308 load

[Meaty]

Hello,
After a bit of a wait I now have my new Lapua brass, Vit N140 powder and Lockbase 170's
The Lapua / Vit reloading data shows 45.5 grains of N140 as its accuracy load but this seems rather a lot of powder. What would you suggest as a starting point? I will be shooting at a minimum of 600 and max of 1000 yards.
Thanks.
Ian.

[DaveT]

The nearest I get to your combination is Lap brass , N140 and Scenar 167g.... I use 43 or 44 grains to get around 2650 FPS ... the 44g load is mildly hot in major Summer temperatures like we had this year...leaves very slight ejector marks but no primer cratering etc.

I use 308 for short/mid range and a 260 Rem for long range so don't need extreme loads in the 308.

All I could suggest is doing the usual thing of starting with mid-range powder loads and going up in .5g increments reducing to .2 or .3g increments around book max (I use 5 round group increments) looking for accuracy first of all and keeping an eye on pressures.

There are no real short cuts to load development but I do not go to starting loads and am not overly concerned about exceeding Max loads PROVIDED I am loading longer than book COL AND keeping a real watch on pressures.

[ovenpaa]

I have load data from when I ran the 170 LB's at home, I will have a check when I get back tonight.

Whats wrong with 1200 yards?

[Meaty]

Thanks for your input-its most welcome.
Dave I haven't mustered the courage yet to go to 1200 yards but if I can sort out this load then who knows (never say never, and all that!)
I used these bullets for the first time a couple of weeks ago with Varget and Winchester brass and managed to get a 3" 5 shot group at 600 yards-surprised the hell out of me (a fluke I think), so looking forward to trying the new combination hopefully this weekend at the Gallery.
Thanks.

[ovenpaa]

My loads for the 170 Lockbase were

CCI LR Primer, Lapua brass, 45.4 grains N140 OAL 2.840"
CCI LR Primer, Lapua brass, 47.5 grains N540 OAL 2.870"

Both are good 1000 yard loads that worked for me with a 24" barrelled Accuracy International. I found a few 170's in the shed the other day, I suppose I should get them loaded and see how they go in my new brass.

[Dougan]

Hi Meaty - I was going to ask virtually the same question, so hope you don't mind me asking another question...

...what would be a good accuracy load for the same powder (V140) and distances, but with a 155 SMK?

[Robin128]

Hello,
After a bit of a wait I now have my new Lapua brass, Vit N140 powder and Lockbase 170's
The Lapua / Vit reloading data shows 45.5 grains of N140 as its accuracy load but this seems rather a lot of powder. What would you suggest as a starting point? I will be shooting at a minimum of 600 and max of 1000 yards.
Thanks.
Ian.

Ask yourself...should you really be starting with such a hot load?...if it were me I'd start at 39gns and work up using a chrono and checking for pressure.

[Meaty]

Hello Dougan,
Fill yer boots mate
My Lapua/Vit load data tables show a start load of 37.0 and a max load of 44.2 (2712 fps) and a COAL of 2.795" with N140 and Sierra 155 HPBT's. All of the accuracy loads highlighted in the Lapua/Vit tables are using Lapua bullets (uuum...a bit of a coincidence that!)
Hope this helps.

[Meaty]

Thanks Dave,
I am going to start low and work up and see what results I get. If things work out well I hope I get to catch up with you and Christel at Barton road soon.

[Dougan]

From the Vhit data - the max load for both (and also the 'accuracy load' quoted for 170s) 155s and 170s gives around 2700 fps...but the factory RUAG 155gn velocity is more than 2900... :-P