.308 win loads

[OldMan]

I bought a new Wby Vanguard with a 24" barrel (don't know why) and I am loading with Rl-15 powder. By the Nosler manual #7 it can go to 46 gr. @ 2958 fps, I'm getting 2760 with 46.5 grains. Same barrel length (24") using 150 BTip, WW brass, cci 200 primers, 35P chronograph. Same setup with Varget gets 2850 fps, that's in line with book. Should I try (carefully) to up the charge with RL-15? I would like to get close to 2900 fps as my CDS dial is set there! Alliant site shows 2900 with
same powder and barrel length and 49 grains with speer bullet. Anyone know if 2900 is just too much to expect for the 150 BT at safe pressures? By the way the Vanguard is one sweet shooting rifle!

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge : .308 Win. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 150, Nosler BalTip 30150
Useable Case Capaci: 46.998 grain H2O = 3.051 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-15

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 86 37.20 2354 1845 31082 6133 88.8 1.442
-18.0 88 38.13 2412 1937 33260 6323 90.0 1.404
-16.0 90 39.06 2470 2032 35590 6508 91.2 1.367
-14.0 92 39.99 2528 2129 38062 6686 92.3 1.328
-12.0 94 40.92 2587 2228 40692 6857 93.4 1.288
-10.0 97 41.85 2645 2330 43510 7021 94.3 1.250
-08.0 99 42.78 2703 2434 46532 7176 95.2 1.213
-06.0 101 43.71 2761 2539 49775 7322 96.0 1.177
-04.0 103 44.64 2819 2648 53257 7459 96.8 1.143 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 105 45.57 2877 2758 57001 7585 97.5 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 107 46.50 2935 2870 61030 7700 98.1 1.078 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 109 47.43 2993 2984 65371 7803 98.6 1.047 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 112 48.36 3051 3100 70055 7895 99.0 1.017 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 114 49.29 3108 3218 75116 7973 99.4 0.988 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 116 50.22 3165 3337 80595 8039 99.7 0.960 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 118 51.15 3222 3459 86537 8090 99.9 0.933 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 107 46.50 3067 3133 73329 7511 100.0 1.002 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 107 46.50 2756 2531 49219 7506 92.1 1.178

Each rifle is an entity to itself. You can try going up in 0.5 grain increments, watching for excessive pressure. You are the final arbiter of whether a load is safe or whether it generates excessive pressure.

 

[Guy Miner]

Yeah, I don't know what to tell you about your RL-15 results. I used RL-15 for a while as an excellent substitute for Varget with my .308 Win (also a 24" barrel) and the velocities were very nearly the same between the two powders. Accuracy was roughly equal as well, meaning very good.

I tend to shoot mostly the 165/168 class bullets from my .308, at about 2750 fps.

Guy

 

[OldMan]

I need to try another lot # of RL-15, maybe i got a slow batch? I will also try 165's with both powders. I just hate to give up on the tiny groups provided by 150's and RL-15. Anyone tried the new IMR Enduron powders yet?

 

[baltz526]

2009 Alliant Book shows, 150gr SP, RE15, 49gr Commpressed as max at 2919fps. CCI200, IMI brass, 2.700" oal. I would say Quickload is a bit off on RE15. But no barrel length is listed in Alliant book.

 

[Gunner46]

If the Varget is shooting well @ 2850, then why worry about an extra 50 ? With a 200 yd zero, you're only going to gain about 2 inches of drop & 100 ft lbs at 500yds. Not enough to stress over IMHO.

 

[Guy Miner]

Bingo!

Why mess with RL-15 is Varget is working so well?

Guy

 

[OldMan]

I got 2850 from Varget with less accuracy (1.25" Varget vs .380" for RL-15). Maybe I should play with Varget and the seating depth? Maybe just live with 2760 fps as it's just for targets and ranging practice with dials. Maybe add a little more powder? It's no big deal as I won't ever hunt big game with it and have many other rifles, just expected more.

 

[nosler06]

I can tell you that if you find a powder that works stick with it. I did the powder chase the last few years and went through 5 different powders to find that IMR8208XBR worked best for my older .308. My friends rifle shot Varget best. I think each gun has a bit of a personality and like what they like. I also agree with Gunner46 that it is prob not worth chasing an extra 50fps if you find the magic powder that works well for you. Just my 2 bits worth.