Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

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Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 22 May 2018, 9:53 pm

I loaded my first batch of .308 rounds tonight to try and find a load that my new rifle likes.

First off I used the Hornady COAL and bullet comparator kits to measure my chamber and I discovered that unless I'm going to be using some 200gn+ projectiles i won't be getting anywhere near the lands.
The COAL to the ogive on the 150gn Sierra gamekings in the chamber was 2.365, and that was with the projectile just seated past the boat tail of the pill and I have a limit of 2.244 due to the magazine (that's just shy of 2.800 base to tip.)
So any way I worked out my lengths and then proceeded to weigh my powder.
I'm using AR2206H, min load is 43gn and max is 45.5gn, I've load 3 of each weight at .5gn intervals.

One thing though, the below pic is 45.5gn and it was slightly compressed when I seated the projectile.
Is that normal?
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I'm hoping to get out in the next day or 2 to test them.

This was the 2 best groups I had with the Remington 150gn factory ammo.
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Last edited by Diddums on 22 May 2018, 11:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Diddums
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Stix » 22 May 2018, 10:42 pm

Hi diddums.
I dont have a .308 so cant help specifically.
But a quick look & the charges you mention are listed in my book for a Nos 150 bt, not a 150 Sierra GK...that could make a difference--a diff ogive shape/length could cause the bullet to seat deeper.
Not that id imagine it should make a huge difference, but make sure you start shooting your loads at the low end & pay attention to pressure indicators like the recoil, bolt lift, primers etc., so if you encounter issues you'll see it before you hit the compressed loads.
Maybe other experts & 308 loaders can advise you in more detail.
Cheers

Im keen to hear/see how you went with the 22-250...!
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 22 May 2018, 11:05 pm

Stix wrote:Hi diddums.
I dont have a .308 so cant help specifically.
But a quick look & the charges you mention are listed in my book for a Nos 150 bt, not a 150 Sierra GK...that could make a difference--a diff ogive shape/length could cause the bullet to seat deeper.
Not that id imagine it should make a huge difference, but make sure you start shooting your loads at the low end & pay attention to pressure indicators like the recoil, bolt lift, primers etc., so if you encounter issues you'll see it before you hit the compressed loads.
Maybe other experts & 308 loaders can advise you in more detail.
Cheers

Im keen to hear/see how you went with the 22-250...!

Yeah there wasn't a load for the game kings but the nosler BT's are also boat tail projectiles so should be similar, I'll be looking for any signs of pressure.

I have 30 22-250 loaded as well so will try and test them at the same time.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by sungazer » 23 May 2018, 9:54 am

Hi Didums yes 45.5 with 2206H would be a compressed load anything depending on brass over about 45.1.
Also yes Remington's have a very long lead on them for safety reasons it lowers the pressure as a load on the lands will cause a higher initial pressure and they just cant take the chance of idiots.
I think you will find a good load at about 44.3 grns with a 150 Gameking loaded to just less than Magazine length.
Another good bullet to try but you better be quick before they sell out would be the Berger 168 VLD Hunting it will like the jump and perform well. purchase from the Q Store www.q-store.com.au I am going to get some right now as well normally out of stock not cheap $80 but worth the few extra cents.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 23 May 2018, 10:30 pm

Went and tested my loads tonight and I wasn't really impressed.
I moved my scope today and the first 2 groups are before I adjusted my scope.
I seated at a COAL of 2.800" and I did check the OAL to the ogive and they were all within .020 of each other.
Screenshot_20180523-221643_Range Buddy.jpg
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Any advice on what I should do next given the results.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Stix » 23 May 2018, 11:12 pm

Hi Diddums...Did you clean the barrel as you went...?
Maybe the barrel might take some time to settle in shooting all the burrs out.
Try sungazers advice in your "my new dilemma" thread.

Im no expert, but i clean the barrel as i shoot a new rifle, just lòoking for copper,..then looking for it to stop.

Apart from that maybe change bullet or powder or both, but again remember the barrel may take a number of shots to settle.

Hopefully others can give you better guidance. :thumbsup:
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 27 May 2018, 12:14 pm

Tried a ladder test with NOS 168g Balistic tips, was not a very good test as I was trying to shot off my bonnet and not a bench.
I did find that with the ADI brass I was compressing loads a lot so I've loaded the next batch in Lapua brass.
I did a volume test between the ADI and lapua brass, the lapua brass had a whole grain more capacity than the ADI.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 27 May 2018, 1:01 pm

Have you got a long drop tube? Also lots of tapping will settle the powder so you don't compress it with the projectile.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 27 May 2018, 4:50 pm

SCJ429 wrote:Have you got a long drop tube? Also lots of tapping will settle the powder so you don't compress it with the projectile.

No I don't have one but I'm going to pick one up soon though.
Any recommendations
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Stix » 27 May 2018, 5:14 pm

Diddums wrote:
SCJ429 wrote:Have you got a long drop tube? Also lots of tapping will settle the powder so you don't compress it with the projectile.

