Load development methodolgy

Reloading
21

I shoot for hunting and for fun. But a 1/2 moa group is more fun that a 2 moa one. Usually I shoot with friends and we like seeing each other get really good groups even if not needed. Shooting is a skill like golf and lower is better even if we are not pros. It is also a point of pride when I can say I hit exactly where I was aiming on a animal. Shot autopsy is something we always do when we shoot game.

22

Good to hear it.

  1. the tac SDs are fine, especially for hunting through 600 yards, you will not see the difference on target versus the varget load. The reason I push tac is it has worked for me in the lower weight bullet range, and it is almost half the price of varget, 4064, etc.
  2. Load the same thing again for all, don’t do more than 3 each; take the same target with you, use the same point of aim, and shoot the groups.
  3. What you are looking for are two things: A: does the grouping stay consistent in size - either smaller, the same, or doesnt go outside of 1 inch. B: does it repeat on top of the previous bullet holes - this helps you get at the consistency of the load, and what your rifle does on cold barrel shots…which is what matters for hunting.
  4. Velocity matters, but when you look a the 308 Win, the performance through reasonable hunting ranges, talking 4-500 yards, the differences are not that great. Maintaining 1000 ft lbs. for white tail hunting, and impact velocities at 1800 fps to create bullet function are what you are looking for, in my opinion. All things considered accuracy is king.
23

Dont change anything about the original loads, when you start changing things, it makes it hard to get at what is happening. The 308 is pretty easy to load, standard seating depths have worked well for me over the years, I have spent very little time chasing seating depths, and quite frankly, I think most of that is driven by the design of newer bullet shapes which can be finicky. The hornady amax or now eldm loaded to factory lengths have always worked well for me, and the traditional shapes work well also.
Good luck and let me know about the next set of groups.