Ever since I have been reloading the .308 for accuracy and long range competition, I have been reading on various shooting and reloading websites about the 168 grain SMK and the FGMM loading using that bullet. The FGMM load seems to be the load that all other match factory loads are judged by. And it is a place to start when you begin to develope your own accuracy loads for the .308.
My question is, if you have developed a duplicate FGMM .308 load, does it shoot better in your rifle than the factory FGMM load. It is a foregone conclusion that Federal was using IMR-4064 in this load. Some people say 43.2 grains, and some say 43.5 grains and some say 42.6 grains. The factory FGMM load will produce between 2600 ft/sec and 2650 ft/sec depending on barrel length.
I have tried IMR-4064 trying to dupe the FGMM load (43.2 grains and 43.5 grains) and have not achieved the accuracy I am looking for. So, I am asking how your FGMM duplicating loads have done
and what charge weight of IMR-4064 are you using. And if you have gone to a different powder and kept all the other components the same, what powder and charge weight?
Also, if you have been shooting the FGMM factory stuff for some time, is it as accurate now as it was say 2 years ago. The reason I ask this is because I have heard that Federal switched from IMR-4064 to RL-15 to load the FGMM load. If that is true, do the new loads shoot as good as the old ones did? What is the charge weight with RL-15? Sierra list 42 grains of RL-15 as an accuracy load using the 168 SMK bullet, FED cases and primers, COL at 2.800" all at 2600 ft/sec in a 26" barrel with a 1 in 10" twist rate. Could this be close to what Federal is loading now?
Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom
My question is, if you have developed a duplicate FGMM .308 load, does it shoot better in your rifle than the factory FGMM load. It is a foregone conclusion that Federal was using IMR-4064 in this load. Some people say 43.2 grains, and some say 43.5 grains and some say 42.6 grains. The factory FGMM load will produce between 2600 ft/sec and 2650 ft/sec depending on barrel length.
I have tried IMR-4064 trying to dupe the FGMM load (43.2 grains and 43.5 grains) and have not achieved the accuracy I am looking for. So, I am asking how your FGMM duplicating loads have done
and what charge weight of IMR-4064 are you using. And if you have gone to a different powder and kept all the other components the same, what powder and charge weight?
Also, if you have been shooting the FGMM factory stuff for some time, is it as accurate now as it was say 2 years ago. The reason I ask this is because I have heard that Federal switched from IMR-4064 to RL-15 to load the FGMM load. If that is true, do the new loads shoot as good as the old ones did? What is the charge weight with RL-15? Sierra list 42 grains of RL-15 as an accuracy load using the 168 SMK bullet, FED cases and primers, COL at 2.800" all at 2600 ft/sec in a 26" barrel with a 1 in 10" twist rate. Could this be close to what Federal is loading now?
Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom