was WAY out - probably .15" of the bullet in the shoulder. Now, these are Aframes, so they are short, so thus the issue.

I need to measure my magazines (these loads are for two Tikka T3s and a Remington 600) and see how far I can go. I can always go over to get the speed I need and avoid compressed loads.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
24 October 2014, 06:46
Austin Hunter
I measured the load density tonight. I used a fired case so the bullet could move freely and loaded it to 46.5 gr of Varget and then set the bullet in. It was 2.790" exactly. Now, I know after resizing some things can change, but this should be dang close. So assume 100% load at these specs.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
27 October 2014, 00:08
Austin Hunter
Also loaded some rounds up at 2.690" - so the factory crimp is in the bullet cannelure. Went with 43 and 43.5 grs.


"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan

"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."

Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.