Tried some handloading... WooHoo!!
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:45 pm
HighVelocity helped me get my loading bench setup on Friday, and we cooked up 10 rounds, just to make sure our stuff was on target.
The cartridge was a .308 Winchester, using a 168 grain Sierra Match King HPBT over 42 grains of Varget, in new Remington brass with Winchester Large Rifle primers. According to the Lyman manual, this is at the lower end of the charge range, and it should be good for about 2,550 fps in a 24" barrel. My Remington 700 VSF has a 26" heavy barrel, so make that maybe 2,600 fps or so. (Note to self: buy a chronograph.)
I took these 10 cartridges to the Elm Fork range this afternoon and test fired them in my Remington at 100 yards. I fired them in 2 groups of 4, and I let a friend shoot the other 2 into a different target. I did not see his results. Here are mine:
The first group, measured center to center, made a rough clover leaf .5" across. Not too bad. In fact, pretty darn good. Anytime I can shoot .5 MOA, I'm pretty pleased with myself.
But the second group was possibly the best group I've ever fired in a .308 rifle. 4 rounds went into 2 holes, measuring .375" center to center. Photo below:
I am stoked. I can't wait to crank out some more to back and see what I can do. Funny thing is... this rifle has a 1:10 twist and it tends to shoot the 175 grain Match Kings even better than the 168 grain bullets. Using the Lake City 175 grain HPBT Match, it is magic and consistently performs at .75 MOA. But I'll bet I can beat that by rolling my own.
Like I said, I can't wait.... ....and I have work to do tomorrow. Bummer!
The cartridge was a .308 Winchester, using a 168 grain Sierra Match King HPBT over 42 grains of Varget, in new Remington brass with Winchester Large Rifle primers. According to the Lyman manual, this is at the lower end of the charge range, and it should be good for about 2,550 fps in a 24" barrel. My Remington 700 VSF has a 26" heavy barrel, so make that maybe 2,600 fps or so. (Note to self: buy a chronograph.)
I took these 10 cartridges to the Elm Fork range this afternoon and test fired them in my Remington at 100 yards. I fired them in 2 groups of 4, and I let a friend shoot the other 2 into a different target. I did not see his results. Here are mine:
The first group, measured center to center, made a rough clover leaf .5" across. Not too bad. In fact, pretty darn good. Anytime I can shoot .5 MOA, I'm pretty pleased with myself.
But the second group was possibly the best group I've ever fired in a .308 rifle. 4 rounds went into 2 holes, measuring .375" center to center. Photo below:
I am stoked. I can't wait to crank out some more to back and see what I can do. Funny thing is... this rifle has a 1:10 twist and it tends to shoot the 175 grain Match Kings even better than the 168 grain bullets. Using the Lake City 175 grain HPBT Match, it is magic and consistently performs at .75 MOA. But I'll bet I can beat that by rolling my own.
Like I said, I can't wait.... ....and I have work to do tomorrow. Bummer!
Lord knows I need it.