.308 Winchester Seating Depth

[CMBTshooter]

When I'm adjusting my seating depth for the .308, where do I start for 168 CCs and what interval do I make the adjustments?

How do other bullets like the 168 BST and 180 AB differ as far as seating depth is concerned?

 

[DrMike]

Try beginning 0.010 inches off the lands. Generally, the Custom Competitions tolerate proximity to the lands. In this respect, the BST and AB does not differ greatly. You may, however, find that the bullet wants a goodly jump to the lands.

 

[Richracer1]

Try beginning 0.010 inches off the lands. Generally, the Custom Competitions tolerate proximity to the lands. In this respect, the BST and AB does not differ greatly. You may, however, find that the bullet wants a goodly jump to the lands.

Good info from DrMike. I'd like to add that I start with either .020" off the lands OR what will fit & function in the magazine. From there I find the most accurate powder charge for the chosen powder and then start adjusting seating depth in .005" increments to see if I can improve upon reducing the group size. I have to admit though, I have never worked with Nosler CC bullets, just PTs, ABs, BTs, and ETs.

 

[Desert Fox]

When I'm adjusting my seating depth for the .308, where do I start for 168 CCs and what interval do I make the adjustments?

How do other bullets like the 168 BST and 180 AB differ as far as seating depth is concerned?

Your rifle will tell you! Start between .015 - .020" as long as it fits the magazine. Mine barely clears the mag and it measured .006" off the land.

Here's the result from last Saturday range time loading the 168 Berger VLD for the first time.

5 shot group @ 110 yards.

 

[Guy Miner]

Am sure DF will concur - a lot of guys, me included, simply load the .308 Win to feed well through the magazine - rarely much over 2.8" - and find that loaded thus it easily produces fine accuracy.

Nosler and Sierra bullets in the 150 - 175 gr weight range usually perform very well, with excellent accuracy and good results on game.

Seriously - simply loading to mag length has produced match winning ammo for me. It turns out to be more about reading the wind & mirage than altering the ammo by some tiny fraction of an inch.

DF - GREAT group!

Regards, Guy

 

[CMBTshooter]

DF,

That's a great group. What's your load?

Here is what I shot last Saturday with the 168 CC's and 44.5 grains of IMR4064. Five shots in .916 inches. I just want to tune it up a little bit more.

 

[Desert Fox]

I use 43.5 grain BLC-2, Federal 210 Match, 168 grain Berger VLD and PMC Match Brass.

I use the same load but with 168 grain Nosler Competition with great result also. Berger has a bit higher BC than the Nosler so I might start using them.

 

[SJB358]

That looks like a great load DF and CMBTshooter.. I need to get a good load for my wifes 308 for shooting steel and such, the 168 CC's might be a great load to use for that. Pretty sure she is going to run with the 165 AB's this year for hunting.

 

[Guy Miner]

Don't hear a lot about BLC-2 and the .308 Win, but it's another good powder for the little workhorse.

 

[.300winmag]

I had great luck with the 168CC in my .308 with 41.5grs of IMR4895 with an OAL of 2.820" (mag length in my rifle). They shoot about 0.5" at 100 yards with a velocity of 2,610fps out of my 24" Krieger.

 

[AzDak42]

I like to find .308 loads that will work well in my AR10 and bolt guns. I find that if I load to 2.800" I generally get solid groups and they shoot well in everything.