Handloading for the first time (308)

[bluebayou]

Anybody got any 308 recipes, tips, lessons, or otherwise general guidance?  I have use of some dies.  I have not bought anything.  My plan from reading books and such is for the Sierra Gameking 165 gr, Winchester brass, and Varget powder.  I have been toying with the idea of Swift Scirocco and Nosler Ballistic Tips.  As a direct question, are there such things as "benchrest primers" or do the manufacturers all make one large rifle primer.  

Thanks to everyone on the scope advice a few months back.  
I shot some 150 gr UMC and got crap results (4 inches at 100 yards).  I shot 168 gr Federal Gold Medal and got 1.25 inches.  I figure that is as good as I will ever get.  I want to get around the same and figure that 1 in 10" twist works better with 168 gr.  What gives good results for any of you with the 308?

[Mac11700]

Well I can attest to the fact that the Federal Gold Medal match loads shoot much better than 1.25" groups...check the postal match results to see how they shot in my restocked Survivor...

As to different recipes for accurate loadings...this will be a trial and error situation for you...one thing I found out with mine...the cleaner the barrel...the better the groups... and your shooting style has a major effect on your groups...try benching it where it is resting back at the hinge pin at the receiver...... and after the trigger breaks..follow thru with the trigger all the way back...don't let it go for a second or two after the shot...and as far as handloading...if I seated the bullet out as far as I could...I couldn't reach the lands with a 165 grain Ballistic tip...so I kept backing them off till I started getting some decent groups...I did this with the various powders that are in Noslers manuals...and the most promising groups with that paticular bullet came from BL-C(2) Federal cases and Federal primers....your results will probably vary...but it's a real good place to start....the Scirocco's and the Barnes Tripleshock bullets...will be on the bench for me to try by the time I get my 308 Ultra...since I sold my Survivor to my next door neighbor a  month or so ago...also...you might look into the Hornady's Interbond bullets...for reloading...or you could even pick up a box of their Light Magnum ammo with these...mine would shoot them just right at 1" groups and ejected them fine...

Mac

[safetysheriff]

For a .308: Sierra or Hornady projectiles would be my first choices; Winchester brass, BL-C(2) or its bulk variant WC-846 propellant or Accur' Arms 2520 as my third choice.     I'd experiment with Win' primers of the non-magnum type.    Federal makes a large-rifle, match-grade primer I believe, but I'm not sure they're necessary.      

FWIW: for a .223 I'd use Remington brass and primers, and the same propellants and bullet mfr's as for the .308.

Take care.

SS'

[Ditchdigger]

I just bought a old sm.ring mauser,with a bull barrel and a bold trigger on it. The Sierra 168 gr.match and 40 grs. of IMR 3031 makes 1 hole at 40 yds.  This was the first loads I've used, and it shows promise. Not to shabby a shooter for $100 and a $47 boyds Varmit stock. Digger