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Old September 16, 2014, 04:05 PM   #1
02bigdogs17
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Loads for Savage Axis II in .308Win

So I bought a new Savage Axis II in .308Win a few weeks ago. I have several Savage Rifles and love everyone of them and this one is no exception other than I hate the stock and plan on changing it soon. I have been trying to work up a nice accurate load for this rifle and so far have tried AA2495, and Varget powders with Winchester large rifle primers and Hornady 165gr SP bullets. So far I have not been very impressed with these combos for accuracy. I am going to try some 165 Sierra SP's in the next week or two but just wondered if anyone has any loads worked up with these bullets and what powders you used with them for this particular rifle. Thanks.
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Old September 16, 2014, 04:58 PM   #2
Bart B.
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Ball powders don't have a good track record for accuracy in .308 Win cartridges. 45 grains of Varget under that bullet should easily produce sub MOA groups at 100 yards with proper full length sized cases if the rifle and shooter are up to it. As should most extruded powders in the speed range of Varget, IMR4895, IMR4064 and N140 powders with charge weights near maximum.
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Old September 16, 2014, 08:48 PM   #3
jmr40
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Varget is my go to powder, and I've had good luck with Hornady 165's, so you've gotten a good start. Experiment if you want, you might find another combo that is slightly better in your gun.

The 308 is the easiest round I've loaded for. Most anything seems to work well enough for hunting purposes.
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Old September 17, 2014, 08:50 AM   #4
02bigdogs17
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Jmr40. What kind of powder charge of Varget are you putting behind your Hornady 165's?
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Old September 20, 2014, 03:52 AM   #5
Jimro
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Try 43 gr of IMR4064. I've always had good luck with CCI primers, both 200 and BR-2 in the 308. But it a 100 count pack of primers is a cheap buy to see what works best in your load, so try giving them a shot.

I had no luck with Varget, but I am generally unwilling to put as much Varget in a case as most people who do have good luck with Varget do.

I haven't used any 4064 since the "reformulation" so take my advice with a grain of salt.

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Old September 20, 2014, 07:38 AM   #6
green_MTman
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I used to shoot 46 grains of varget (reduce by 5% and work up of coarse) in a savage 16 fss in .308 win.

165 gr sierra gameking
Win cases
Fed 210 large rifle match primers
My C.O.l was 2.849 which was .035 off the rifling
But 2.80 is always the starting point with .308,every rifle is different

A good load
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Old September 20, 2014, 03:49 PM   #7
William T. Watts
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this isn't exacetly on point but?

There's a major difference in the size and irregularities in the new and the old granules of IMR4064, the older is much smaller in size. Before I use the new I will go back and start over and work up the load for the calibers I use this powder in! William

Last edited by William T. Watts; September 20, 2014 at 06:24 PM.
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Old September 20, 2014, 09:29 PM   #8
Marco Califo
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Regarding the Axis Stock

I love the gun, but, Regarding the Axis Stock
Boyds now makes stocks for the Axis. They also make most of Savage's factory laminated stocks.
http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/74c094...55687&cat=1222
I put the linked stock on an Axis 223 for $99 plus shipping. Prairie Hunter shape pattern is great shooter if you do not want the vented thumbhole stock with its third bipod stud. It is a huge improvement!
For color, I would (and did) get the Nutmeg. It looks nice.
I have a Pepper lightweight thumbhole stock on a Savage 308, feels fine, but I think the Pepper color works best with Stainless Steel guns.
I got Royal Jacaranda on a Savage 22LR Mk II, but cannot recommend that color pattern at all. Mine shows that the white wood they use in the laminate stains variably, and a I got a large weird looking "white wood dyed an unnatural metallic red hair color" patch at the comb. It does not look like red wood. I love it except for that. I have even thought of putting a decal or leather cheek pad over it. Play it safe and get the nice looking Nutmeg. For some guns you can get standard Walnut for $20 more, but for other guns it is a $35 custom change.

One other thing about the Axis: that thin sporter barrel gets HOT FAST! I was bringing 42 oz sodas with more ice than soda so I could use the ice cubes to cool the barrel. I sprayed it down with Rem Oil afterwards. While I like it for a "truck" gun, I bought a Savage 18607 10 FCP-K .223 24" Hvy Flut B 223 for shooting more shots at the range on hot days.
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Last edited by Marco Califo; September 20, 2014 at 09:36 PM.
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Old September 20, 2014, 09:49 PM   #9
jersurf101
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I'll second Jimro's 43gr of 4064. That works great in my savage 11 .308. 4064 is generally a lot easier to find than Varget as well. At least in my neck of the woods.
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Old September 21, 2014, 12:43 AM   #10
4runnerman
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My go to load in my Savage 308 is

168 Serria Match
43.2 gn's RL-15
CCI BR-2 Primer

175 Serria Match
42.3 gn's RL-15
CCI-BR-2 Primers

The 175 gn load was what I used in FTR Class out to 1000 yards with very good Accuracy
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Old September 21, 2014, 07:31 AM   #11
Bart B.
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The .308 Winchester is rather forgiving on the loads it shoots very accurate with. An accurate load in one rifle typically shoots very well in another one.

Providing (yes, there are always some details that apply) the barrel's groove diameter is at least, a few ten-thousandths smaller than the bullets used. And the barrel's free floating, the receiver's decently bedded and the sights are repeatable. Of course, the shooter has to be reasonably repeatable, too.

Best examples are match grade ammo from Black Hills, Federal and Hornady and Lake City Arsenal match; all did very well in all sorts of bolt action and semiauto rifles rebuilt to proper specs. And accuracy's based on at least 20 shots per string fired in as many minutes.
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