Posted: 11/22/2011 2:41:17 PM EDT
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Gentlemen, any help would be much appreciated..
My Father and I have decided that we're going to do something special while I'm home on leave for Christmas. First, you have to sit through some backround. Sorry 
My Father is my HERO. Served 3 years as a LRRP in Vietnam, became a Firefighter and retired as a Chief after 25 years of service to the state of Massachusetts, moved to Florida, and bugged the shit out of my Mother for a year until he decided retirement wasnt for him. He became a Florida State Trooper and served an additional 10 years for the Sunshine State. All the while, managing a household of a loving wife and 5 children. He might not have been at alot of family dinners, but he DAMN SURE made it so there was dinner for the family. He even made it a point to get an FFL and had a gunstore in our GARAGE for about 6 years. (Mom sure loved THAT one, lemme tell ya...) He was an avid hunter, and loved all things GUN. He set the example for me as to what a MAN was, what I hope I will someday measure up to. When I was 12, he put my first rifle in my hands (Marlin bolt action .22 from Wally-World God love him) When I was 13 he upgraded me to my first Big Bore (Marlin 336CS Lever-action 30-30, which is still my one and only hunting rifle). At 14, he taught me how to reload our shells. At 16, my focus began to awe began to wander from my Father to girls, which got me in a fine pickle, which (among other things, like wanting to be just like Dad) led me to join the U.S. Army. This year for Christmas, my father asked me what I wanted. I told him it was to have him help me teach MY son how to reload our own shells. It's been a few years since either of us has sat behind a reloading press, unfortunately. So Im going to need some help... Im buying up a whole bunch of 7.62 brass, bullets, dies, and powder to be able to turn out some nice Match (or decently close to it) Grade rounds for my new OBR. My questions to you fine Gentlemen and your wealth of knowledge: 1) Ideal weight, manufacturer, model of bullet for some good rounds that'll give me some nice bragging groups (I'm buying a micrometer just for you, Mr. LaRue!!) 2) Type of powder best for this rifle (powder number, etc) 3) recommendations as to anything else that I might not mention.. Im looking for something in a 168 gr to 180gr, something close to a M118LR round.... Again, any and all help will be appreciated Gents! Very Respectfully, Danny |
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Per a previous post, looks like LT says 177 or 185gr is the best bullet weight for the 7.62 OBR.
LT's Recommended Bullet Weight 7.62 OBR |
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Quoted:
Per a previous post, looks like LT says 177 or 185gr is the best bullet weight for the 7.62 OBR. LT's Recommended Bullet Weight 7.62 OBR Yeah, I've read the post, but there is a ton of additional information that im looking for. powder numbers, grain types, primer types, brass types, etc Thank you though! 
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OP: Consider posting this in the reloading forum. You'll probably get more answers. If you're looking to duplicate the M118LR, I'd start with the 175 Sierra Match King. Here is a post on Sniper'sHide regarding duplicating the M118LR.
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M118LR duplicate load
-175 Sierra Matchking seated to mag length - Lake City Match brass - 43.1 grains of Reloader 15 - Federal Gold Medal Match primer This load works well, but you can find better loads that will provide better velocity than M118LR out of a gas gun |
| Other powders (besides Varget) that seem to always work well in the .308: 4895 (IMR or Hodgdon) and IMR 4064. All 3 of these are mid-range in terms of burning rate, which means you won't have too high a port pressure (barrel pressure when the bullet passes the gas port), which means your action won't get beat to death over time. And they shoot good. Sierra MatchKing 168gr has been a standard of .308 accuracy for decades, not that others don't shoot well, too. |
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Gentlemen, I appreciate all of the advice offered. It has checked out with everything I have been able to research through the internet. Your help and advice means alot to me and is being well heeded!
I've had a few people ask the specifics for my usage of the rifle, so I'll offer this: I will be primarily be shooting out to distances of 800 to 1000 meters. I will hopefully able to compete at the Nationals at Camp Perry this year. (I dont expect to come even close to PLACING, but it'd be darn nice to show up and give 'em hell. I would also like to compete in the President's Cup match at the end of Nationals.) I digress. My shots will be mostly in mountainous terrain, in the hollows of the hills on my land in WV. Not the ideal, of course, but If I can lay prone on my front porch and ring steel at a grand, it'd make my damn day. So, pertainant points: 800-1000 meter shots, hilly terrain, going for 36" steel. Accuracy above range, but a fine mixture of both would be ideal.. Stick with the 168's, or maybe bump up to the 175's? Go fast burn for the range, or slower burn for stability? And Im sorry for having kept posting in the LT forum, but I know the type of men (and ladies, of course) who shoot LaRue. Honest, Professional, Serious, Dedicated shooters. I dont want to post over in the general forums for fear of some misguided but well meaning airsoft ranger trying to give me pointers on how he thinks his sweet sweet Franken-gun 5.56 will get hits on man-sized targets at 1600yards. (I swear man, it really works with this load and that grip and when I shoot from the side all gangsta-like!!!)
Thanks again Brothers. And Happy Thanksgiving!!! V/R Danny |
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The 168's are great bullets out to 600 yards or thereabouts, but for longer ranges you need a bullet that will stay supersonic. There is a lot of buffeting that goes on when a bullet slows to the sonic barrier and accuracy generally goes to hell. Most guys going for 800+ yards will use a bullet with a higher BC, something like the Sierra 175 MK. The Lapua Scenar 155gr is another popular bullet for longer ranges. Although it is lighter, it's unique shape gives it a higher BC and more velocity. It can be a little finicky about seating depth and doesn't perform well at slower speeds, but it is really accurate when you get it dialed in. The heavier Berger VLD Match bullets are also popular but they are really finicky about seating depths. These bullets are generally best when loaded at or near the lands so it turns any gun into a single-fire. Pressures can spike when you start loading at the lands so you must reduce your loads and work your way up to safe levels.
I haven't tested it out myself (yet), but Berger reports that their new 175gr Tactical bullet will remain stable even when crossing the sonic barrier. Berger usually doesn't B.S. about such things. They reported 1 MOA accuracy at 1,000 yards through a 20" OBR test rifle. And the bullet is designed to be loaded at magazine lengths so all the seating depth issues are eliminated. But they are expensive, just like all Bergers and Lapuas. Sierras are your best bet cost-wise. |