Load Development

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Buglemintoday
Junior Member
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:13 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: DPMS 204 ruger

Load Development

Post by Buglemintoday »

For those interested, I have a Savage Model 10FP in .308 Win that I have been working up loads for. As far as I can tell, this gun is a shooter and a bargain at that!

Here is a picture of my rifle...

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The gun has a 20" barrel which is short as far as most bench gun nuts are concerned, but it is a delight to carry compared to my Savage Model 12lp. I got the POI close in with a box of Winchester 168gr Ballistic Silvertips, and cleaned the rifle a week before the test.

After prepping 400+ cases of .308, I was ready to go shoot the thing! Here are a few of them!

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Bought up the supplies to get some loads going. After getting suggestions on a few other boards...It had been pretty much noticed everywhere that VARGET and IMR4064 were the two best powders for the caliber.

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Loaded up my first batch of rounds, data as follows...

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10 rounds fired of 43gr Varget, Nosler 165gr Ballistic Tip
10 rounds fired of 44gr Varget, Nosler 165gr Ballistic Tip
10 rounds fired of 45gr Varget, Nosler 165gr Ballistic Tip

Max from Noslers newest manual was 46gr, at 45gr the rifle showed no signs of excessive pressure.

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Turns out, the 44gr Varget load was most accurate, putting 6 shots touching and had 4 flyers due to barrel heat and 10-20mph gusting winds, or user error

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I plan on fine tuning this load this week, on a nice day :)

Also have a batch of 168gr SMK's to try out and I am going to check them at 44gr as well. Once I run out of umph to search for the most accurate load with Varget, I have a pound of IMR4064 to try out as well. People on a few different forums said that 41.5gr of IMR4064 with a 168gr SMK will match the Federal Gold Match stuff. We shall see! :)

Check on updates!

Justin



Federal Cases
CCI LR primers
2.800" OAL
YoteSmoker
Senior Member
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:20 am
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ 527 Varminter
Location: Aurora, Colorado

Re: Load Development

Post by YoteSmoker »

Varget or 4064 in the 308 all the way! You have done your research well. Have fun!
Lee C.
Senior Member
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:00 am
Location: antigo wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Load Development

Post by Lee C. »

Justin, Welcome to the forum, it looks like you have a pretty good load going for your 308 already. Let us know how the other powder your going to try works out for ya.
Buglemintoday
Junior Member
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:13 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: DPMS 204 ruger

Re: Load Development

Post by Buglemintoday »

Thanks guys!

I decided I should go ahead and attempt to fine tune this load. Here is a picture of my next test batch.

Justin

Image
Lee C.
Senior Member
Posts: 356
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:00 am
Location: antigo wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Load Development

Post by Lee C. »

Looking good justin, take your time and don't let your barrel get hot when doing your teating. And have fun out there.
Buglemintoday
Junior Member
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:13 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: DPMS 204 ruger

Re: Load Development

Post by Buglemintoday »

Thanks for the tip lee!

I try to bring a rimfire or a few other rifles to shoot to make the cool down period not last as long :) I have to get occupied otherwise I feel rushed :shock:
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