Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
Sorry i missed your question, im getting just under .5 MOA.
.308 win 185gr berger
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Sorry i missed your question, im getting just under .5 MOA.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I'm getting under 1/2" groups out of my 700 5R MilSpec .308, shooting 210 Berger VLD's, backed by 39.1gr of Varget, and Federal 210 primers.
Gun has a 24" factory 5R barrel with 11.25" twist.
Gun has a 24" factory 5R barrel with 11.25" twist.
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
Whats your muzzle velocity?
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
In the Berger manual it states 2,397, but I don't own a chrono yet, so I can't tell you exacts. I would guess with my 24" 11.25 twist, it would be VERY close to the 2,400 mark, like the Berger manual lists. Therefore, in my BulletDrop+ app on my iPhone, I use the listed velocities and so far, on all my loads, rifles and calibers, it has been very close with adjusting for drop.
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
How long does your brass last?
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Ive made 2 loads on my Lapuas, and they look good. Made 2-3 loads on my my Hornday Match, and it's still looking good.
.308 and other non-belted brass tends to last longer than magnum cartridges, b/c the the magnums put alot of pressure on the belts where they are connected to the brass body. They tend to expand and when worked more than 3-4 times they tend to blow out. I've had this happen with 2 of my STW brass. Some others are showing signs of wear so I have retired some of them as well.
However, I have been told you can get 8+ reloads out of good .308 brass, if using a neck-sizer die (which is what I use).
We'll have to see.
.308 and other non-belted brass tends to last longer than magnum cartridges, b/c the the magnums put alot of pressure on the belts where they are connected to the brass body. They tend to expand and when worked more than 3-4 times they tend to blow out. I've had this happen with 2 of my STW brass. Some others are showing signs of wear so I have retired some of them as well.
However, I have been told you can get 8+ reloads out of good .308 brass, if using a neck-sizer die (which is what I use).
We'll have to see.
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
Do any of you guys load down with virgin brass or do you just run your standard load?
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I run standard so it fully fire-forms them with 1-shot.
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
I usually do as well but the last batch were headspaced really far, some so much so that the firing pin wouldnt ignite the primer. This also caused a lot of strecthing near the head. Wondering if there is something i couldve done.
varget is still hard to beat in the .308 if you wanna drive it like you stole it... I'm at 43.1 grains with Sierra's 200 grain Matchkings, from a 26" barrel I'm getting 2590 fps... I've shot this load to 1200 yards on steel with fantastic consistency. Longest kill on a deer was only 500 yards, but it did the job, of course.
I shot this load in 95 degree weather in the hot sun about 5 years back, and it did great. The Varget doesn't misbehave at all when the temperature heats up.
I'd say Varget would drive the 185's to near 2700 fps in a 26" barrel, and likely close to 2600 in a 24"... but from a 20" barrel, it would still be hard to get over 2500 fps (but that would reach out quite some distance, of course)...
Dan
I shot this load in 95 degree weather in the hot sun about 5 years back, and it did great. The Varget doesn't misbehave at all when the temperature heats up.
I'd say Varget would drive the 185's to near 2700 fps in a 26" barrel, and likely close to 2600 in a 24"... but from a 20" barrel, it would still be hard to get over 2500 fps (but that would reach out quite some distance, of course)...
Dan
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
I agree varget is a very good powder. It is also very temperature insensitive. I spent a lot of time with it packed behind a 168gn but havent tried the 185 with it. I think 2700 might be a max load but ill have to work up some loads and see to know for sure.
I told you that I use 2000MR in my match gun but I also just worked up a load with Varget to see what it would do. My gun has a 11 twist 28 inch barrel and with 42.7 grains of Varget it shot a 5 shot group at 200 yards today that could be completely covered with a penny. CCI BR2 primers, Lapua brass, .025 off the lands, once fired brass with .002 neck tension. The chrono showed a ES of 7 for 5 shots with an avg velocity of 2650 ftps. A good friend of mine has a 12 twist 26 inch barreled rifle that shoots the 185 juggernauts really well with Varget and he's using 43.3 grs. with a Wolf primer jumping them .020 to the lands. He's getting 2650 ftps. also, I think thats the low node for Varget. The higher node will be over 2700, probably about 2725 but will be harder on your brass. We are both running the same velocity but he needs more powder to do it and thats where the longer barrels come into play. Start about 42.5 grains of Varget and work up and you'll find it. Good luck........gun)
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
Wow speck thats very impressive. Some of you guys really get your loads dialed in well. Im jealous.
I guess its very possible to hit 2700 with a 185gn and varget in a 26" tube, that was a good call by green.
You said you buddy shoots the juggernauts out of a 1:12 barrel?
Does he have any stability problems outta that load?
I guess its very possible to hit 2700 with a 185gn and varget in a 26" tube, that was a good call by green.
You said you buddy shoots the juggernauts out of a 1:12 barrel?
Does he have any stability problems outta that load?
Yes, you can get over 2700 ftps. with Varget in a 26 inch barrel if you wanna run it on a higher node but its harder on your brass, if that doesn't matter roll with with. My 2000MR load is pretty stiff, im running the 185s over 2800 but after 4 firings i have to chunk the brass as the primer pockets are toast but that load has served me very well in FTR matches.
The juggernauts shoot great out of the 12 twist rig my buddy shoots. He shoots 600 yard FTR matches all the time with it and he's a high master shooter. I saw him shoot a 597/600 score in a FTR match in January of this year so yeah i'd say the juggernauts shoot well in his gun.......lol........I don't know how the load would hold up at 1000 yards as 600 is the farthest he shot it as far as I know. I shot the Texas Long Range Championships (1000 yards) a few weeks ago with the 200 hybrids in my 11 twist and took 3rd place in FTR so I know an 11 twist will handle the 200s fine. The juggernaut isn't as long as the hybrids thats why it can be shot with a 12 twist but with that being said I read where guys are shooting the 208 Amax with 12 twist so who knows.
