.308 hunting load work up

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RL 15 and Varget are more temp stable than the others. Especially Varget. It is hard to find a powder/bullet combo that won't shoot well in 308. I've gotten very good accuracy with all of them and both bullets but Varget is my go-to powder for hunting. I still have some 4064 and use it for loads that I will only shoot at the range. I'd probably go with the Noslers because they are cheaper than Bergers. Game probably won't notice.
 
Reloader 15 used in the Military 7.62X51 M118 LR ammo gave pressure issues when used in the Desert heat. Load had to be reduced to reduce wear & tear on M-14 DMR's.

This led to the Development of MK 316 MOD 0 loading in 2008 using a different, more temperature stable powder.
 
I could see the extreme temperature swings in the desert of perhaps 40 at night to over a 100 degrees during the day effecting a powders stability, my limited sample size living in the PNW has not displayed such swings yet’ therefore myself to make a determination based on that would be conjectural IMO
J
 
I would start with IMR 4064 or Varget with a 168 grain bullet. All of your choices should produce good results.
 
So, @Nature Boy what decisions have you made? Where are you at in your load development?

Man I’m behind. My goal is to test a load Friday morning on the way to work and one on Saturday.

I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15. I’m currently finishing up some Nosler 165 and 4064. I also made some of the Noslers with their accuracy load using BL-C2 just to try

I’ll post some data as soon as I have some to post
 
Man I’m behind. My goal is to test a load Friday morning on the way to work and one on Saturday.

I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15. I’m currently finishing up some Nosler 165 and 4064. I also made some of the Noslers with their accuracy load using BL-C2 just to try

I’ll post some data as soon as I have some to post

Can’t wait!
 
Man I’m behind. My goal is to test a load Friday morning on the way to work and one on Saturday.

I’ve got my rounds made to test the Berger 168 and RL15. I’m currently finishing up some Nosler 165 and 4064. I also made some of the Noslers with their accuracy load using BL-C2 just to try

I’ll post some data as soon as I have some to post

did you do any testing?
 
Here’s my target for the 168 Bergers and RL15

2pWwuA9.jpg

I’m using a modified OCW method where you load 3 rounds each at increasing charge weights and shoot them in order. To find the accuracy nodes you look for group centers that deviate the least from point of aim when compared to adjacent groups. No FPS data as my chrono was acting up due to the light at the range.

In this case it looks like a wide node exist between 43.2 - 43.8. Normally my next step would be to adjust seating depth but I’m limited due to having to load for mag length as this is a hunting load, not a target load.

I’ll take 43.5 and validate it at 200 with a larger sample size.

I’ll still work up some more loads with the 165 Nosler and 4064 when I get some time
 
do you always use the best group from the wide node? i'm assuming the wide node is best for long-range shooters because of the wider range of minimal vertical dispersion.

just picking your brain here,

murf
 
do you always use the best group from the wide node? i'm assuming the wide node is best for long-range shooters because of the wider range of minimal vertical dispersion.

just picking your brain here,

murf

I generally don’t look at the group size. I chose a charge weight in the middle of the node as defined above. If this was a target load I’d shrink the group in the next step by adjusting seating depth. As it is, the middle of the node here, 43.5g, was also the tightest.

Picking a charge in the middle of the node gives me the best chance that changes in conditions won’t take my load out of tune. That would apply to either target shooting or hunting. Overkill for a hunting load for sure, but it’s part of the hobby and I enjoy it so why not, right?
 
Here’s my target for the 168 Bergers and RL15

View attachment 865422

I’m using a modified OCW method where you load 3 rounds each at increasing charge weights and shoot them in order. To find the accuracy nodes you look for group centers that deviate the least from point of aim when compared to adjacent groups. No FPS data as my chrono was acting up due to the light at the range.

In this case it looks like a wide node exist between 43.2 - 43.8. Normally my next step would be to adjust seating depth but I’m limited due to having to load for mag length as this is a hunting load, not a target load.

I’ll take 43.5 and validate it at 200 with a larger sample size.

I’ll still work up some more loads with the 165 Nosler and 4064 when I get some time
If that holds together at 200, I wouldn't even bother.
I like IMR4064, but I doubt it can improve on that. Especially for hunting.
 
I generally don’t look at the group size. I chose a charge weight in the middle of the node as defined above. If this was a target load I’d shrink the group in the next step by adjusting seating depth. As it is, the middle of the node here, 43.5g, was also the tightest.

Picking a charge in the middle of the node gives me the best chance that changes in conditions won’t take my load out of tune. That would apply to either target shooting or hunting. Overkill for a hunting load for sure, but it’s part of the hobby and I enjoy it so why not, right?

The data I have on RL-15 says it temp stable at 50F and lower. Above that it starts increasing at a rate of ~1.5 fps/deg F. I used it in my 6.5 CM till I started blowing primers when the ambient temp raised into the 90's. As you know here in Texas it can be in the 30's in the mornings, and 90's by mid afternoon or reverse. Did not look to see where your at in the load range, but suspect the upper end. So be careful when the temp hits the upper 80's 90's.
 
The data I have on RL-15 says it temp stable at 50F and lower. Above that it starts increasing at a rate of ~1.5 fps/deg F. I used it in my 6.5 CM till I started blowing primers when the ambient temp raised into the 90's. As you know here in Texas it can be in the 30's in the mornings, and 90's by mid afternoon or reverse. Did not look to see where your at in the load range, but suspect the upper end. So be careful when the temp hits the upper 80's 90's.

I thought about that temp stability issue. I'm trying to get some of my seldom-used powder inventory into rotation and that's the reason for my selection. Even doing the load development serves that purpose, whether I end up hunting with it or not.

My plan is to hunt hard the first half of December out west of Brownwood. It could be a blizzard or a heatwave or both
 
If you decide to use RE-15 with some 155's, I found 45.0-46.0 Gr. was also a very accurate load. Seems my recommendation for the 168's wasn't far off.

I have a couple of#'s of RE-15 to use up. It also works well for heavy bullet loads for the 223 Rem.
 
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