.308 Load Test

GUTS · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: .308 Load Test

Hi fellas, I tested some loads for my DPMS .308 and I thought you guys might like to see the results. I prepped all the brass the same way:
Twice fired Federal GMM brass
Trimmed to 2.007"
Primer pocket cleaned
Flash hole deburred
Case mouth deburred and chamfered
Cases polished
CCI#34 primers
175grn Sierra BTHP's
Loaded to mag length
The powder was weighed using a dipper onto the pan of a RCBS 550 and trickled to finish. The bullets were pushed in with a Forster mic. seating die. The distance was 100yds and it was about 35F with no wind and full sun. I used a Ledsled DFT. I'm sure about three of the groups have one shot that I jerked the trigger on so one of the groups I measured the four shot group and the five shot group. On any given day these groups could have been a little better or a little worse, but all in all I'd say the rifle likes a few different loads and shoots pretty well.

Here's the rifle,

kbis · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

Good looking groups.

Vince · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

Hey GUTS old mate....ya got a "keeper" there.

The groups it has produced are excellent. I'm particularly impressed with the group produced by 39.9gn of Varget....but then again, the powder was produced by ADI in Australia specifically for the 7.62mm NATO round.

Cheers, Vince

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

Good groups and a nice looking rifle! I've been wanting one of those in .260 Rem. I will accept any donations...

GUTS · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

It seemed to like both loads of Varget, if it wouldn't have been for that flyer in the other Varget group they both would have been pretty good. I should have run all the shots through the chrony, it would have been interesting. The 39.9 Varget load is probably running around 2400fps and the 44.7 load should be around 2680fps. The strangest thing was the difference between two of the 4064 loads,(and it's possible that the difference is in because of my shooting)1/10th of a grain difference between the two, 42.5 and 42.6 and it went from the worst group of all to possibly the best, if I wouldn't have pulled one of the shots. By the way I'm not blaming anything on the trigger, but it is a stock military type trigger with lot's of creep and 8.8lbs of pull. But for now I'm going to load the Varget load and see how it preforms out to 1000yds. I'm wondering if I'll lose any accuracy because of the slower muzzle velocity.

rescuemedic · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

Are the 4064 and 4895 Hodgdon or IMR? I know they're owned by the same comapny, but I thought they had different burn rates? rm

GUTS · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: Re: .308 Load Test

The 4895 and the 4064 are both IMR, I should have listed the brand on the tape with the group size.