Sierra GameChanger 165gr in 308 Winchester 

Good to see a channel showing the struggles and realities of working up loads and trying to get consistent tight groups rather than the usual bs thrown out on the internet of grabbing a (brand here) rifle off the shelf and getting 3/4 inch groups with whatever discount ammo they can find at the gas station while shooting freehand over the hood of their pickup.

There are so many reasons to love .308

I have watched a ton of these videos every time I start reloading a new caliber and tonight is the first time I have seen an actual bullseye. A few of them too. Love these data videos. Thanks !

Thanks for another great video. I’ve been reloading for 30 years or so and I nearly always gain more insight from your reloading techniques. Thanks for the ah-ha’s!

Johnny, As far as Videos. Your life has changed and you have less and less time between working and Maintaining Lifes domestic duties. However, The quality of your show has not changed and your research is untouched by any other channel, when I need to know, I can watch what your results have been with selected powders and Bullet combinations and have confidence that if inaccuracy has been a problem or not. we don't have the same rifle, However, Your results reveal data the is close enough to get a starting point I need at the end of the day. Your earn every dollar that is contributed in that hat at the end of the ile by the door on the way out. also, you give a handshake and "see you next week" at the end of every show. You have one of the best shows out. Dave.

Love your videos! Thanks for taking the time to document the testing of all these components for the reloading community! You Rock!

I’m learning a lot from these videos. Thanks for doing them. Great humour too 👍

You jinxed it buddy. Loved the “don’t screw it up thoughts being verbalized

I had to pause the video and wipe the tears from my eyes after watching the gel test! Another good video.

Anther great video/resource for us slowly learning new-reloaders. Thank you for all you do mate.

Glad to see you back on patreon, keep up the great work. I have learned so much from you, going from knowing nothing to developing my own loads for my 9mm and 300blk. My next project is an AR 10 in 308 so please keep them coming

Your honesty is always refreshing. The recoil looked manageable. I shot ar10s only in 308 my bolt guns are RPRs in creedmoor and both heavy. Thank you for the attention to 308.

Thanks for the video. After 30+yrs I was able to get my favorite .308 Winchester. I needed a starting point for my rig. This is gonna be really helpful. Varmint profile will definitely help that stick shifter of yours. Did wonders for mine.

This has to be the best information I have seen for reloading .308 hands down. Thanks so much.

Ahhh. Sunday morning coffee and a new JRB video. Going to be a fine day!

Amen. Glad I found this channel. It’s all good

Looking forward to the 6.5 Grendel & Creedmoor tests! As always great content and info! Thanks Johnny & God bless sir!

Great video! Always look forward to them. Your the best!!

I love your videos Johnny always entertaining and informative !

Great video. I was thinking about using my .308 this deer season and was looking at this bullet. The Jell-O test was awesome.

Thanks for the video, yet another one that has helped me out... The backlit photo shows how the bullet tip isn't so consistent by the bubble in the plastic. Thanks for showing this in two different rifles. Johnny, u da man! Oh, I just loaded my first test rounds in 243 = 90grain, w/H414 40gr, COAL 2.740"

*Shoots a 3 leaf clover* "Don't screw it up, don't screw it up" *Shoots damn near 2" low* LMFAO

Been waiting for this video all week :)

Great video man. Well done

Always good to watch, thanks for putting in the effort. Tikka guarantees a 3 shot sub Moa group with shop ammo with their light barrel rifles. I had accuracy issues with my Supervarmint in 308, pillar bedding the action solved the problem. It now shoots half moa groups with nosler 165 grain accubond bullets and Varget. I use a drop tube when pouring my powder, I can add another 1.5 grains before the crunch start. Love your channel.

The scope mount job on your tikka pleases me so! 😁

Gonna be loading and shooting the Game Changers this summer from my M-14. Really want to work up a nice whitetail, muley and elk load. Another great video, ty.

Watching your vids get me pumped to clean up my primer pockets. Lol

Great job Johnny. Thanks

Hey bud your back been wondering where you've been. I have been looking t these bullets for a little while now bit glad to see your test in them

Love Arcomp, I bought it because of the exact same scenario. Now it’s my go to powder.

I noticed your shooting off bi-pods with both your rifles. I have discovered that using by pods with rubber feet from a shooting bench causes strange harmonics with the rifle and groups are less true. I have found using a heavy towel folded under the bi-pod does a pretty good job to cancel the harmonics and groups are much better. I shoot off bi-pods a-lot when I shoot from a wooden bench I like the sharp spike feet vs the rubber feet. I prefer shooting from my sand bag rest for checking what a rifle and bullet and load can do. Awesome video, I am very interested in getting my hands on some of those game changers.

These videos are therapeutic.

Thanks for the video man we enjoyed it,like all powders lol sometimes it just is a pain, like that imi brass and what a great dude to send it .

