308 filled up!

[TexasShooter59]

I've been reloading 223 for about three years, so I am not completely new to this. I just loaded my first 308 rounds for an OCW test, and wow, did the cases get full!

These are intended to be pinker/fouler rounds to learn 308 on. Later, I will load the better bullets. The photo shows it on the max charge of 49.1 grains before seating. The COL is 2.500", but the last six or so would go to 2.503 - 2.505". I had to pour slowly to get this in the cases!

I doubt this is critical for plinker rounds, but I wanted to make sure I was not doing something wrong. I also wondered if there was a better way to charge so much powder, for future reference.

Thanks, as always!

 

[allaroundhunter]

For just plinker rounds I would not use a max charge. Right now, that is going to be a seriously compressed load. Does you reloading manual say that it should be a compressed load with that powder charge?


And I'll add; those 110 gr bullets are really light for a .308 so you may not have decent accuracy at all. Those bullets were designed for the .30 M1 Carbine which also pushed them at much slower velocities. Let us know how they shoot.

 

[rcmodel]

Perfectly normal for your load to be a compressed charge with that powder & bullet combo.

Tapping the case on the bench every so often while charging it will help settle the powder in the case.

You mentioned this is the first attempt at loading .308 ever?

So how did you decide to use a compressed Max load as your starting load without working up from the recommended Starting load??

rc

 

[Bio-Chem]

For plinker rounds i've always used cheap 150grain FMJBT and 45 grains of IMR 4895 in the 308. I'd think about finding a load that required a bit less compression.

 

[StandingTall]

Why would you want to start right off the bat with the max load, especially for "plinker" rounds?

 

[cowtownup]

Wouldn't the standard twist on a 308 barrel find it hard to stabilize such a light projectile?

 

[rcmodel]

No.

Standard (1-12) twist .308 are usually very accurate with 110 grain varmint bullets.

rc

 

[Rule3]

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2105/308-dia-110-gr-FMJ

Lyman #49 shows data for a Sierra 110 JHP with a Max load of 50.0 grains of your IMR 4064 powder as a compressed load.

As other have said WHY? That is a MAX load and not good to start out with. The start load for that weight is 45.0 grains

What rifle? Some are 1:12 or 1:10 twist

 

[allaroundhunter]

No.

Standard (1-12) twist .308 are usually very accurate with 110 grain varmint bullets.

rc

But is the shape of this bullet conducive to remaining stable at the velocities that he is going to be pushing them at? Varmint bullets, yes, but these are not exactly varmint bullets.

Not questioning you, rc, just curious as to if the shape will change how they stabilize.

 

[rcmodel]

I think they will shoot just fine.

I have shot those Sierra 110 Carbine bullets in a 1-10 twist 30-06 in the past with good accuracy.

If anything, the slightly slower 1-12 will do better.

rc

 

[capreppy]

The OP said he's loaded OCW loads. I think he is just showing you the max one for a pictorial. I think the other rounds for his OCW are in the reloading tray in the back.

 

[TexasShooter59]

The OP said he's loaded OCW loads. I think he is just showing you the max one for a pictorial. I think the other rounds for his OCW are in the reloading tray in the back.

Took the words right out of my mouth, capreppy! Indeed the starting loads are to the left just out of the photo. They were not compressed. Compression was on the last three rows including the unseated cases. You will also notice the color stripes around the necks to indicate which charge.

WHY these bullets? At the time, they were cheap comparatively! I probably won't buy any more, but there they are, so I think I will use them. They will actually be more fouler than plinking, as I want to move on to the A-Max's.

Also, I took max charge from the Sierra book, which says 49.1 grains. Min is shown to be 43.5, but I started at 44.2.

Thanks for all the responses! Now I will be curious to see whether they shoot well, or not.

 

[TexasShooter59]

Forgot to say that the rifle is a factory Remington 700 VS with 1-12 twist.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have a friend who likes to do this... shoot those 110's with a full case of powder. I don't get it... But then I guess there is no reason why not?

I tried some 125s for a 3gun match once. I changed back to 150s.

 

[TexasShooter59]

Test results...

Here is the outcome of today's OCW test, in case anyone is interested. It was 97 degrees and about 35% humidity with a light breeze almost straight from the target. The "ignore" hole was actually meant for a different target! Squares are one inch. Primers were starting to flatten on the two highest loads. No other pressure signs were observed.

 

[popper]

Using a drop tube to load those?

 

[50 cal]

I had this same problem until I realized Lake City 308 has thicker case heads which reduced my powder charge.

 

[au_prospector]

Pretty cool, interesting your higher charges opened up your groups and some rounds did not stabilize.

 

[TexasShooter59]

I found it interesting too that the high velocities failed to stabilize. These are the first keyholes I have experienced. Some posters said the bullets would be accurate and some said they would not; they were both right!

I've only seen drop tubes on Midway, etc. and know nothing about them. Based on the test results, I may not need to worry about compression for these bullets anyway!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I found it interesting too that the high velocities failed to stabilize.

Maybe because as was mentioned above they were intended for .30 Carbine, which pushes them at less than 2k fps. Taking that short squat bullet up past the 3k mark is likely the cause. That's just my guess though, I'm no rcmodel by far.

 

[jerkface11]

I'm not sure why people are worrying about it being a max load. With that bullet I doubt it's anywhere near the max pressure. There just isn't room for more powder.