Just starting working up a load for a 22” barrel.
Anyone for a favourite recipe?
Be interesting to know what works for you?
Yes I’ve searched web and forum..read relevant manufacturers guidance and hand loading manuals etc etc..
Sure, I’ve worked up loads for two 308s with this bullet and N140
The first was a 20 inch custom barrel. Tested 46.9 to 48.7g which gave 2952 to 3098fps at coal of 2.816 with Norma case and CCI 200 primer. Optimal load for this rifle is 47.9gr N140 for 3050fps which gives truly excellent accuracy and terminal performance.
The second was a factory Sako 85 that has a “slow” barrel. Charge weights were 47.1 to 49.5 gr that gave 2846 to 3013fps with coal 2.800in in Norma cases and Murom primers. There appears to be a node at 49.2 gr (3004fps) but this is a work in progress. Bear in mind that this load is compressed.
I saw no pressure signs in either rifle but as always what is safe in my rifles may not be safe in yours so work up carefully and use a chronograph if possible.
I also worked up loads with the same bullet/case in the custom 20inch tube with N135 with charge weights of 45.1 (3008fps) to 46.7gr (3125fps). I didn’t get such a well defined node with this powder but it seemed a better burn rate than N140 for this application given the limited case capacity of the 308 Win case.
49.2 is a pretty hot load. Reassuring you didn’t get pressure signs. I’m doing a first pass of 46.5-48.5 at .5 grain jumps then I’ll dial it in on 0.1 to 0.2 grain jumps.
49.2 is a pretty hot load. Reassuring you didn’t get pressure signs. I’m doing a first pass of 46.5-48.5 at .5 grain jumps then I’ll dial it in on 0.1 to 0.2 grain jumps.
49.2 is a pretty hot load. Reassuring you didn’t get pressure signs. I’m doing a first pass of 46.5-48.5 at .5 grain jumps then I’ll dial it in on 0.1 to 0.2 grain jumps.
Yes it is warm and I was proceeding carefully going so high. Not quite sure why the factory chamber and barrel were so much slower, even with a longer barrel. I can only assume that the longer throat on the factory barrel mitigated the rise in pressure early on in ignition.
Interestingly Barnes report 3285fps from a 24 inch Kreiger with BLC2!
Manufacturers load data is understandably conservative and can be exceeded safely with care and diligent monitoring. The Barnes data with regard to BLC2 is off their website
46 grains N140 in sako A7 308 std barrel and 46.1 grains in R8 308, both with barnes 130 grn TTSX. R8 liked sammi seating depth, sako liked longer seating nearer the lands. Both under 1 MOA. Great bullet for deer. Wont ever shot anything else
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