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N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:05 pm
by Matt
Hi all

I've been going through all the good stuff in the forum over the last few weeks and soaking up loads of info that would be hard to get elsewhere... only thing is my brain hurts now razz

I'm just about to start doing some serious load testing for the first time but now that my small pea sized brain is rattling about in my head I was wondering if I could pick your brains to guide my starting point in the process........

Could you give me some of your thoughts on a good place to start in terms of charge weights for the following, what I'm looking for are two accurate loads to develop, one for 600 and one for 1000yds

Powder vit n140, lapua brass, remy 700 action with a new Lilja fitted by Mik Mak.

I'm looking at using 2156 SMK and Berger 155.5 in the process starting with a 20 thou jump.


I'm ok with the normal start low and work up looking for signs of pressure etc and have been reloading for years but have always just stuck with one main load that seemed to work...... Now I've been bitten by the bug it's time to up my game. ;)

Any help will be gratefully received sign92

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:27 pm
by Alpha1
I shoot a 155g Amax in my 308 Steyr SSG P1 with 42.3g of N140.

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:41 pm
by pe4king
46 gr of N140 will do both IMHO don't bother with separate loads for different ranges, its over egging the pudding, one load 100-1000 (still supersonic) it keeps your drops constant and you know where you are and learn to use it instead of constantly chasing and wondering why the bullet is doing what its doing.
By the way this is safe in my rifle

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:29 pm
by Alpha1
Sounds a bit pokey to me I certainly would not go straight to that load in my rifle.

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:44 pm
by saddler
Matt wrote:I'm just about to start doing some serious load testing for the first time but now that my small pea sized brain is rattling about in my head I was wondering if I could pick your brains to guide my starting point in the process........


Could you give me some of your thoughts on a good place to start in terms of charge weights


Either:
A. The Viht reloading manual
OR
B. The Viht/Lapua website

Not just "a good place" = the BEST place

THEN, seek advice on fine tuning, etc. via forums. NOT that the advice on here is not good - just it's not been checked by a bunch of legal eagles to ensure that if a number 7 typo occurs when it should have been a number 1, then whoever loads up the kerbloom rounds based on said typo, and still lives, doesn't sue the living s*** out of the factory

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:27 pm
by Alpha1
Either:
A. The Viht reloading manual
OR
B. The Viht/Lapua website

Not just "a good place" = the BEST place
Well not necessarily see the loading for the Swedish mauser thread there is a debate as to whether the data is actually consistent.

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:00 am
by GazMorris
Matt wrote:Hi all
Powder vit n140, lapua brass, remy 700 action with a new Lilja fitted by Mik Mak.
I'm looking at using 2156 SMK and Berger 155.5 in the process starting with a 20 thou jump.
I used to use 46.0grn Vit N140 with a Fed 210M primer in RUAG brass with the 2156 which gave excellent results at all ranges; however I worked up from a much lower load to get to this and know how much overhead I have before I start popping primers. This was also in a Swing, which is a much beefier action than a Rem 700. You may find that the Berger requires a different load and you will need to work this up separately.

Gaz

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:01 am
by ColinR
I use 44.2gr of N140 in Lapua brass with Matchking 155gr #2155 bullets loaded to a COL of 2.795". This works incredibly well in my AI AW .308 at 600 yards and on a still day at Bisley has grouped 5 shots in the v bull, I personally could not ask for more.
I have not tried the #2156 Palma bullets yet, but have a box that I will load to the same spec as the #2155. This will increase the COL by I reckon +80 thou with the same jump. The #2156 is a slightly longer bullet than the #2155, but because of the different ogive shape I am advised to use the same seater setting for both which should result in both bullets being seated to the same depth in the case and maintaining pressure at a constant.

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:56 pm
by pe4king
Alpha1 wrote:Sounds a bit pokey to me I certainly would not go straight to that load in my rifle.
It is a load I have worked up, I would never suggest anyone start at a load like that , and as I stated "it is safe in my rifle"

Re: N140 308 load advice

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:21 pm
by Dougan
Alpha1 wrote:
Either:
A. The Viht reloading manual
OR
B. The Viht/Lapua website

Not just "a good place" = the BEST place
Well not necessarily see the loading for the Swedish mauser thread there is a debate as to whether the data is actually consistent.
Just out of interest, what does your Lap/Viht manual give for a 155 SMK with N160?

The Viht guide I have gives a COL of 2.795, a min load of 37.0 and a max of 44.2.