Duplicate load to FGMM?

B

Beentown71

New member
Anyone have a load that is close to FGMM .308 with 168 grain Matchking BTHP? I picked up ten boxes from my LGS when they were having a truckload sale for $17.99 per 20 and my Howa REALLY likes them. (2010 I believe)

Newb to reloading and the powders I have available now are:

BLC-2
H335
TAC

I will pick up any powder that I need to match the load once available.

Benchrest Primers

Fire formed Win Brass...I have LC also.

Plan to use it as a starting load and working up and down from there. Right now I am getting .66" five shot groups off of bags. Would like to see what we (the rifle and I) can really do.
 
D

Dan Newberry

New member
Federal is using RL15 since the ATK contract... prior to that, it was IMR 4064.

You don't have to put the exact FC recipe together to get a good load.

TAC or BLc(2) would be better choices than the H335 if you ask me.

Black Hills has used TAC in their match ammo. BLc(2) is well thought of for match ammo as well. Either powder could work well, but I think the BLc(2) would do the best.

The closest recipe to what Federal is doing would be 43.8 to 44 grains of RL15 with the 168's in the FC brass--and your Lake City would be close to the same volume as the FC brass. IMR 4064 at those same amounts, or Varget (same amounts) would also work. With Winchester brass, you'd add about .4 grains to those charges.

Work up from 10% under...

Dan
 
Last edited:
J

Jimro

New member
I'll disagree with Dan on BLC-2. As far as I can tell it is the same stuff as WCC-846 which suffered from erratic primer ignition timing in M80 ball loads. This is why I think that the ball powder M118SB loads were considered inferior, the sedate match primers couldn't get consistent ignition.

The .mil went to WCC-846FS (flash suppressed) with a hotter primer to "fix" the problem with M80 ball.

I'd try TAC instead as a starting point.

Jimro
 
B

Beentown71

New member
Looks like it is going to be:

Win Match brass (fire formed) put through a Lee Collet die
Tac starting with 40 grains and working up
CCI Benchrest primers
168 grain Sierra Match King BTHP's
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top