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Best load for Savage 10FP 308

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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/29/2008 at 05:16
Any new SITREP on the .308, Belt?
 
I'm going to get me another box of 155gr. Lapua Scenars......Devil


Edited by cheaptrick - July/29/2008 at 05:17
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/29/2008 at 09:25
I think you need to get some good brass as well.  That might be part of your problem for not obtaining your accuracy desired.  I started with Winchester brass and was getting around 1 MOA groups with my Remmy.  I then bought some Lapua brass and my groups dropped down to 1/2 MOA sometimes better, consistently. 

I think with Lapua you will also be able to load more powder and get some more velocity.  I load 43.5 grs or Varget for 175 gr SMK and reached 44.5 before I saw pressure signs.  I load 42 grains for 185 Lapua Scenars and am getting around 2580 out of those larger 185 grainers.   I realize it could be the rifle, but that just seems awfully low to me. 

Also why don't you buy a couple boxes of Federal Gold Medal Match and just seen what it does in your rifle.  Get some 175s and 168s and see how it shoots.  My experience with that ammo has been really good.  It shoots as good as my handloads out of my gun, it is expensive, but it might give you a place to start and let you know if it is your loads or your gun that might be letting you down.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/29/2008 at 09:54
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

I think you need to get some good brass as well.  That might be part of your problem for not obtaining your accuracy desired.  I started with Winchester brass and was getting around 1 MOA groups with my Remmy.  I then bought some Lapua brass and my groups dropped down to 1/2 MOA sometimes better, consistently. 

I think with Lapua you will also be able to load more powder and get some more velocity.  I load 43.5 grs or Varget for 175 gr SMK and reached 44.5 before I saw pressure signs.  I load 42 grains for 185 Lapua Scenars and am getting around 2580 out of those larger 185 grainers.   I realize it could be the rifle, but that just seems awfully low to me. 

Also why don't you buy a couple boxes of Federal Gold Medal Match and just seen what it does in your rifle.  Get some 175s and 168s and see how it shoots.  My experience with that ammo has been really good.  It shoots as good as my handloads out of my gun, it is expensive, but it might give you a place to start and let you know if it is your loads or your gun that might be letting you down.
 
Good advise on buying Lapua brass and picking up some Federal Gold Match to try.  
 
I only use Lapua .308 brass these days....It's the "shiznit"....Or whatever that term kids are saying today. 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/30/2008 at 21:47
Decent brass would probable help, but Winchester is about as good as I could get. Lapua and Norma brass is as scarace as hens teeth around here. besides I have a lot of military brass of the same head stamp I can sort and weigh.
I'm going to try some IMR 4895 this week with the 175SMKs, then I may have to try the 168s. 175s have dried up.
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/31/2008 at 00:23
some twists prefer the 168 and some prefer the 175

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/01/2008 at 15:04
Well I went to the range today and tried my loads for the 175SMK using IMR4895. The results were good thus far. I had 1 group that was 1 1/8" with one flyer that I called. I had another group that was 1 1/16 with one flyer that I called. The four shots that were together in both groups were one holers that were 3/4" and 5/8". I'm going to pick up another box of 175SMKs and try the 4895 again. The last 4 loads that I fired I was fighting the mirage so I may have to try them again. I also did not have any preassure signs.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/01/2008 at 15:06
Were these 5 shot groups, Belt?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/01/2008 at 16:23
Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

Were these 5 shot groups, Belt?
Yep! Again I'm shooting these loads to look for preassure signs and looking for potential loads for accuracy. Every group is five shots.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/06/2008 at 17:10
Originally posted by BeltFed BeltFed wrote:

Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

Were these 5 shot groups, Belt?
Yep! Again I'm shooting these loads to look for preassure signs and looking for potential loads for accuracy. Every group is five shots.
 
Maxing out the loads huh. If possible I try to stay at least a few tenths of a grain under the bullet manufacturers suggested load.  However I have heard that the way to maximize your load is to add one grain incriments untill the rife blows up then back off a grain on the loads. Excellent

