Reloading for Matches...specifically .308AR

[tundramuscle03]

Hey fellas, decided to finally get my .308AR scoped so I can get to shooting matches with it...which is what I intended to do before I built my 6 Creedmoor...

Just curious at what ranges you're shooting out to and with what grain bullet you're using.....

Thanks!

**Rifle has a different scope on order other than what it is pictured with...

 

[Sticky]

What kind of matches? The standard for a 308 match load is the 175SMK.

 

[4g64loser]

I run 2156 sierras (155gr palma bullets) at 2930avg but that's in a 24" bolt gun. I wouldn't try it in a gasgun. Stick to 175s or the 185 bergers. They work **** in most match gasguns.

 

[tundramuscle03]

What kind of matches? The standard for a 308 match load is the 175SMK.

Well, any really, but might give the PRS Gas Gun division a try…I’ve shot PRS matches before with my 6 Creedmoor bolt gun…

 

[tundramuscle03]

I run 2156 sierras (155gr palma bullets) at 2930avg but that's in a 24" bolt gun. I wouldn't try it in a gasgun. Stick to 175s or the 185 bergers. They work **** in most match gasguns.

I was thinking about staying with those weights…found some Lapua D46’s (185gr) on my safe, will look up some load info on them too…

 

[mac1_131]

Look at the tactical heavy rules re bullet weight and speed (175gr, 2800fps)

It's a thin needle to thread, and trying to avoid going subsonic out to 800 yards, and not getting excessive pressure.

I had my AR10 kind of maxed out and decided it really wasn't going to be effective. YMMV

 

[4g64loser]

I was thinking about staying with those weights…found some Lapua D46’s (185gr) on my safe, will look up some load info on them too…

The d46 is still a relevant and solid bullet. I know a guy who uses them in his bolt gun for informal steel plate matches with good results. I think he's using RL15.

 

[tundramuscle03]

The d46 is still a relevant and solid bullet. I know a guy who uses them in his bolt gun for informal steel plate matches with good results. I think he's using RL15.

Any idea what his setup is like?

 

[tundramuscle03]

Look at the tactical heavy rules re bullet weight and speed (175gr, 2800fps)

It's a thin needle to thread, and trying to avoid going subsonic out to 800 yards, and not getting excessive pressure.

I had my AR10 kind of maxed out and decided it really wasn't going to be effective. YMMV

How do you have your AR10 setup?

 

[4g64loser]

Any idea what his setup is like?

Barnard P. Don't know bbl maker but it's 26-28". Looks to be the Barnard trigger (my palma gun was a Barnard so I'm familiar). Stock is a composite. Optic is ZCO.

 

[davsco]

look on jprifles website. he has reloading info and tips for semi's. at least for 223 it was using a small base sizing die and also one of their chamber checkers. i (new reloader) followed that and zero malfs or related issues at various 2 and 3 gun matches.

when i was shooting 308 in prs & gas gun matches, i exclusively used the factory fed 175 gold medal loads and they worked great in my ar-308.

 

[Bountied]

178gr ELD-X bullets have given me better results than the 175gr SMKs I was using. Using ~43gr IMR 4064 and magnum primers. Getting around 2600fps. I'd have to pull up my data for specifics. With those I've been sub MOA out to 500yds.

 

[Russ D]

I run 2156 sierras (155gr palma bullets) at 2930avg but that's in a 24" bolt gun. I wouldn't try it in a gasgun. Stick to 175s or the 185 bergers. They work **** in most match gasguns.

What’s your load? I have a lot of 155 Nosler CC’s I’m about to load up. I have RL15, BLC2 , and AR Comp

 

[4g64loser]

What’s your load? I have a lot of 155 Nosler CC’s I’m about to load up. I have RL15, BLC2 , and AR Comp

Be careful. The Nosler is a conventional match bullet and equivalent to a 2155 sierra. You will not get the same speed as the bearing surface is longer than the 2156. Precision tends to be better though.

Lapua brass. Necks turned to .013. fed 210. 45.6varget. seat 2156 to .020 off the lands

 

[Russ D]

Be careful. The Nosler is a conventional match bullet and equivalent to a 2155 sierra. You will not get the same speed as the bearing surface is longer than the 2156. Precision tends to be better though.

Lapua brass. Necks turned to .013. fed 210. 45.6varget. seat 2156 to .020 off the lands

I don’t have enough Varget to play with that load. I’ll just work up some RL15 loads for now

 

[BFMIN]

If you're going "out there" 1,000yds + & the range has electronic scoring, make sure the bullet is still supersonic at impact. Some of those systems won't record subsonic impacts. A friend of mine just ran into this at a match.

 

[Park ranger]

My AR10 service rifle 20" barrel load at Camp Perry 1000 yard matches 2 years ago was:

185 berger juggernaut seated to 2.950"
Lapua brass
43.5 Varget
Br2 primer
2550 fps, just barely supersonic at 1000

308 sucks in the wind, but boy its fun when you make a good wind call.