kilotanker22
New member
CAUTION: The following post (or a page linked to) includes or discusses loading data not covered by currently published sources of tested data for this cartridge (QuickLOAD or Gordon's Reloading Tool data is not professionally tested). USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assumes any liability for any damage or injury resulting from the use of this information.
Awhile back I tested Power Pro Varmint in my 308 with 168 grain ELD Match bullets. I was using Lapua Palma brass and the small primers were just not igniting the powder fully. Plus I had a bad pound of powder. Fast forward a few months with warmer weather and I decided to revisit this powder bullet combo. I got some Lapua large primer brass and some CCI #34 primers. Using the same load as last time, 44 grains PPV, 168 grain ELD MAtch.
My results were much better this time. This is from a 20" Savage 10 GRS, using a Leupold VX5 HD 3-15x scope. The velocity data was from a seven shot string as I didn't want to load too many of these. This is also with Virgin brass. After setting the powder measure for the weight, none of these were weighed. They were dropped with the RCBS Uniflow. Of the seven shots, two were used to zero the scope as this load shot to a significantly different point of impact from the ball ammo I have been shooting. The last five were the group I shot after getting my zero close to point of aim. The photo attached contains those five shots fired from 100 yards with a bipod and rear bag.
168 ELD, 44 grains PPV
Avg 2598
SD 5.2
ES 14
Needless to say, but I was impressed with those results. I decided to try some hunting ammo I have loaded for another 308 rifle. I was stunned to see the velocity I got from this barrel with the following load. Lapua Palma brass, CCI #450 primer, 45.7 grains Varget, 168 ELD
Avg 2704
SD 7.4
ES 26.
Group wasnt the best, but my muzzle brake loosened up and I did not have the tools to tighten it, and I was out of ammo. I will revisit this load again in this rifle for sure. 2700 fps in a 20" 308 with a 168 is cooking along pretty fast. SO far I am very impressed with this gun.
Awhile back I tested Power Pro Varmint in my 308 with 168 grain ELD Match bullets. I was using Lapua Palma brass and the small primers were just not igniting the powder fully. Plus I had a bad pound of powder. Fast forward a few months with warmer weather and I decided to revisit this powder bullet combo. I got some Lapua large primer brass and some CCI #34 primers. Using the same load as last time, 44 grains PPV, 168 grain ELD MAtch.
My results were much better this time. This is from a 20" Savage 10 GRS, using a Leupold VX5 HD 3-15x scope. The velocity data was from a seven shot string as I didn't want to load too many of these. This is also with Virgin brass. After setting the powder measure for the weight, none of these were weighed. They were dropped with the RCBS Uniflow. Of the seven shots, two were used to zero the scope as this load shot to a significantly different point of impact from the ball ammo I have been shooting. The last five were the group I shot after getting my zero close to point of aim. The photo attached contains those five shots fired from 100 yards with a bipod and rear bag.
168 ELD, 44 grains PPV
Avg 2598
SD 5.2
ES 14
Needless to say, but I was impressed with those results. I decided to try some hunting ammo I have loaded for another 308 rifle. I was stunned to see the velocity I got from this barrel with the following load. Lapua Palma brass, CCI #450 primer, 45.7 grains Varget, 168 ELD
Avg 2704
SD 7.4
ES 26.
Group wasnt the best, but my muzzle brake loosened up and I did not have the tools to tighten it, and I was out of ammo. I will revisit this load again in this rifle for sure. 2700 fps in a 20" 308 with a 168 is cooking along pretty fast. SO far I am very impressed with this gun.