Started down the reloading path (rabbit hole), first with gathering up ingredients.  Will likely start loading up some ammo in the next 2-3 weeks in prep for the "refresh" to my Rem 700 .308, and have some plans for some test batches.  But figured I'd get an idea of what has been working well for others.

Givens:
Rem 700 .308 Win 20" SPS barrel
Brass: FGMM once fired in my Rem 700
Powders: Varget, 8208, 4064, 3031, and Shooters World Precision Rifle
Heads: SMK 168 and 175, Nosler CC 168 gr, and Hornady ELD 168 gr

I've shot FGMM quite a bit with my current setup and idea is to start along those lines.  Likely start with Varget and 4064 first. 

Another powder from those listed above that I'm interested in is RL15. 

Will eventually get into loading for .223 Rem, but that's a story for another day. . .

Ask Rocky

check this thread out: https://www.ar15.com/forums/precision-rifles/OFFICIAL-308-PRECISION-LOAD-RECIPE-THREAD/10-12/&page=2

FYI. The poster Sinister was the commander of the Army Marksmanship Unit.

Originally Posted By Sinister:
41.0 of IMR 4895 pushing a 168 Sierra Match King won Gary Anderson the Olympics in 300 Meter rifle.

42.0 of IMR 4064 pushing a 175 Match King is an "Index Load" -- if your rifle doesn't shoot it well there's something's wrong with your hardware.

44 grains of Varget will push most bullets accurately in a bolt rifle.  Stick around 42 to 43 for autoloaders.

you are responsible for your own load development. This information is not from me.

check this thread out: https://www.ar15.com/forums/precision-rifles/OFFICIAL-308-PRECISION-LOAD-RECIPE-THREAD/10-12/&page=2

FYI. The poster Sinister was the commander of the Army Marksmanship Unit.

Originally Posted By Sinister:
41.0 of IMR 4895 pushing a 168 Sierra Match King won Gary Anderson the Olympics in 300 Meter rifle.

42.0 of IMR 4064 pushing a 175 Match King is an "Index Load" -- if your rifle doesn't shoot it well there's something's wrong with your hardware.

44 grains of Varget will push most bullets accurately in a bolt rifle.  Stick around 42 to 43 for autoloaders.

Awesome!  Thank you!  I'll check it out.  Goes along with my current plan to start with Varget and 4064.  No 4895. 

I found a bunch of threads on Snipershide as well as guidance from some precision shooting teams.  GA Precision and one other.  Same/similar baseline for replicating FGMM loads, which is what I want to start with and hopefully get something dialed in there.  Then eventually test other heads/boolits. 

Snipershide has a lot of good information, but a lot of jackasses and PRS vs Fudd BS cloudying what otherwise is a bunch of good information.  I used to browse there when I bought my Rem 700 years ago, and now I am remembering why I stopped reading there. 

No plans for an autoloader, at least not yet. 

Sierra has an app that you can download with their load data for free. However, someone was complaining the other day that it isn’t fee any more.  But worth a try. If not, Sierra data is worth the money. Or you can ask your friend Inspector and he may send you some pages from his Sierra and Hornady books. He accepts Paypal. 

I don’t have a Nosler book.

Hodgdon’s as an awesome online data resource that includes IMR and Winchester powders.

I don’t post recipes because I don’t want to be responsible for some knucklehead blowing up his gun cuz ‘Spector said so. 

Let me know if you want the pages and I’ll text them to you.

Sierra has an app that you can download with their load data for free. However, someone was complaining the other day that it isn’t fee any more.  But worth a try. If not, Sierra data is worth the money. Or you can ask your friend Inspector and he may send you some pages from his Sierra and Hornady books. He accepts Paypal. 

I don’t have a Nosler book.

Hodgdon’s as an awesome online data resource that includes IMR and Winchester powders.

I don’t post recipes because I don’t want to be responsible for some knucklehead blowing up his gun cuz ‘Spector said so. 

Let me know if you want the pages and I’ll text them to you.

Cool!  I'll take whatever info is offered.  I have a shooting buddy that as already started down the .308 Win road with a similar Rem 700 setup, so good data there.  He'll be helping/guiding as well as I'll be using his press and other equipment.  His approach is definitely safe and I will follow suit.  I will prob jokingly fire off my first reload batch with a string and rifle in a lead sled.   

I did some research on the Hodgon page.  I started with looking for info on the IMR stuff first since that's what I was able to get my hands on first.  Then later got Varget. 

Cool!  I'll take whatever info is offered.  I have a shooting buddy that as already started down the .308 Win road with a similar Rem 700 setup, so good data there.  He'll be helping/guiding as well as I'll be using his press and other equipment.  His approach is definitely safe and I will follow suit.  I will prob jokingly fire off my first reload batch with a string and rifle in a lead sled.   

I did some research on the Hodgon page.  I started with looking for info on the IMR stuff first since that's what I was able to get my hands on first.  Then later got Varget.

You are lucky to find Varget. It is manufactured in Australia and we have been getting very few shipments from them. So any Varget that you can find I suggest you snatch it up if you can afford to. You can also use it with heavier bullets in 223.

I’ll send you some pages in the next few hours when I get the time.

for bolt guns I resize the neck only - of course with the same brass from that gun. Been using the Lee collet sizer

You are lucky to find Varget. It is manufactured in Australia and we have been getting very few shipments from them. So any Varget that you can find I suggest you snatch it up if you can afford to. You can also use it with heavier bullets in 223.

I’ll send you some pages in the next few hours when I get the time.

Thank you!