No I don't have one but I'm going to pick one up soon though.
Any recommendations


This might be a stupid question...but will a long drop tube or lots of tapping make a difference..? (i mean other than being able to get more powder in the case).
At the end of the day, a given charge in a given cavity is the same amount of powder to burn regardless of how well packed it is...?
I mean its the same volume of air (non powder volume) just spaced out differently...?
I can only imagine an almost miniscule & probably negligant if any difference in the burn rate...?

Not being smart, im just asking the question if that will make difference... :)
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 27 May 2018, 5:39 pm

I got mine from BRT, possibly Forster. Trickle slowly into the funnel and then tap your case on the bench to settle the powder. With 168s you will possibly get better results and speed from 2208 but if 2206 is working for you, stick with it. If you are not confident with the results of your ladder test then repeat it. Look for loads on a similar horizontal plane going as fast as you dare. Faster is better from a ballistic point of view but it is also harder on your brass.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 27 May 2018, 5:43 pm

Compressed loads are notoriously inconsistent, I would try not to shoot a load in competition where the pill crushed down into the powder. Also the powder pushes back and your seating depth ends up all over the place.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by sungazer » 27 May 2018, 6:23 pm

I agree with SCJ429 if it doesn't fit in the case your putting too much in. Also you have a short barrel you want all that powder to burn in the barrel before the bullet exits. if it is still burning once its left it is only causing turbulence and not a nice pressure wave behind the projectile. Shoot at night and see how much of fire you have at the end of your muzzle. You are putting too much in you will get much better accuracy with a lighter load and lose nothing in hitting power.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 27 May 2018, 9:35 pm

Yeah I don't want to run compressed loads, may try 2208 though. See how I go with the next test.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by marksman » 28 May 2018, 9:09 am

Diddums wrote:Yeah I don't want to run compressed loads, may try 2208 though. See how I go with the next test.


it's the powder I would recommend for the 308 :thumbsup:
I have found nodes at 44.5gr and 46gr with a 168gr projectile and win brass
I would also not worry to much about bullet jump for the 308
I would be seating the projectile to suit the mag and having the bullet seated at least 1 x calibre into the neck but make sure it is dead straight
only test off a solid bench with fireformed cases, a car bonnet moves and test results cannot be relied on
shoot off bags with the sling swivels taken out, you need to be straight behind the rifle when shooting and the rifle has to recoil/slide straight back at you
the 308 is not a hard one to get to shoot but as with my 308 you may need to try a few different combinations before real success :drinks:
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 28 May 2018, 8:59 pm

Looking forward to some more load testing sometime this week, if i can't get out during the week it will have to wait till I go to Sydney on the weekend, will probably end up at Silverdale.

Got 3 different ladder tests loaded up and a bunch of the same charge Sierra 150g game kings.
Got 110g Nos varmageddons, 150g Hornady SST & 168g Nos BT hunting.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 02 Jun 2018, 3:16 pm

I got up to the range at Silverdale today and tested my loads. Pretty happy with some of the results, have to load some more and tweak it.

This was the 110gn nosler, they seem to like a hotter load been 48gn of AR2206H.
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110gn nosler
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The 45gn range seems pretty good, now to find the sweet spot.
20180602_150624.jpg
150gn Hornady SST
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Going to play around with the 41gn range
20180602_150439.jpg
168gn nosler
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Jun 2018, 3:45 pm

The loads from 44, 44.5, and 45 look good but I am concerned that they are in different positions relative to your point of aim. Is it possible to shoot at a blank piece of card and place a dot or cross on it all in a row, that is on the same horizontal. I like to see a node where even with increasing powder the group is in the same position relative to your aiming point. Five shot groups also help but three shots seem to be in vogue at the moment.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 02 Jun 2018, 4:06 pm

I have targets that i made up for load testing but I wasn't allowed to use it, range said I had to use theirs.

I like doing 5 shot groups once I'm in the ball park, don't like spraying bullets with a bad powder charge.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Jun 2018, 7:29 pm

That is pretty ordinary, having to buy targets from the range, do you need to be a member to shoot at the range? Are you allowed to modify their targets with your own dots or mrks? Shooting is expensive enough. Are you shooting off a rest or using a bipod? Those groups around 44.5 look promising, might be worth a five shot group.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by Diddums » 02 Jun 2018, 8:03 pm

I'm a SSAA member anyway but I don't think you have to be to shoot there.
Mind you its $30 to get in there and that includes 4 targets, extra targets are $1 each.

On my second set of targets I drew some extra dots on the target but they weren't big enough so was a bit hard to see at 100m.

I much prefer to just shoot out in a paddock, don't have all the rules there.
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Re: Load Development - Remington 700 ACC-SD .308

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Jun 2018, 8:58 pm

For $60 we get a 12 month range pass and can turn up 24 hours if you want. This time of year I shoot after work in the dark. No one cares what target you use as long as you leave the place neat and tidy.
How much magnification are you using?
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