Reloading .308, loads, and bullets

[ruger_steve]

Hi all. I have a Ruger Precision 21" Barrel which I mainly use at Bisley back to 300m (so far) on the electronic targets (as I usually go alone).

I have a Lyman reloading kit and after some advice please.

So far I have experimented a little with loads but not really seen much difference with the results, probably my shooting. I Currently have the following:

Vihtavuori N140 (small amount left)
Vihtavuori N150 (local shop had ran out of N140)
Sierra MatchKing HPBT 155gr
Lapua Scenar .308 167gr
Random mix of brass from Federal, GGG and Magtech
CCI Primers

With the above, what kind of loads would you recommend? I tend to aim for the middle the min and max, maybe rounded up to the nearest grain.

Can you offer me any advice also such as, with a 21" barrel, should I be using heavier bullets such as the 167 from 300 yards, or will it not make much difference from that close?

Anything advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve.

[Dahonis]

I would suggest looking at some reloading data first, both powder manufacturers and bullet manufacturers as well.

Most of these can be found online, reloading books are seldom wasted money.

[bamboo]

https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-da ... rtridge=30

Judging by the above (and also recommended to me before by a respected gunsmith) 167gr Scenar and N150 might be worth a try, as one of the loads is listed as an accuracy load. You'd have to work up to it safely of course.

[ruger_steve]

Fantastic. I’ve just made up the Scenars and what I have left of the SMK. I didn’t half and half 42gr and 43gr with the Scenars. Hopefully going to try them out tomorrow.

[sclg]

I get good results with 43gr N140 and 155gr Lapua Scenar so something similar with your Matchkings might be worth a try.
As always, start a grain or two less and work up!

[mag41uk]

FWI AI use factory 308 Lapua with 167 scenars.
I think viht list an accuracy load with 170 lockbase and N150.
A mate uses them at a 1000. Works well.

[ruger_steve]

So I did my test and the 43gn N150 Lapua Scenars 167gn won. Results as follows with a fickle wind at 300 yards.

Uncrimped:
Overall group - 86mm
X spread - 64mm
Y spread - 73mm


Crimped:
Overall group - 65mm
X spread - 58mm
Y spread - 28mm

[Racalman]

If you have a chronograph, one way of identifying the best load for your combination of bullet and powder is to fire single shots in 0.1gn increments and plot the velocities.

The attached example is for N150 with 175gn SMKs and you will see a plateau in the velocity around 43.4gn. That would be a good starting point, as small variations in powder weight won't affect the velocity so your extreme spreads should be low.