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Best load for Savage 10FP 308

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BeltFed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Best load for Savage 10FP 308
    Posted: April/10/2008 at 16:48
I have a new Savage 10FP in 308Win.. So far I have tried military ball, military match 173gr fmjbt, Federal 165gr btsp, and Federal match 168gr bthp. I have not been impressed with the accuracy.
For you Savage shooters, What bullet weight, load, or factory ammo gives you the best accuracy?Sharp%20Shooter
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2008 at 16:54
Those guns have a 1-10" twist rate so it is probably going to like the heavier bullets.  Try some SMK 175 and 190s and see how they do.  .308s seem to love varget powder as well.

In my Remington I can shoot 1/2 moa with Federal Gold medal match 175 grain.  They are going 2600 fps with SMK bullets.  Should be real easy to replicate that load.

I used to have a Savage 10 fp and it really liked 178 grain hornady Amax bullets.  It would shoot under 1moa no problem, sometimes I could shoot 1/2 moa with it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2008 at 17:00
You got to try Varget and Fed 210M or my preference, BR-2 primers, Belt.  
Those 168gr. bullets should shoot nice in that rifle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2008 at 20:29
im sure your aware of this but no two guns will shoot alike, sure we can tell you whats working for us in ours but of course there is no guarrantee it will do the same for yours.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2008 at 21:38
Thanks for the info guys! The reason I'm asking this question is so I don't spend alot of time and money (remember I'm a cheapskate) chasing the wrong bullit weights or even powders. It has been my experience that generally the same rifles like the same ammo. There are exceptions to the rule of course, but I would like to start where most Savage shooters are getting their best results.
There is a lot of experience and knowledge here, and I would like to put it to good use. Please keep those bullits and powders comingYippee.
I'll keep you posted on my results.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/07/2008 at 15:50
Finally the weather was right and I had the time. Got to shoot the loads I worked up to find a maximum load. I used military IVI brass (I've got lots of it) Federal match primers, 175gr SMK, and Varget powder. I started at 36.5 grs and worked up to 41.0 grs. 41.0 grs started to show signs of high preassure (primers just started to crater and one round was hard to extract). I also grouped each load and they all grouped 1 1/4" or less with most under 1".
I'm going to try two loads and see how they average. They are 37.5grs and 40.0grs of Varget. I think if I do my part I can get these groups down to a 1/2" average using these components.
Thanks for the help!Big%20Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/07/2008 at 17:42

Thanks.

 
Are you staying with Varget or switching to something else?
Varget didn't do much in my rifle with 175 grainers.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/07/2008 at 18:18
So far I like the results, but I'm not done with my research. After I try the 37.5 and 40.0gr charges of Varget I'm going t try Win 748 with the 175s. I use 748 for my 223s because it meters well in my Dillon and it's easy to get around here so it makes since to try it. The next bullit  I'll try is 168gr SMKs with both powders.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 14:55
Well I went to the range today and tried my two loads. Looks like 37.5 grs of Varget edged out the 40.0gr load but not by much (haven't measured group sizes yet).
I'm kinda srcatching my head. Seems like the groups average the same size no matter the charge wt.. With powders I've used in the past there always seemed to be one or even two charge wts. that gave the tightest groups between starting and maximum charge wts..
Guess I'll try Win. 748 with the 175 SMK and see what happens.
Cheaptrick is this the results you got? My groups seem to run 1/2" to 1 1/4" with Varget.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 16:07
Originally posted by BeltFed BeltFed wrote:

Cheaptrick is this the results you got? My groups seem to run 1/2" to 1 1/4" with Varget.
 
Is that with 168gr. SMK's or 175gr?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 17:11
Either. I just thought it was odd that group sizes (at least with the 175s) seemed to average the same size no matter what the powder charge wt was with the Varget.
Cheaptrick if your results were different with the 168s using Varget, please let me know.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 17:23
Yeah, I didn't get very good results with 175gr SMK's.
I only tried them with Varget, but it was a bust for me.
You have a 1 in 10 twist barrel, so they may well work for you. (Should)
 
Most the .308 shooters in my AO are using Varget too.
 
I run 168gr. SMK's and 45.5gr. of Varget with CCI BR-2 primers.
I have shot this same load for quite awhile with good results.
 
Here's a 5 shot, 100 yd group with that load.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 17:29
That's some good shooting there Mark.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 17:39
Originally posted by cyborg cyborg wrote:

That's some good shooting there Mark.
 
 
Thank you, Sir.
 
You might want to give Mike McDonald a shout, Belt Fed.  
He shoots .308's and 175gr. pills way out at long ranges and he's an incredible rifleman.    
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 17:47
Thanks Ct! Couldn't you tighten up that group though, just kidding. THAT's a GREAT group.
Back to the lab. Good thing I've got a good supply of 168 SMKs.
I'm quiress how you worked up to this load, if you don't mind, just briefly.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 18:12
Originally posted by BeltFed BeltFed wrote:

I'm quiress how you worked up to this load, if you don't mind, just briefly.
 
I'll tell ya, but you'll laugh. Embarrased
 
I bought a Remington VS .308 with a 1 in 12 twist barrel just to fool around with at the range.
I had been shooting .300 WM's and a .300 RUM and welcomed the reduced recoil of the aforementioned Remington. Wink 
 
Some guys at my range that shot .308's recommended Varget and Fed 210M primers. 
On the can of Varget, you'll notice it lists a load for 168gr. Sierra HPBT @ 46gr. and Fed 210M primers.
 
Not knowing any better, I went off and loaded up some rounds with 45grs of Varget and Fed primers and started shooting.
Groups were a lot like the ones in the pic, but a little larger.
Went to 46gr. and group size shrunk.
Backed off to 45.5gr. and group size stayed the same. Changed to CCI BR-2 primers and the rest is......history. Wink   
 
We checked my speed the last time out with a chrony and it averaged around 2760 FPS with my 26" barrel. Your barrel is 24", correct?
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 18:14
Oh, I load my rounds LONG too.
Those rounds in the pic were loaded at 2.960"....Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/11/2008 at 18:45
How could you laugh at results like that. It might be dumb luck at worst but you can't argue with the results.
I never would have done it that way because I use military brass (which could be part of my problem) that I have a lot of.
Back to the laboratoryStiring%20The%20PotNO2Reloader
 
I'll keep ya up dated as th results come in.
Anyway Thanks for your help!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/20/2008 at 19:43
I've been loading 44.0 grains Varget with the 168 gr Horniday AMAX Molly coated bullet 

Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - April/17/2009 at 20:04

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/22/2008 at 19:53
Well I tried the 175 SMKs with Win. 748. Haven't really tried to find that accurate load yet, still trying to find the max. load. Anyway, it looked like my first two loads may be the best for 748 (39.0 and 39.5grs). 748 doesn't seem to group any tighter than Varget so far. I have noticed that the starting loads of both powders seem to give the best groups. According to the manuals this would be around 2400fps.
I'm going to try the 168SMK next, but first I'm going to open up the barrel channel on the stock (it's a Bell&Carlson). The barrel is free floated, but the stock is closer to the right side of the barrel and it might have something to do with the last 2 of 5 shots being fliers usually to the left. Anyway back to the lab.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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