Savage Tactical .308 owners...need advice on a good starting load

White Devil · May 27, 2000, 06:31 AM

I'm excited! I just got my brand-new RCBS Rock-Chucker kit, so now I can begin loading some .308 ammo for my Savage.

What would you recommend as a good starting point form this particular rifle? And, do the Remington 700 and the Savage Tac in .308 have the same twist-rate? The reason I'm asking is because I also plan on buying a Remington, and I didn't know if different twist-rate would be a factor for my handloading.

Sorry if these questions are stupid, but I have to start somewhere...

Archie · May 27, 2000, 08:03 PM

I would suggest a 168 HPBT over IMR 4895. Somewhere around 35 to 40 grains... can't remember exactly.

Not meaning to sound like I'm blowing you off, but how many reloading manuals do you have? You need two or three to start. (Lyman's, Speer and Hodgdon's are good to start... Hornady's too.)

These will give you advice on match ammo for .308 Win.

------------------
Archie

Michael · May 27, 2000, 09:11 PM

43.5 Grains Win-748 and Fed 215 primers with
Sierra 168grain BTHP. Seat it to 2.810 inches overall length. It's 2610fps out of my 110FP and Way below max listed loads.
Accuracy from my rifle is an average 0.3xx at 100 yards from a bipod. But the your milage may vary, Dorsey Rifles blueprinted mine.

Patrick Graham · May 28, 2000, 07:14 AM

Just about anything driven by IMR4064 or Varget will be a tack driver in 308. stay under 2800 Fps with 147/150 gr bullets and stay in the low 2700, high 2600 fps with 165/168 gr bullets. That's where the best accuracy is.

alan · May 28, 2000, 12:03 PM

Using 4895 and spitzer bullets between 168 and 180 grain weight, a reasonable working range would be between 39 and possibly 42 grains of powder (4895). Depends on what brass you are using, as well as the "pecularities" of particular rifles.

By all means, CHECK SOME RELOADING MANUALS TOO.

Monkeyleg · May 28, 2000, 02:46 PM

For my Remington 700 .308 I use 42.5 grains of N140, CCI benchrest primers, Sierra 168 grain match bullets. It's a light load, but very accurate.

Dick.

Nyterunner · May 28, 2000, 11:52 PM

I like the Accurate Arms manual, and I love my standard 175gr Sierra Matchking over 42.0 gr of AA2520. Super accurate, and CLEAN. meters easily and accurately in my Dillon. I use CCI Match primers to light'em off, and IMI Match brass or Federal GM brass to roll 'em up in. Not overly sensitive to temperature, either.

------------------
I don't CARE about pretty....I just want dangerous.

beemerb · May 29, 2000, 04:28 PM

Mil spec load in 168 match with 42 gr of 4895.I tried this in mine and was about the most accurate out of mine.
Good luck.

------------------
beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain

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May 27, 2000, 06:31 AM	#1
White Devil Junior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Posts: 8	I'm excited! I just got my brand-new RCBS Rock-Chucker kit, so now I can begin loading some .308 ammo for my Savage. What would you recommend as a good starting point form this particular rifle? And, do the Remington 700 and the Savage Tac in .308 have the same twist-rate? The reason I'm asking is because I also plan on buying a Remington, and I didn't know if different twist-rate would be a factor for my handloading. Sorry if these questions are stupid, but I have to start somewhere...

May 27, 2000, 08:03 PM	#2
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	I would suggest a 168 HPBT over IMR 4895. Somewhere around 35 to 40 grains... can't remember exactly. Not meaning to sound like I'm blowing you off, but how many reloading manuals do you have? You need two or three to start. (Lyman's, Speer and Hodgdon's are good to start... Hornady's too.) These will give you advice on match ammo for .308 Win. ------------------ Archie

May 27, 2000, 09:11 PM	#3
Michael Junior member Join Date: July 20, 1999 Location: Texas Posts: 264	43.5 Grains Win-748 and Fed 215 primers with Sierra 168grain BTHP. Seat it to 2.810 inches overall length. It's 2610fps out of my 110FP and Way below max listed loads. Accuracy from my rifle is an average 0.3xx at 100 yards from a bipod. But the your milage may vary, Dorsey Rifles blueprinted mine.

May 28, 2000, 07:14 AM	#4
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	Just about anything driven by IMR4064 or Varget will be a tack driver in 308. stay under 2800 Fps with 147/150 gr bullets and stay in the low 2700, high 2600 fps with 165/168 gr bullets. That's where the best accuracy is.

May 28, 2000, 12:03 PM	#5
alan Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Posts: 3,847	Using 4895 and spitzer bullets between 168 and 180 grain weight, a reasonable working range would be between 39 and possibly 42 grains of powder (4895). Depends on what brass you are using, as well as the "pecularities" of particular rifles. By all means, CHECK SOME RELOADING MANUALS TOO.

May 28, 2000, 02:46 PM	#6
Monkeyleg Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2000 Posts: 4,625	For my Remington 700 .308 I use 42.5 grains of N140, CCI benchrest primers, Sierra 168 grain match bullets. It's a light load, but very accurate. Dick.

May 28, 2000, 11:52 PM	#7
Nyterunner Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2000 Posts: 134	I like the Accurate Arms manual, and I love my standard 175gr Sierra Matchking over 42.0 gr of AA2520. Super accurate, and CLEAN. meters easily and accurately in my Dillon. I use CCI Match primers to light'em off, and IMI Match brass or Federal GM brass to roll 'em up in. Not overly sensitive to temperature, either. ------------------ I don't CARE about pretty....I just want dangerous.

May 29, 2000, 04:28 PM	#8
beemerb Junior member Join Date: October 2, 1999 Location: AZ Posts: 1,759	Mil spec load in 168 match with 42 gr of 4895.I tried this in mine and was about the most accurate out of mine. Good luck. ------------------ beemerb We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world; and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men every day who don't know anything and can't read. -Mark Twain