@#!$% military brass data for 308 Winchester

[Questor]

For once the good old Speer manual has let me down. The load data for .308 Winchester in book #13 is based on military brass. I really look to Speer for good data that will perform pretty much as published when fired from a real gun. They used a gun like mine, but the cases are bound to hold less powder.

Can you share a source of good, reliable 308 Winchester data that will perform close to published velocities. I'm using Varget.

[Grumulkin]

I would go with the Hornady manual.  When I've chronographed them, my velocities seem to agree pretty closely with it.

Also, military 308 cases will need about 1 to 2 grains less powder than factory cases.

[wtroger]

Military 308 Lake City National Match brass is all I shoot in my 308 it will reload numerous times and I get the correct volocities.

[LaOtto222]

When it comes to 308 and 223 brass, everybody that makes rifle brass makes those, including several military brass sources. I have several manuals and each one seems to use a different case for these two loadings. It is not like 221 Fireball or 375 Winchester for example, where there is only one source of brass. I do not have a .308 so I can not speak of the military brass for that one. I do have a 221 fireball, that I reformed 223 military brass (TW72) from. I found that its case capacity matches very closely to Remington 221 fireball brass. I did have to turn the necks down to fit my chamber. Do not assume that because it is military brass, it will hold less powder. It has to be measured to be sure. This would hold true of any case that is not of the exact same make as the load data indicates. Always start low with powder charges and work your way up. This applies to any case, even if you are using the exact same case called out in the load data you are using. 

[Blackhawk44]

A chronograph and careful procedures will get full velocities at reasonable pressures.  I have used nothing but military surplus brass (match preferred) in my .308 BLR since 1974.  Twenty inch barrel velocities of 2775fps at 15ft from the muzzle make 150gr loads full speed to me.  This may not be accomplished with the powder you prefer; it may only be with the powder your rifle prefers.  With a chronograph, you will likely find that your results vary far more than your favorite loading manuals might lead you to believe.