Thread: Bergara 16.5" 308 reloading

Originally Posted by Flyblown

@Cooper I'd be interested to know what the COAL of your cartridge is please?

I'm re-doing my .308 loads with 178gr ELD-X today. Looking at 42gr of 2206H at the SAAMI max COAL of 2.800", that load of yours would be above the pMax of 62,000psi if it's seated to 2.800". Not by a lot, just sayin'.

My first go round with the 178gr ELD-X, I got the groups down to an inch at best. This arvo I tested some with a hottish load of 2208 / Varget and got much closer to the magic half inch, and way lower ES. This is with an 18" barrel. I have found in recent times with the heavier .308 bullets that the slower 2208 seems to work a bit better in my T3.

I don't have quick load but it's close to max. Adi book has 42.7 for a 180, loaded to 73.5coal with a .5 jump, shooting them out of a Tikka with a M+ mag, only shot one group, was around an inch 5 shot group shooting cold to hot, 3 shots in half inch and the other 2 just higher. I have done minimal load testing with them. I mainly just bush hunt with it 10-60m but want to be able to stretch it out to 400ish