Yup.  That Varget and one of other powders I have for .308 also came up as recommended for .223 Rem, so definitely a plus!  The shop I found Varget is limited 1# per visit.  I was planning on going back for round 2.     I also found a product that is touted as "just as good as Varget", more readily available and slightly cheaper.  It's supposedly not as humidity and temp stable as Varget, but it's not like I'm planning on using this for shooting on the mainland. 

for bolt guns I resize the neck only - of course with the same brass from that gun. Been using the Lee collet sizer

Yup, plan is only for bolt guns to start and the foreseeable future.  I have a bunch of once fired brass from my gun, but also getting some "range pickup" FGMM brass. 

Thank you!

Yup.  That Varget and one of other powders I have for .308 also came up as recommended for .223 Rem, so definitely a plus!  The shop I found Varget is limited 1# per visit.  I was planning on going back for round 2.     I also found a product that is touted as "just as good as Varget", more readily available and slightly cheaper.  It's supposedly not as humidity and temp stable as Varget, but it's not like I'm planning on using this for shooting on the mainland.

I texted you the pages. Sorry, but my Hornady book is too old for ELD data. I sent it anyway just in case you wanted it.

I texted you the pages. Sorry, but my Hornady book is too old for ELD data. I sent it anyway just in case you wanted it.

Thanks!  Got them!  There's lots of info on SMK combos.  Not quite the components that I have on hand, but very good starting points.  I'm on a few waiting lists for other components, but I am pretty happy about what I've been to pick up in the last couple of weeks. 

I had put off shooting the .308 for a while.  Picked a bad time to bring it back into the fold.  I always knew the .308 would likely get me into handloading and start me down this rabbit hole.  I mean I'm excited about doing so, but will see how involved I'll get into the details.  I was chatting with a friend that I picked up some powder from and damn it can get into some very fine details. 

I forget how to post pictures on this forum. Been awhile since I’ve posted. But I do have digital Hornady and Sierra reloading manual and could probably take a snap shot for those weights. I also shoot those weights also in my .308. Just gotta figure out out how to post pictures.

I forget how to post pictures on this forum. Been awhile since I’ve posted. But I do have digital Hornady and Sierra reloading manual and could probably take a snap shot for those weights. I also shoot those weights also in my .308. Just gotta figure out out how to post pictures.

If your Hornady manual has the load data for the ELD Match 168 gr heads, that would be awesome! 

I forget how to post pictures on this forum. Been awhile since I’ve posted. But I do have digital Hornady and Sierra reloading manual and could probably take a snap shot for those weights. I also shoot those weights also in my .308. Just gotta figure out out how to post pictures.

Best method is create a free picture-posting site account, like imgur.com  Upload your images there, and edit them to make the sizes in the 400-800 pixel range.  600x800 is the max I ever use -- prefer 400x600 if there's no small text.

Then click the image in imgur, and copy the BBCode link.  Paste that into your post here.  Super easy.  Just don't forget and delete the imgur pics you linked.  That would break the links you posted here -- nothing to show.

 

Yea it does.. I just checked the manual on my phone. When I go home today from work, I’ll take a snapshot of it and post it. Hornady and Sierra.

Ask Rocky

IF I had a Rem 700 .308 Win 24" 5-R barrel
my go to would be

Fed GM210M Large rifle Match Primer
42g IMR 4064
168gr SMK HPBT
with an ogive of 2.825 (for that rifle I would have)
39g IMR 8208 XBR would give similar results.
39.4gr TAC also has close vel but would not appear to be as consistent.

   I would only full size rounds NOT fired out of that particular firearm, then neck size with all others fired out of the same rifle from that point on.
Case length tends to "stretch" around 3+/- reloads and would require trim.
If I find data, will send.
 

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

I only started reloading 308 with H4895.  I also have H335 and Varget that I have not tried yet
I like to use the Hodgdon site for info.  with the H4895 and 168 grain Sierra HPBT, i had best result with 43 grains
i still have to test with Varget and H335.  I like that all these powders can be used with 223 and 308
have more testing to do.  i dont shoot much 308. i'm a rookie reloader for 308   

I don’t have a Nosler book.

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/308-winchester/

https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.308+Winchester+7.62+NATO.html

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx?page=/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx&gtypeid=2


http://www.shooterscalculator.com/ballistic-trajectory-chart.php?pl=308+Winchester&presets=308+Winchester%7E308+Win+168Gr+Hornady+A-Max%7EG1%7E.475%7E168%7E2700%7E100%7E1.5%7E0%7E10%7E90%7Efalse%7E0%7E59%7E29.92%7E50%7Etrue%7E1000%7E25&df=G1&bc=.475&bw=168&vi=2650&zr=100&sh=1.5&sa=15&ws=15&wa=60&cfa=on&alt=150&tmp=78&bar=29.92&hum=70&cr=500&ss=100&chartColumns=Range%7Eyd%3BElevation%7Ein%3BElevation%7EMOA%7EFBFFF5%3BElevation%7EMIL%3BWindage%7Ein%3BWindage%7EMOA%7EFBFFF5%3BWindage%7EMIL%3BTime%7Es%3BEnergy%7Eft.lbf%3BVel%5Bx%2By%5D%7Eft%2Fs&lbl=308+Win+168Gr+Sierra+HPBT+MK&submitst=+Create+Chart+
 

http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/calculators/calculators.shtml
 

https://bergerbullets.com/effects-of-cartridge-over-all-length-coal-and-cartridge-base-to-ogive-cbto-part-2/

Yea it does.. I just checked the manual on my phone. When I go home today from work, I’ll take a snapshot of it and post it. Hornady and Sierra.

Cool!  Any info helps on Hornady ELD.  I have some good info on Sierra.