Author: britrifles
Subject: .308 load development in my Bubba'd Ishy
Posted: May 07 2021 at 1:19pm
You might want to also look up Dan Newberry’s Optimal Charge Weight (OCW) method, an interesting experiment. I’ve run this test on my AR that I use for Service Rifle match shooting, it worked for me. You look for the “accuracy node” rather than a velocity node, whereby small changes in powder weight do not change the mean point of impact on the target. It really works.
Subject: .308 load development in my Bubba'd Ishy
Posted: May 07 2021 at 1:19pm
You might want to also look up Dan Newberry’s Optimal Charge Weight (OCW) method, an interesting experiment. I’ve run this test on my AR that I use for Service Rifle match shooting, it worked for me. You look for the “accuracy node” rather than a velocity node, whereby small changes in powder weight do not change the mean point of impact on the target. It really works.
I’ve not yet found a more accurate load for my No. 4 .303 rifles than 40.0 gr. Varget and 174 gr. Sierra MatchKing. It’s a fairly mild load as pressures go and will hammer the X ring in shooting CMP matches. Bullets seated to 3.05 inches and always reliable magazine feeding, which is critical for the rapid stages. I’m currently using PPU cases neck sized in Lee collet die and WLR primers.
I used to play around with different bullets, powder and charge weights. I later realized that just ate up a lot of barrel life and it did not teach me anything about how to shoot. But that’s just me, we got to do what interests us and keeps is going out to the range, so experiment on!
I would add that I don’t think I would put a cotton patch in the case, maybe it’s perfectly safe, but it’s going to compress under the high pressures and then extrude itself thru the neck. Maybe tissue paper? Fillers of any kind make me nervous. As does large airspace in a rifle case with medium to slow burn powders. H4895 as proven to be exceptionally versatile in reduced loads with no need for fillers.