Holly cow Johnny those blocks of gel new they were getting smacked lol shame about the grouping hopefully further load development will improve, look forward to the 6.5 load development cheers G. 👍

Great vid, awesome channel. Eager to see Grendel results

Great video! Looking forward to the Grendel results:)

Even with an 1800fps required expansion floor, the Grendel should be able to get those 130gr Gamechangers up to 2450-2500fps with 2000-MR or CFE223. Which would make them a very viable 200-300yd hunting bullet in Grendel!!

I don't even own a .308 and this video has me hooked.

Hey Johnny I’m a new viewer and love your videos.I’m saving up for a reload station of my own as well so I can do my own 6.5 grendel loads and I’ve heard a lot of good things about lapua brass even though it’s pricey so that’s the brass I plan on goin with.I also plan on making hand loads for my 30-06 as well.I’ve been looking at a lot of reloading videos in general but I like your videos the most because they’re detailed and informative.keep on reloading, johnny and have a good one :)

"...don't screw it up.......don't screw it up". Thank for being real and showing the realities of working up a load and being kicked in the 'squishies' now and then.

I've got a Remington Model 7 in .308. It's been a nightmare to get groups out of. I decided to shim the front of the stock and fed it some 168 SBT with 45.5 grains of Varget. My little wippy barrel 20'" job settled down and started shooting excellent groups for that little rifle. And it's not too particular. I loaded some H4395 with some 150 grain bullets....they shoot less than an inch at 100 yards. I was ready to get rid of that gun and thought I'd try the shim and if it didn't work, it was gone. I'm glad I hung on to it.

I am a big fan of that redding dry neck lube. I havent ripped a press off a bench since i started using it.

RWS is good brass. Flash hole tool looks like a center drill for a lathe, most likely is. I appreciate your videos, saves me time and $$ starting up loads.

Love the progression of saying how awesome the gun is to eventually calling it stupid. How I feel half the time when I shoot, lol

if you can can get one vid a month i'll be happy cause there so informitive

Put Some Thru my Creedmoor yesterday .. Can cover the Group with a Dime, maybe smaller than a Dime.. Great Shooter...

I'll tell ya tho..all of those shots are meat on the table. Good shooting my friend, I'm very impressed with the results from this new bullet!

My Tikka T3 lite 308 loves cheap 150g steel cased shells. Also I put on a Witt machine clamp on break, shoots like a ar15, recoil wise. It's a great 100 dollar option to tame the beast without machining the barrel

I bought some of these and loaded them with 42 grain of imr 4064, Winchester brass ( once fired), with cci primers, cases trimmed to 2.001-2.004, overall length 2.800-2.801. Shot pretty accurate

Wow, that's interesting. I purchased some once fired Lapua .308 brass some years back (ex military MG brass I suspect) for use in my Mauser 98 based sporter. My subsequent reloads demonstrated significant pressure issues from day one. Eventually I ended-up with loads that were fully 10% below the listed (ADI) starting weights. I had assumed, at the time, (erroneously and unfairly as it turns out) that these issues possibly resulted from poor loading data. It didn't occur to me that thicker case walls are a much more likely cause. Very interesting, thanks.

For cooling a lightweight barrel for group shooting,, I use canned air but I invert the can and direct the tube down the barrel so the stuff comes out as a liquid. As soon as the pressure on the liquid is released inside the barrel, the liquid turns to gas and acts as a refrigerant. This is the reason they tell you not to invert the can and spray it on a body part or anything you don't want frozen. On live tissue it can cause burns or frostbite just like dry ice or liquid nitrogen. A couple of shots down either end of the barrel and a 30 second wait will bring the barrel temperature down dramatically.

I really like how you do the targets up at the tip while you shoot

Good video you have lots of experience which is well worth watching keep up the good work I just subscribe🕶

Looked great to me! I think I might try the 130s at some point in 6.5mm I have yet to try anything lighter than 140 in my Creedmoor. Looking forward to it! Hopefully you get some better weather headed your way

I wanted to thank you for this extremely well made video. I'm enthused about this bullet. I have two new & unfired .30'06 bolt guns that have been sitting in the safe and waiting on me to get off my arse and mount some scopes on them and get them ready to hunt. This 165gr TGK bullet is off great interest. You really showed the workup very nicely. I also appreciated the recovered bullets at 2,000fps impact velocity. This shows what I can expect with short range impact. I'm really enthused about this one. Thanks again.

I like to run a little drill bit through all of the flashholes when I get new brass in. It usually doesn't even contact but I have had some where it did (some of the PPU 7.62x51 maybe?). It measures at .075". I usually just hold it in my fingers and go in and out a few times, not rotational. but have chucked it up in a drill when I ran into the undersized ones, going very slow and making sure to keep everything squareish. It will knock off burrs pretty well too, and a very light pass after sizing will scrape off any burned on crap.

Every one has a poly tip now, and I sure do like them!

