Use the same data as the 168 grain SMK when loading 165 grain Game Kings.

Dan Newburys ocw recipes:

Any idea what kind of velocity you're getting with this load?  I have a bunch of hornady 168 hpbt and 8lbs of 4064 on the way. Looking to get close to my imr4895 loads at 2690 avg. with good accuracy.

I use 43.2gr of 4064 w/ Hornady 168 BTHP + Fed 210m in LC brass. Seated to 2.820. Shooting it out of my 22" barrel M1A (1:11 twist). Results are below:
- Group size between .638 - .753
- 2655 average velocity

Results out of my 18" LR308 w/ Rainier barrel using the same load was Similar:
- Group size between .545 - .657
- Didn't measure velocity. Im guessing 2610 ish.

This should be a "Tacked Thread", like the 6.5, 260, and 223 Tacked Threads.

Worked up loads for 208 gr Hornady ELD-M using varget. Weight is next to the target. Even though the 41.0 gr shot best, had case swipes so will go with 39.6 gr and adjust OAL to see if I can tighten them up. The bottom center was my 178 ELD-X to foul the barrel. Shot from my Savage 10T 308, 1:10 twist, 5R, 24 inch barrel. Brass was Lapua and CCI primers.

My Savage with a McGowen barrel likes

175gr Nosler Custom Comp
43gr IMR 4064
Federal 210 primers
Seated .006 off the lands

I shot the MOA Challenge with this round. It shot .808MOA average for 5 5-shot groups off of the bipod here.

It also likes the same powder charge, primers, and having the bullets set .006 off the lands with 178gr A-max and 180gr Nosler Partitions.  The A-max group about the same as the 175 custom comps. The 180gr paritions shoot just under 1 inch at 100yd.

Case: Federal Eagle reloads.  Full length sized.



Bullet:  178 Grain Hornady AMAX ( polymer tip boat tail )



Powder:  IMR 4064 @ 40 grains even.  NOTE: ACCORDING TO HORNADY MANUAL (9th Edition)for Service Rifle (specifically M1A), this is a HOT load and is one grain OVER the MAX Service Rifle Data. However:  Under Sporting Rifle this is under MAX load of 41.3 grains.  Since I am using a Mega MATEN with an adjustable gas block, I decided to set the gun to this load by creeping up on it from 37.3 grains initially.



Primer: Winchester Standard Large

C.O.A.L.:  2.805"
Barrel:  Jp Precision, .308, medium contour barrel w/ matching bolt.  22 inch barrel with 1/10 twist, Syrac Ordnance adjustable gas block on Mega MATEN reciever. Surefire SFMB 7.62 Brake.



Optic: Leupold Mk IV 6.5 X 20 on a zero cant ADM mount.
Once I started getting good with this rifle and with interfacing it with a rifle rest ( Caldwell lead sled DFT ) 1 inch groups aren't too hard to achieve at all. I am REALLLLLY new at precision auto loaders so I have a long learning curve ahead of me.
I am throwing charges individually on my Dillon RL 550 with an RCBS manual throw powder measure adapter on a Dillon Powder die.  I check my loads about every 15 to twenty rounds.  These AREN'T hyper precision loads by any means with a lot of size die variance you might not get with a single stage system.  
 As I have said this is a hot load that I crept up to.  I am stopping here until I have more data.  So far, my primers are lightly flattened but not cratered or pierced at all.  Firing pin hole is smooth and clean so right now, everything seems to be pretty typical for AR-10 brass.  Ejection is moderate, not violent.  Brass is still measuring under trim length of 2.015.  Most are at 2.010 or better.  Case Trim To is 2.005 prior to loading.  I will NOT load these more than three times.
Published data indicates I should be around 2350 fps.  I am working on getting a MagnetSpeed chrono in the near future so I can publish the data.
 Again, if I went to a full single stage system and started trickling charges and REALLY got picky with case dimensions, I could shrink these.
 Here is a very common sample of how it is shooting now at 100 yards:


Variance, in my opinion is due to manufacturing variance in my loads and variance in my interface with my gear.  I am very darn happy with this setup so far.
 

This should be a "Tacked Thread", like the 6.5, 260, and 223 Tacked Threads.

this is good to hear.  I have been shooting with 42.8gr of 4064, and getting around 2630-2650 according to the dope, but i haven't gotten the chance to chrono them yet.  

