Gearing up again for loading for .308 and 6.5 CM now that the guns have arrived.  Will start with .308, mostly since I have a "head start" with at least partial load workup from my Rem 700.  I had hoped to get further with the Rem 700 load workup, but got busy and figured no sense as the new gun arrival got closer. 

Plan is to start with around 40-60 FGMM 168 gr to sight in, barrel speed up, etc.   Then plan is to start with Varget and 8208.  I have quite a bit of good data from the Rem 700 on those two powders.  Will likely try others along the way, but figure start where I have a decent baseline. 

Goal for the .308 is to have the load work well at mag length.  Max OAL for my mags are 2.950 & 2.960, so have quite a bit of room to play.  The gun was setup with that in mind and reported FB is 0.065".  I checked the jam point the other night, but haven't compared to factory FGMM that I have on hand yet.  If the "best" results work out to be longer than mag length, that's fine too though. 

The 6.5 CM will come later.  I am waiting for some Hornady 140 gr ELD Match ammo to come in.  I want a baseline with factory ammo to compare to.  I have some other Hornady factory ammo, but the ELD-M ammo is on the way.  Plus, I have to wait for the scope for the 6.5. 

Upgrading loading setup as well.  Will be (finally) setting up my Forster Co-Ax press.  I've had it for many months, but just never set it up.  I also have new SAC dies that I picked up over Christmas.  Have the sizing side for 6.5 CM and the seating die is for all 30 cal family, so good for .308 and 6.5 CM.  I don't think I'll get into other stuff, or at least any time soon.   

Setup the new Forster press and new seating die and loaded up first batch of .308 for the new build. Loaded some Varget and 8208 and will compare with data from the Rem 700. Still in the initial barrel testing and watching speed up.

Really excited about the new dies. Also have the sizing dies for .308 Win and 6.5 CM. The seating die seems spot on, or at least better than my Forster seating die.

Shooting buddy to the rescue. Perfect timing for getting into “real” load development for the .308 and eventually the 6.5.

Brownells, no limit on powder orders anymore. Hopefully sign of longer term market recovery.

Sharing my reloading experience.  Something I came across when I was reloading last night was the difference in diameter of Federal GM210 and Winchester WLR primers. Something I will now consider when using cases that have been used (I was using 6th shot Lapua brass) as I have signs of gas’s escaping (between primer and brass primer pockets) with Winchester primers even though the primer pockets are within go/no-go criteria.

Hope this helps someone 

Too bad it is difficult to find Wolf or other Russian LR primers now days. These primers net very good ES/SD numbers. And, as a plus, they were very cheap.

The theory was, they were ‘softer’, as in the fire or spark was soft. That was said to give more consistent powder ignition.

When those primers got hard to find, I switched to CCI exclusively. They didn’t net as good ES/SD, however, I found them to be consistent and reliable.


Federal match primers are said to have a similar ‘soft’ ignition (good ES/SD), problem is that the primer cup is also soft material. That limits your max pressure that the primer itself can contain.

Too bad it is difficult to find Wolf or other Russian LR primers now days. These primers net very good ES/SD numbers. And, as a plus, they were very cheap.

The theory was, they were ‘softer’, as in the fire or spark was soft. That was said to give more consistent powder ignition.

When those primers got hard to find, I switched to CCI exclusively. They didn’t net as good ES/SD, however, I found them to be consistent and reliable.


Federal match primers are said to have a similar ‘soft’ ignition (good ES/SD), problem is that the primer cup is also soft material. That limits your max pressure that the primer itself can contain.

Sucks is that I don’t see any signs of over pressure and my loads are not near max recommendations (previously I was, but ladder tested to a lower node) and the fact that I’ve stocked up on both Fed and Win.  I’ll probably validate with a chrono and check velocity.  I can say I was previously happy with my ES/SD numbers…

Sharing my reloading experience.  Something I came across when I was reloading last night was the difference in diameter of Federal GM210 and Winchester WLR primers. Something I will now consider when using cases that have been used (I was using 6th shot Lapua brass) as I have signs of gas’s escaping (between primer and brass primer pockets) with Winchester primers even though the primer pockets are within go/no-go criteria.

Hope this helps someone 

I check brass after each range session and typically before loading next firing.  I haven't switched between primers within a batch/lot of brass, but good observation and reminder on variance that you noted.  I do have some Winchester LRP, but haven't used any yet. 

Too bad it is difficult to find Wolf or other Russian LR primers now days. These primers net very good ES/SD numbers. And, as a plus, they were very cheap.

The theory was, they were ‘softer’, as in the fire or spark was soft. That was said to give more consistent powder ignition.

When those primers got hard to find, I switched to CCI exclusively. They didn’t net as good ES/SD, however, I found them to be consistent and reliable.

Federal match primers are said to have a similar ‘soft’ ignition (good ES/SD), problem is that the primer cup is also soft material. That limits your max pressure that the primer itself can contain.

I had a chance to pick up a couple of brick of Wolf a while back, but went with Federal.  I have also read good things about Wolf primers. 

I am primarily using CCi No. 200 and BR-2.  However, mostly because of what I was able to buy.  I have a bunch of Federal 210 and 210M.  I don't have much of those, so waiting to decide which rifle/caliber I want to try and then hopefully dedicate all of it to that combination. 

Waited months for these to come back in stock. And when it does, the range is closed.

heads

Waited months for these to come back in stock. And when it does, the range is closed.

Pricing is till pretty redonkulous, but seeing stuff like match primers come back into stock more lately.  Hoping supply chain improves and pricing comes down.  That they are becoming more readily available is a positive step though. . . especially for SRP

https://www.brownells.com/reloading/primers/rifle-primers/small-rifle-benchrest-primers-1-000-box-sku749006109-40211-63472.aspx?sku=749-006-109&trk_msg=158QQ16VCDA4BETN2N2AQQJ650&trk_contact=J368T26GD5K2GGO48SVVQCV86C&trk_sid=F2OQ75I52MCQI6LQGU6R0IFSVK&trk_link=M334DUR7B164V434L67U0LEDJK&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=CCI+Small+Rifle+Benchrest+Primers&utm_campaign=Reloading&utm_content=2022_11_23_CCI_Benchrest