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/06/2008 at 18:25
Laugh%20Above
Actually I will take the data from the manuals I have and average them for a bulllit weight range. It's hard to explain (really it's just long), but it keeps me from starting at the lowest powder charge or going to the highest maximum charge. It's a way to take into account different bullit shapes and bullit weight varences ie. 170gr to 175gr that some manuals show.
I did this with one powder and my maximum load was just starting to show signs of pressure, but one manual I had showed a maximum charge a couple of gr.s higher.
This system also takes into account that my components may not be the same as in the manuals, example I use military brass which is heavier than commercial.
It may be overly cautious, but I like my ugly face, and I don't want to wear out a rifle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/07/2008 at 00:20
I thought you'd get a chuckle out of that. I have three reloading manuals that all seem to disagree on things as simple as how much Unique you can load in a 158 semi wadcutter 38, its no wonder people have issues reloading. I think my 35yr old sierra manual still shows 23.3 grains of 2400 in a 240 gr JHP 44 mag where the new manual has dropped it a couple of grains.  I've shot some at 23.3 that will make you hand come alive. Then we have cartridges like 45-70 that are quite complex due to the strength of different actions chambered for it.  I load some military brass at times also and I am really careful about my rifle loads I have a RCBS electric scale powder dispenser that is priceless for rifle loads.  I still use the old manual powder thrower for pistol loads but I load them about three tenths below max because the powder throwers can fluctuate a tad.  There are some booklets by specific  caliber that show all the different manufacturers recomended loading info and I have a couple of them naturally one is 45-70. Usually when I find a load I like I stay with it to maintain consistence, although in .223 I have been experimenting with different weight bullets - I shot some 75 gr AMAX today that I bought before I realized they load too long to fit in magazines and must be fired single shot, the 60 gr AMAX seems to work well so I loaded some of them and got a box of 77gr Sierra but my old manual doesnt show a load for them cause there were no heavy bullets 35 yrs ago for .223.Head%20Banger

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/07/2008 at 14:13
Yea I did Roll%20on%20Floor%20Laughing. I've had to buy some new manuals because my old ones were as old as yours', and most powder manufactureres have changed hands, and there are so many new bullits.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/07/2008 at 16:45
Wes, your absolutely right about manual powder throwers they sometimes fluctuate a few 10ths of a grain.  I have gotten into the habit of weighting every charge when I reload. I don't like surprises. Heck yes it slows down the process, but I'm going for consistency not speed.   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2009 at 16:54
Well I finally got to go to the range for my shoot-off of the three powders I have tried. Chronographed the loads at the same time. Haven't had time to check all the results yet, but so far it looks like 748 is giving the best and most consistant groups. Varget is a close second and giving a little higher velocity. All three powders gave good results (748, 4895, Varget).
I also opened up the barrell chanel to give an even clearence between stock and barrell. Before I did this it seemed like I had horizontel stringing when the barrell heated up. Today I had a problem with mirage from the sun and especially from the number of rounds I fired in a short time, and I did not have the same problem with horizontel stringing.
Hopefully I'll have time to go over the results this weekend and give group sizes and velocities, and other info.
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2009 at 20:13
I'm still scratching my head about Mike McDonnald 's  190 SMK load since it is over what the book says is max but there seems to be some disagreement as to what max is cause it looks like the makers of Varget say 45gr is max.  I think he last said he was using 42.5 gr. to push the 190 SMK.   I like the idea of the 190 but I'm starting to think I need a 30-06 to step the speed up a bit.  I already shoot the 190 in my 300 WM but I only get to use virgin brass which really takes the fun out of reloading and wanting to shoot it more.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GaCop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2009 at 07:01
I would ditch the IMI brass (unless it's match).  Standard IMI was shot quite a bit in auto weapons.  Lapua is expensive but in the long run, you'll get more loads per case.  Winchester is another good case for 308 loads.  I fully prep mine deburring the flash hole and uniforming the primer pockets.  This only has to be done once for that particular lot of brass.  Federal is not too bad but is a bit soft and usually craps out around four loadings.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/27/2009 at 14:02
I have a bunch of IVI brass, and it was fired out of my rifles. With the scaricty of brass right now I aint ditchen nothin.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/27/2009 at 19:57
miltary brass varies a bit in the neck thickness, usually outside neck turning will show more improvement with military than civilian as a percentage, by turning you can select the tension for autos or thinner for bolts. also primer seating pressure can vary more with military because of dimensional differences. try getting a Dillons primer swager, or a lee if possible.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2009 at 14:06
Yeah, I know how bad military brass is. When testing some loads last week I got one group of 4 shots that was about 9/16 of an inch, the 5th shot opened it up to 1 1/8th. Though I don't think the terrible mirage or the jerk behind the trigger had anything to do with the 5th round.
I finally got enough Win. brass to start working up a load for the Savage. Just to see what the differences were I weighed the IVI brass against the Winchester brass (about 10 cases of each). The IVI brass averaged about 181 grains with about 3 grains of variance. the Winchester brass was either 158 or 159 grains with about 2 grains of variance.
The Winchester brass was more consistant by weight. It will be interesting to see what groups and velocities will be like with about 22 grains of difference between the cases.
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2009 at 16:52
LC, OFV,IMI responds well to case prep. although its a lot of work, nice thing about it -- the primer pockets last forever.
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