This should be a "Tacked Thread", like the 6.5, 260, and 223 Tacked Threads.

Thank You!

I planned to use the same (or close) charge weight for both the 168 SMK and the 165 SGK. What I plan to do is change the COAL. I think I may have better consistency between the two if I use my comparator and measure from the Cartridge Base to Ogive and make the two loads identical in thier jump. It seems to me that it would make more sense than simply using OAL, since in reality the tip makes little difference compared to the Ogive.
I read a lot on precision loading but this rarely comes up, as most have one "go to load" and stick with it. My purpose is to have one rifle to use for hunting and precision rifle, without having to drastically change between hunting and target loads. Adjusting for CBTO from one type to the next is simple enough with the Redding Competition Seater Die, and takes moments. The trick is repeatability, which can be achieved by using the same tooling, tools, and rifle. My CBTO measurement would be useless to anyone not using my equipment.
If this works, however, I will post the COAL for each. Just in case there are others who want a simple transition from Hunting ammo to Match ammo. Since you have used the same load data for both the SMK & SGK, please tell me your experience, and perhaps your charge weight and powder, if you don't mind. I know this thread is a couple of months old, and I don't yet know if Admin sends emails if someone replies to your post...
I'll keep a lookout.

Gun is a dta srs covert 16" barrel, 1:8 twist, suppressed (bolt action)
Lapua brass, neck trimmed to 14.2 thou, berger 185 hybrid seated 30 thou off lands, 2.995 oal
42-42.5gr imr 4064 has been my sweet spot so far but still expierementing. Groups are .2-.5moa @ 100-200 yards so far
Only neck sizing with .335 bushing in redding neck sizer, once fire formed brass
Cci br2( i think) primer
Velocity is between 2400-2450, again still working on what I'll adopt

New Winchester Brass
165 grain SGK
BR2 Primers
Varget Powder
2.7500 OACL
43.2 grains of powder

2404 FPS out of my 16" barreled DI AR 10

Shoots clover-leafed 3 round groups at 100 yards and 1.25"-1.50" 5 round groups at 200 yards.

My latest precision load:
Hornady brass
Winchester primers
175 gr TMK
42.8 gr R-15

2650 fps out of 20" suppressed Rem 700

For those that have loaded the Sierra Tipped MatchKing Rifle Bullets .30 cal / 7.62mm .308" 175 gr. TMK Match how do they compare to the tried and true SMK's in the same weight.

The reason I'm thinking of switching is I hate that the oal of the smk's and the opening vary so much.

ggg/lithuanian brass

flash hole prepped
all primer pockets de-crimped
cci 200 primer
178 grain amax hornady
39.0 grains of imr 4895 all powder measured through a rcbs chargemaster
2.810 oal

match prepped brass.

rem 700 26" barrel 5r rifling 11.25" twist

does dimes at 100 and does not miss 5 shot groups, consistent at multiple altitudes and temps

Great info here.

It would be great if we could get a condensed version of the loads in a break down of whether the loads are for bolt or gas guns(I have noticed that the gun type is missing from some of the load data).

It appears that the general consensus for gas guns is:
175-178ish grn bullets
-4064 - 42+/- 1 grn
-Varget - 42-43 with one claim of 45 out of a M1A

168 gr bullets
-4064  -  42-43
-Varget  - 43-44

Rifle = Rem 700 1-12 twist rate / 26 in barrel.
Hornady 178 Amax
IMR 4064
Once fired Hornady case
Remington large rifle primers
2.005 / 2.800

I don't have a chrono so I am starting low on my powder charge, and I am shooting for groupings as to velocity ( for now )...I am using the Hornady 9th edition book.





It looks like I will be testing 41.5 to 42.0 on my next range time, and this time I will be shooting 5 rounds per string ( Layman 49th says 44.3 gr is max )

I have re-shot 40.8 and this is what I got....left target is dirty barrel.





EDIT:

The 40.8 was chrono'd using my new Magnetospeed and it was moving at 2480's average with 5 rounds that I fired. I tested the same load on my M24R and it was shooting half inch hole at 100 yards...

Bolt Gun


168 gr Hornady A-MAX



43.0 gr 8208 XBR



2.80 OAL



GM215M Primer



FC brass






This was shot with my $289.99 Remington 783 .308 with a Primary Arms 4-14 FFP Rgrid.









