.308 and 175gr

[wynn24]

Does anyone load 175 grain sierra match in .308? I have used varget and IMR 4350 powders so far with less than acceptable results. I am using winchester brass and WLR primers. I have achieved some half inch groups, but with other loads out of this .308 I have achieved groups in the .3's. I know this rifle is a shooter but I cant seem to find a sweet spot with the 175 grainers.

[jd45]

Your .3 groups might be with bullet weights more closely matched to the twist rate in your barrel. I shoot a Rem. V-Syn in .308 & have gotten 1" @ 200yds  w/minimum charges of Varget & 150s & 165s with my 1 in 12 barrel. The groups open to 2"-2-1/2"  when I go up to 180s. You might try a primer change, as well. I'm using Fed. 210Ms.  Groups of .5 sound pretty good to me. Just my 2 cents, jd45

[wynn24]

I like your idea of trying a different primer. I have only used one primer, but I have used two different lots of Varget and 4350. I hope to achieve better than .5 accuracy at 100 yards. I would like to shoot this rifle at 600 maybe even 800 yards.

[Don Fischer]

You should go shoot it the way it is at 600 to 800yds and see what it does. Bet you can't hold 1/5th" at 800yds.

[jd45]

By the way, wynn, what gun is this you're shooting, & do you know the twist rate in the rifling? Just curious, jd45

[wynn24]

Savage 12bvss with duramax stock custom fitted by a gunsmith. The twist is 1 in 10.

[jd45]

The faster twist should be able to handle the heavier bullets better than mine, once you find the right combo. I've heard good things about Reloader 15 powder, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. jd45

[tutti confuso]

a friend started me on varget, an since i had 4350 gave it a try as well, but my best group so far was with imr 4895 under the 175 smk, using a fed 210m br primers .. varget was best with 168match bullet sierra, an 4350 did very well with 165 sp sierra, actually i worked that up to a compressed load, used all fed primer an win brass
haven't shot below .5" with the 175's yet but have with the 165's .. using a 700P, 1-9 twist 26"hb,  but i will, if i can get to shoot more often... try the 4895 if you get a chance

Does anyone load 175 grain sierra match in .308? I have used varget and IMR 4350 powders so far with less than acceptable results. I am using winchester brass and WLR primers. I have achieved some half inch groups, but with other loads out of this .308 I have achieved groups in the .3's. I know this rifle is a shooter but I cant seem to find a sweet spot with the 175 grainers.

[jd45]

Don, I have a question for you. How does a person shoot a group of 1/5th", (.2" in decimal) even at 25yds, much less 800, when it's .108" less than  the 30 caliber bullet diameter of .308", & if you meant 1/2", as referred to by wynn with a .5", I think you could only get that kind of a group at 800yds with laser, not with a bullet launched out of a rifle flying thru the air. just my 2 cents, jd45

[benchracer]

The answer to that is very simple.  Groups are measured center to center, not by outside diameter.  The diameter of your bullet has nothing to do with the size of your shot groupings.  As for the 1/5th inch at 800 yards part of your question, I believe Don meant the MOA equivalent of 1/5th of an inch at 800 yards.  Very few people can hold steady enough or have the general shooting skill to even shoot inside 1 MOA at that distance.  Please pardon me, Don, if I misinterpreted your post.

[jd45]

Thanx for the info , benchracer. I think I understand now. jd45