hi all

i am making up some loads for a 1 in 11.25 twist remmy 700.  wanted to use the hornady 168gr.  Looking in my load book it has a huge range from 37.6 to 44 grains.  Does some one with experience with the 168 help me narrow the range down.  

If i do a ladder load at .5 gr i am looking at 13 loads and a total of 65 rounds.  would like to maybe have a heads up and narrow it down some.

thanks

168 GR. BAR TTSX BT Hodgdon Varget .308 2.800" 41.0 2514 46,100 PSI 45.0C 2737 60,000 PSI    
168 GR. SIE HPBT Hodgdon Varget .308" 2.800" 42.0 2520 41,200 CUP 46.0C 2731 50,600 CUP    

This is from Hodgdon web site.

I use the Nosler competition classics's in 168 grain and Hornady Amax 168 grain pushed through a 1-12 twist remington 26" heavy barrel. I load 44 grain of varget for both bullets.
I've loaded some 44.5 grain in the Nosler CC's but haven't had a chance to try them out yet. I'm sure they'll run about the same.

There's a lot of 168 gr loads over all the ranges  but my 2 sweet spots were at 42.5 and 4?.6. My second node was above max so work up until you find your desired accuracy or run into pressure signs.

Fgm primers
Varget
Win brass
Oal =I forget
Rem tactical

Both my .308's are happy with 44.0 even. Like cloverleaf any time kind of happy.

So as you see OP, rifles preferences, sadly, vary. I seem to recall the Sierra reloading book listing 44.0 as their max for 168gr match kings, as well as their accuracy load. In some types of brass that load is slightly compressed, and will push your projectiles out if the neck tension is too loose.