 
 

In My SCAR 17

IMR 4064 @ 41.8
LC brass
FC 210M primer
175 Berger OTM

You are close trying to duplicate the Fed GM load 168 gr with 165 GK.

Suggest
IMR 4064 @ 42.8
165 GKHP or the GKSP
Fed 210m primer
FC GM  Brass

Very accurate load

I shoot these out of my Tikka T3 CTR .308 with great results-

41.8gr of IMR 4064
Once fired FC GM 7.62X51 brass trimmed to 2.005"
Nolser 175gr Custom Competition bullet
Federal GM210M primers
OAL 2.800"
Avg velocity out of the Tikka 20" barrel is 2515fps.

This load duplicates the Mk316 load data that is out there. It shoots sub MOA for me.

Same question here. Any differences in COAL or Varget loads for 308 175gr TMK vs SMK.?  Any info about same questions for 168 gr TMK Vs SMK  would also be appreciated.  

For quite a while I used 43 gr Varget behind a Nosler or Hornady 168 gr HPBT Match bullet.  This was in LC or FC brass with CCI 200 primers at 2.80 OAL.  Very accurate in my Rem 700 SPS 20".

When Varget became hard to find I tried IMR 4064 with the same setup.  The FGGM clone load of 42.8 gr  will shoot sub MOA in my Rem 700 and my 18" Aero Precision M5 .308.

As a point of interest. I chrono'd factory FGGM and the IMR 4064 load at the same session through my Aero .308.    Results were 2561 fps for the FGGM and 2562 fps for the 42.8 gr 4064 load.

My SCAR 17 has a 1-12 twist.  I haven't reloaded for this rifle yet.  For accuracy should I go168 or 175 Sierra Match King?

What kind of accuracy are you getting?

Lapua .308 brass
CCI BR2 primers
43.5 Varget
168 smk hpbt
2.224 to ojive
.015 jump
2680 fps
Best 5 shot group .252 @100yds
Out of my Colt/Cooper m2012clr

Got out today to try RL-17 since I have an abundance of it after selling my 6.5 creedmoor. Shot with my savage 10T w/24 inch bull barrel and 5R rifling. 48 degrees with about 8 mph wind. Hornady Match brass and CCI 200 primers.

Labradar chronograph, 100 yard range

200 gr ELD-X
46.2 gr @2591.8 fps (avg 5 shots) *Best group*
46.4 gr @2592.7 fps
46.6 gr @2613.7 fps
46.8 gr @2608.8 fps
47.0 gr @2608.7 fps *2nd best group* Highest recorded was 2638 fps

187 ELD-X
48.5 gr @2745.2 fps (avg 5 shots)
48.7 gr @2760.6 fps
48.9 gr @2777.9 fps
49.1 gr @2793.8 fps
49.3 gr @2802.1 fps *Best group* Highest recorded was 2810 fps

175gr RDF

Rifle: Savage Ashbury Precision

Best load
New Winchester Brass, Sized, trimmed and flash hole uniformed.

45.2Gr Varget. Loaded to 2.80 COL

2700 fps

5 shot group from prone on uneven dirt. 100 yards. All under 1 inch

May play with COL a little. Really can't ask for much more

Did some reloading with 208 ELD-M and IMR 4166. Won't post the higher powder charges as they had issues. This last batch was pretty good. Lapua brass, CCI primers, set to 0.020 off the lands.

40.7 2504.44 fps (avg 3 shots)
40.9 2509.01 Best group
41.1 2514.88
41.3 2536.16
41.5 2539.32 1 primer has slight powder around it

Still not as tight of grouping like my 178 ELD-X do.

Anyone have a specific load for the following setup:

20" Rem 700 SPS TAC AAC 1:10
VARGET or RL15 powder
175 gr SMK and/or 178 gr ELD-X/M
LC brass
WLR Primer

I'm trying to dial in my rifle but I can't seem to come up with a good load yet.  I have it sub-moa but I am curious to see what you all use.

What are everyone's thoughts in regards to crimp for these precision loads?
Crimp, Lee Factory crimp, no crimp . . . ?

No crimp for bolt guns on my reloads. Autoloaders get a light crimp.

No crimp.

168 ELD-M
Lapua brass
CCI200
43.2 grains IMR 4064

1/2 MOA @ 2702fps 3.6 SD (24" barrel & suppressor)

Pretty solid 1000 yard load with the eld-m bc

Was at a 1000 yard range a couple weeks ago trying my 338 Lapua my Lapua Magnum. No problem with this beast. Decided to bring the 308 along to see how my pet load for my 308 could do. Hit 4 out of 10 shots banging steel. Was a rolling type of range so know the wind was hard to determine. Am still impressed with this load. A bit hot but seeing my misses right next to the target tells me this rifle is plenty capable at 1000 yards. The 338, after 3 shots to get on target, hit steel every shot.

My pet load for my Savage 10FCP-SR is FC brass with 43.7gr varget and 210 primers. I usually seat them to OAL of 2.800 and it shoots around .75" at 100.

I retried an OCW test at 20 thou off the lands and only 2 charges were under MOA.
Have you played with the seating depth at all?

I tried closer but no good. 2.800 works great with the ELD-X bullets. Match bullets work best close to the lands

43.5 Varget
Hornady brass
CCI 200 primer
168 Sierra TMK
2.222 base to ogive

Edit
26 inch 700 varmint with 12" twist
2653 average 5 shots
SD - 4
ES - 10
.75 inch with chrony bayonet not attached on another 5 shot group of smae load. They bayonet opens up my groups ON THIS RIFLE.

My 308 is very finicky, compared to my 6.5 creedmoor. This load and length is the only combo that I have found, that shoots as well as my go-to 168 GMMK. I have some SMK 168 and 175 bullets on the way.

In Ruger Precision Rifle:
42.5gr IMR4064 under 168gr SMK bullet, 2.80 COAL, FC cases, CCI LRP.
Produced a .798"  group during load testing.  

In SA M1A:
41.5gr IMR4064 under 168gr SMK, 2.80 COAL, LC cases, CCI34 NATO primers
Produced a 1.62"  group during load testing.

In Savage 10FCP-SR:
42.0gr IMR4064 under 168gr Hornady HPBT Match bullet, 2.81 COAL, Lapua cases, CCI LRP
Produced a .349" group during load testing.

I would have posted pictures of the targets but I've never been able to post pics here.

Rifle:
Vz24 Mauser with 22" M1919 barrel chambered in .308 Palma 95 (basically SAAMI min.)

Load:
Hornady 190gr BTSP
46gr H4831 (settles just below neck)
RP case
Winchester LR primer
2.800" (just into lands). Compressed a bit.

Avg velocity: 2223fps
Extreme spread: 66fps
Standard deviation: 19fps

I was expecting just a meh plinking load, but this happened:
Attached File


Attached File


It is fairly dirty. I don't know how long precision would last.

L/C Brass prepped and annealed
Varget Powder
CCI BR Primers
Hornady 178 grain ELD X

42.2 grains of powder

2.800" OACL

2550 FPS out of Bergara B 14 HMR and sub MOA at 100 yards

Going out on Saturday or Sunday to verify SD and adjust POI for the season and get velocity readings out of 16" AR 10

Try a magnum primer those loads shouldn't be dirty. And the extreme spread is a little high. Or a match primer. I used to love the Hornady 190 bthp match bullet. In front of imr 4064 or BLC-2.

Bolt gun, but may work in a gas gun.

155 AMAX
45.4 gr of Re15
LC brass
Wolf LR primers
2.800”

This load shoots moa or less in my RPR.

*Gas Gun (LMT MWS 18"):

Win Brass (New) trimmed to 2.005"  
CCI#34
42.5gr Varget
165gr SST
CBTO  2.128"

Grouped right at 3/4" at 100yds - didn't record velocity, ES, SD.

Loads worked up so far (still tweaking however)

All loads shot from a Surgeon CSR 16" Krieger Barrel, 1/10 Twist Barrel with Suppressor.

Subsonic Load
10.5 Grains of Hodgdon Trail Boss
Lake City Brass with primer flash hole drilled to 9/64"
175 SMK's
Winchester Primers
Generates 1070 FPS +/- 2

Supersonic Load
43.9 Grains of 4064
Lapua Brass
Sierra 175 TMK's
FGGM Primers
Generates 2550 FPS +/- 10

ESBVader - check your IM's.

You're too hot, over 1.0 grain higher than Sierra's maximum and approximately 150 fps faster than "safe" for your barrel length.