.308 win load with 178 eld-x

YoteslayerWA

YoteslayerWA

Well-known member
So I'm working up a new load for my .308 win. I am looking at using imr 4064 and 178 eld-x bullets. I was looking in the Hornady 10th edition book and it has no load info for 4064 but I know it is very comparable to Varget. I have also done some reading on other forums and have seen guys say 42-44gr is a good range to work off for this combo.

I started loading a few rounds today and started at 42 and worked up .5 grains at a time. When I got to 43 gr it really feels like I am compressing this load. The Hornady book says COL 2.800. I used a OAL gauge and got my lands measured at 2.835 OAL or 2.185 from the ogive. So I am seating the bullet to 2.165.

My question is, am I overloading at this charge if it feels like it is compressing? I have had good luck with this powder with 168gr amaxs and have also read about others having good luck with this powder.
 
So I got out today and was able to shoot a few different charges with the 178 eld-x. I loaded up 3 rounds at 41.5 up to 43 grains. I shot the 41.5 Charge first and it shot pretty well. Under MOA and first two shots were nearly in the same hole. I shot the next charge up at 42 grains and had ok results. First two rounds were touching but the third was off about an inch. When I examined the empty brass I noticed that the primers seemed flattened. So I did not proceed to the next two sets at 42.5 and 43 grains.

This was the group from the 41.5 gr charge
BFA57DE856D84DA98F63.jpeg


This was the group from the 42 gr
A61DA24A4E2545F0A0B2.jpeg


I also shot a 5 shot group of my load that I shoot for 168 gr amax with 44gr of imr4064.
F900A898B1804D01AF4F.jpeg


Here is a pic of the back of the spent brass along side one that has not been shot.
76CA8D04AE7045C186E3.jpeg


I think I will start to work around that 41.5gr charge and see what I can come up with.
 
Do you have a chronograph? I have found that the best way for me to develop accurate loads is to use a chrono and to shoot at 300 yards if there is little wind.
 
I got out today to work on a few more loads and I think I may have found the right one. I backed off the powder and shot 3 shots each at 41.5, 41.2 and 41 grains. I also shot 3 groups each at those powder weights and seated the bulled a bit deeper at .030 off. I also quit having flattened primers at these charges.

I had two groups that looked very promising which were 41.2 grains seated at .020 off and a group at 41gr seated .030 off.

Here is the group for the 41gr charge. It measured out at .445
B6BFC6434B814DB18803.jpeg


Then the group for the 41.2 gr charge. I think it will do just fine. I just need to get out and shoot a few 5 shot groups to verify that it is what I want to roll with.
E3FA8949EF7C4D51A5D0.jpeg
 
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