Different loads

monjorrow · Oct 9, 2019

I just recently got in to reloading and have worked up a good load (for me) using Nosler Ballistic tips, Lapua brass, and Varget. It's shooting .6 MOA out of my TC Compass in .308. I'm happy with the accuracy and was planning to use this to hunt with this year. So I go to buy more Varget to load up some more rounds and it is nowhere to be found. My buddy who is a buyer for a large sporting goods store can't even get me any. So I picked up a couple of pounds of some different powders, Reloader 15 and IMR 4046, to work up some new loads.

My question is, do you guys work up a few different loads with different powders/bullets just in case a specific powder/bullet becomes hard to find?

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monjorrow · Oct 9, 2019

I guess I should also add that I bought some 150 grain core lokts to plink around with since they were so cheap, and I'll be damned of they don't shoot fantastic either (about .75 MOA). So I can always hunt with those, but like the idea of killing something with ammo I loaded up. Similar to how I like tying my own flies and building my own arrows.

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fairchaser · Oct 9, 2019

Varget is also what I use and it is hard to find sometimes. But, I just picked some up from Avery Outdoors in Memphis. They had plenty of 1 lb jugs.

EastTNHunter · Oct 10, 2019

Yes, I develop different loads because I suffer from reloadertinkeritis. I can never be satisfied with the loads that I already have developed, and usually just want to try something different "just because."

Buy components in bulk and you won't have to worry about shortages or lot number changes as much. Varget, RL15, and 4064 are all very similar, so you should have no problem finding good loads with them. .308 is usually pretty easy to load for, as well

DaveB · Oct 10, 2019

To make a long story short availability of components can fluctuate---the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting started a run on components that only eased up within the past 2 years. The 2008 election of Obama also caused a shortage of Primers that took over a year to resolve.

Once I have that perfect recipe I have been known to load up several hundred rounds. No more tinkeritis. I keep a healthy inventory of all components. I check about 10 different sites daily looking for the exact right component at the exact right price. I got down to fewer than 100 Fed215M primers (from 5,000) and actually purchased 1,000 Winchesters (doan do that, huge mistake).

Grafs, Midsouth, Powder Valley, SPS, BrassmanBrass, a few others are your goto places. If a Sportsman Warehouse is close by make that a destination, BassPro/Cabelas if your pockets can handle the strain.

Best of luck.