Im looking for load data from anybody who reloads specifically for a DPMS 24" heavy target barrel with a 1-10 twist.
Whats your flavor for accuracy ie: bullet/oal/primer/brass/powder etc...

168 GRN Hornady A-Max
Varget or BL-C(2) for the 178 GRN A-Max.
Loaded out as long as the magazine will allow.
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primers.

Thats my target load.

Any bullet over 155 grn has worked well for me in my LR. I do not have a solid rest but clay pigeons at 276 yards with a cheap walmart 4x16 scope was pretty easily done.
165 Accubonds worked well.
165 Nosler Ballistic tips were so so
180 Hornady SST were very good
165 Remington PSP  were pretty good and cheap at Cabelas. Good plinking and short range hunting bullet.

Thats my experience so far with my 24 inch LR.

AL

Some years back the NRA did a "Dope Bag" test and reported very tight 5 shot groups with a 24" LR rifle using factory Federal "Aficianado" cartridges that were loaded with the 167 gr Lapua Scenars.  So far, my experience has been the same using the 167 scenar bullets.

I tried 155 moly scenars, 167 Scenars, and Hornady 178 Amax, and 175 Sierra MK. I used Varget, 760, and IMR 4064 powder. To date, the best accuracy load out of my fluted 24" LR is 5 shots into 5/8" MOA with a 6th shot opening group to 1 1/4". (I don't do silly 3 shot groups or I'd have quite a few sub 3/4" groups)

The load is 167 Lapua Scenar with 41.5 grains of 4064, and BR2 primer. The cartridges are maximum length of 2.804" (to just fit in magazine), and the cases were once fired and partially resized to fit more snug then then fully sized cases. (I didn't try fully sized cases. Who knows.... they might actually shoot as good or better)

Due to housing restrictions I can not reload where I live (renting) but there is no clause for how much ammo I can keep GREAT! Due to this I have to shoot factory loads and probally explains why I do not own a 458 AR yet. That aside, I find that Fed 168 GMM is more accurate than me. Best group of 10 ever from me.

http://home.comcast.net/~utspoolup/308shot1.JPG

My 2 best loads in my LR 24"    are  168 gr  either Nosler or SMK  with 40.0 gr H4895,    and 155 gr  either Nosler or Sierra palma  with 42.9 gr V V N 140.

how much varget did you use on the 168gr Hornady A-Max

interesting....
Do you shoot your 167gr Scenar w/41.5grs of 4064 and br-2 primer loads thru a DPMS 24" 1-10 twist?

168 Sierra Match Kings HPBT, IMR-4064, CCI benchrest BR-2 primers, new Remington brass. (looking for the data but 41.5 sounds right)

It's as accurate as anything I have ever tried in this rifle. Works perfectly, every time.

I love my DPMS, but it did take a little tweaking to get it to perform just right.

I'm interested also on how much varget you use.

Thank you.

I used a max load of 44 OR 44.5 Grains. Whatever it was it was Hornadys max load. All of the loads were very accurate for me from min to max.  This target was at about 75 to 80 yards on a nice 70 degree day. I was having a good day also. I am not normally this consistent. These are 5 shot groups except one has 6 and one has 4. If you look close you can see the charge weights written in. My rifle has the Miculek Comp with A3 upper. I have since changed the barrel out to a 16 inch and now am going to go to a 18 inch. I need to lighten it up for hunting in the woods more than the fields. It also had a Center Point 4x16 Mil-Dot scope from walmart. It was good for the price but very picky to get your eye centered in. I now have a 3x9 Luepold on it and probably going to change that out for a 1x4 of some kind. 300 yards is the max that I shoot.
Target


This rifle

Yes. It is a 24" fluted stainless steel barrel. I am in the process of ordering a new 18.5" barrel to lighten the rifle as well as see if I can get tighter groups more easy. I do not ever intend to fire more then a few rounds at a time, and so I don't believe a lighter barrel will cause overheating concerns and real accuracy loss for my purposes. (If I wanted a heavy bench-rest syle rifle for the intent of accuracy, I'd use a bolt action. I'm trying to get both utility and accuracy). The April 2004 American Rifleman reported with the "Afficianado" cartridges: "smallest 5 shot group .54" at 100 yards, largest 5 shot group .86"   I cannot obtain the consistant  5 shot groups like that. Out of 5 rounds, I always seem to have one or two rounds that widen the group larger then that. I should be able to as well or better with my Lapua 167 scenars and Lapua cases that are VERY carefuly hand loaded and checked.  FYI, the NRA at the time also reported that their test DPMS 24" panther with a non-fluted barrel would shoot PMC 168 gr Match HPBT into .44" (smallest) and .93" (largest) groups.

I use Federal GMM brass, CCI#34 primers, 175grn Sierra Matchkings, trim 2.010, and 39.9 of Varget for a five shot one hole group at 100yds.