208gr A-Max for a 308 question.

[JustAnotherSPSTactical]

Hello guys. I am new to reloading and was wondering if someone might help me. I am wanting to try the 208 A-Max at a 1000 yards. I was wondering what powder you guys would recommend? I was thinking about 2000MR or AR-Comp. I have IMR 4895 that I use with my 168 SMK. I need something for the heavier bullets. Thanks for any help. My gun is a 308 SPS Tactical AAC-SD 1/10 twist.

 

[FEENIX]

Welcome to LRH and enjoy! Search for "Making A Case For The. 308 Winchester by Michael Eichelle" in the article section of the site.

Ping him for the load info, I'm sure he'll be glad to share them.

Good luck!

Ed

 

[Scot E]

I would also suggest you do some comparison testing between bullets to see if you don't in fact find better performance with a lighter but faster bullet. I have found this to be true with my 30'06. I can shoot the heavier stuff and get good results but the velocity is so low that I get as good as sometimes even better drop and drift numbers with the medium weight 165-190 class bullets.

Good luck!

Scot E.

 

[green 788]

I think Varget will work very well for you... I use 43.1 grains behind Sierra 200 grain Matchkings... that's a grain over max, but I've shot it in 95 degree weather and no pressure issues at all... Winchester brass and CCI BR2' or just the 200's will work.

I'm getting right on 2600 fps with this bullet, and with its higher BC you can go to 1300 yards without dropping subsonic.

With 175's at 2750 fps (quite optimistic but it can be done)... you're subsonic by 1250 and your energy level is lower, of course.

With the 208 AMAX you should be able to get a great load at around 42.5 grains of Varget, but work up carefully... again Win brass... probably go 2575 anyway...

Dan

 

[Nomosendero]

I think Varget will work very well for you... I use 43.1 grains behind Sierra 200 grain Matchkings... that's a grain over max, but I've shot it in 95 degree weather and no pressure issues at all... Winchester brass and CCI BR2' or just the 200's will work.

I'm getting right on 2600 fps with this bullet, and with its higher BC you can go to 1300 yards without dropping subsonic.

With 175's at 2750 fps (quite optimistic but it can be done)... you're subsonic by 1250 and your energy level is lower, of course.

With the 208 AMAX you should be able to get a great load at around 42.5 grains of Varget, but work up carefully... again Win brass... probably go 2575 anyway...

Dan

What barrel length are you using?

 

[JustAnotherSPSTactical]

Thanks for all the input guys. I have some 208 A-max's on the way. I picked up some 178 A-Max's tonight. I have about a half a box of the 168 SMK. I have Varget and some Alliant AR-Comp to try. I got a nice group with 168 SMK over IMR4895. They were loaded really light with only 40 grains. Muzzle speed was only around 2250. Didn't work to well when I tried to go out further than a 100yrds. Going to try and get my speeds up to 2600-2700 and see what that does. I tried 44 grains of IMR 4895 and got up to 2590 fps with OAL of 2.8 Thanks again guys for the help.

 

[green 788]

What barrel length are you using?

26"... Savage LE2B... has the McMillan stock from factory, but I did glass bed it and lightened the trigger to about a pound... the rifle shoots like a custom, it really does...

 

[green 788]

Thanks for all the input guys. I have some 208 A-max's on the way. I picked up some 178 A-Max's tonight. I have about a half a box of the 168 SMK. I have Varget and some Alliant AR-Comp to try. I got a nice group with 168 SMK over IMR4895. They were loaded really light with only 40 grains. Muzzle speed was only around 2250. Didn't work to well when I tried to go out further than a 100yrds. Going to try and get my speeds up to 2600-2700 and see what that does. I tried 44 grains of IMR 4895 and got up to 2590 fps with OAL of 2.8 Thanks again guys for the help.

In Winchester brass, use 43.6 grains of IMR 4895 with the 168's... and 42.0 grains with the 178's...

And if those two loads don't shoot super tight, start checking to find out what's wrong with the rifle.

Dan

 

[JustAnotherSPSTactical]

Thanks for the info Dan. I don't have any Winchester brass. I have Remington and Lapua.

 

[Bart B]

When the .308 Win. was "the" round to use in high power matches, 200-gr. Match Kings were often used for long range. The favorite load was 48 grains of IMR4350 and those 200's would leave at 2450 to 2500 fps from a 26 inch barrel. Peak pressure was around 53,000 CUP (62,500 PSI). Accuracy was phenomenal. Some folks tried faster powders but never got that velocity and good accuracy without pressures being too high for safety.

I watched the then current 600 yard record being broken at the 1997 Nationals when a friend shot 20 of those Sierra 200's into about 4 inches with aperture sights; score was 200-19X and all but one were in the upper right part of the 6" X ring.

If one gets over 2500 fps with bullets heavier than 200 grains in a .308 from a 26 inch barrel that shoot no worse than MOA at 1000, I say the peak pressures are into the dangerous range. Higher velocities mean much higher pressures.

 

[green 788]

Bart... you're probably right, the pressure would be pretty high on that Varget load I mentioned... I did have a W748 load with the 200's that did pretty darned good, at something around 2550 fps....

This load shot really well, but was temp sensitive so I chose not to use it. If weather permitted, it would work pretty well I'd say... this was a slower lot of W748, the next batch I got did show pressure issues before 44 grains with the 200's...