Great video, so many variables to contend with. I can even go into paranoid thoughts of last barrel batches made before retooling and recalibration. As you already know, you can shoot identical Tikka rifles with identical ammo and have varying results. But the reloading fun is over if we get lucky and get one big hole at 100y with cheap factory ammo. I have a .223 that I bought several different factory loads of all price ranges on my first range trip. I was very lucky to get the best groups on the least expensive ammo. It was discontinued Perfecta 55g fmj at Walmart for $13.99 per 50 rounds. Not a hunting load, but fun accuracy practice at inexpensive cost.

I have a Ruger compact 77 mk2 16.5 inch barrel it shoots about the same as the Tikka.. going to go to a lighter bullet 150 gr. I just want 3 in an inch at 100.. really like your channel. Keep it coming

The gamekings are my go to load in my 308.

I also reload for the M5E1 and have had nothing but problems from this Aero precision rifle. I have sent it back to the factory three times and it's finally shooting right... For the most part. Still snatching brass kind hard, but after Aero finally just put a hole new user on it, I don't have head space problems anymore.

You are absolutely right that shorter than rifle length gas systems can be hard to tune (so that they don't destroy brass). Go with rifle length next time. NSW has used the LaRue (out of Texas) in ,260 Rem in some of their long distance training.

If you want to seat bullets to longer lengths in your Tikka, you can use mags made for longer cartridges (30/06) but you'll have to change the bolt stop/release.

I found that IMI 308 brass to be very, very soft in the case head, along with Federal. Also, I put Gentry muzzle breaks on these 700 Sporters. The Gentry muzzle break has ports facing forward, thus much of the concussion is thrown forward. Accuracy with the Gentry is between 1/4" groups and 3/8" groups with Remington sporter rifles, AR 10's, Browning A bolts, and Tikka's. Model 7 Remingtons have proven to be unbelievably accurate with the Gentry muzzle breaks...hard to believe. We put Stick on Wheel weights in the forearm of the Rem plastic stocks that make them very rigid, bed the recoil lug, freefloat the magazine box, free float the barrel...small groups are the result.

.308 Win has been my tack driver. I shoot a Savage Model 10 in .308 with a Vortex Viper HST 4-16x44 that will consistently shoot sub 1/2 min groups and occasionally sub 1/4 min groups with 44.0gr of Varget behind a 168 Hornady match bullet. I too use an ogive comparator and I set my COL to .005" off the rifling. I live in Wyoming at 5,000ft elevation so I get more range out of the cartridge, but busting milk jugs at 1100yds is not real difficult... unless the wind is blowing 50mph that is.

As far as the AR 10 you need to work with 748. It was originally designed to run in 20” barrels. I’ve also had great luck with Varget and RL-15.

Johnny I’ve been loading that brass , IMI for 25 years and it is wonderful, but it’s capacity is six percent less than a Winchester or Remington, that translates in at about a grain and a half less on max charges, and the flash holes have to be reemed , all said it is the best lasting and most accurate brass I’ve ever tried.

Lapua Palma brass is where the small primer small flash hole for large primer brass started. So yes the 308 Palma from Lapua has the issue. Couple others for 308 to followed suit.

Great video, I'll be picking up a 30-06 bolt gun in the next couple weeks and that look like a great bullet to try out in jacketed although I'll be feeding it a steady diet of cast lead. Honestly your 308 brass doesn't look that bad, you should see what brass looks like after a couple firings out of gas operated Russian rifles like the SKS in X39 the Vepr in 7.62 x 54r

Awesome video

Love your Vlogs. By far my favorite RU-vidr Man ive loaded 50 6.5 Creedmoor rounds with love today. Prepped 50 308 brass and about 125 6.5 Grendel brass. I have 50 300 win mag brass ready for H1000 and 212 Eldx and some H4350 ready for 178 ELDX. Oh oh oh and I’ve learned my 308 loves 212 ELDX with Varget. Crazy I know... Anyway, when ya gonna get started on the 300 Win mag???

Johnny do the 6.5 Grendel FIRST! You should also try the 308 game changer in the gel again but load them to velocities that are equal to a 300yd to 500yd shot. To see how well they will perform at longer distances like the bullet was designed for.

I have several Hundred . 44 Magnum Brass from IMI ! I bought it when I got a Desert Eagle which is a Original marked Made by IMI in Israel ! I Absolutely LOVE my Eagle I loaded up Several Hundred of them with the Hornady XTP Hollow Point 180 Grain !

These would be AWESOME in a M1 Garand. Those old 162 g Black tips were some great performing 300 yrd bullets.

Great video as always. Also I have noticed when I wet tumble my brass it smothes out the burs. Looking forward to your test with the 6.5 Grendel.

You really should test out different seating depths with all loads a LOT more. That is how I've finally figured out how to develop a load after shooting thousands of rounds working on charge weights for no reason. I find a charge that is in the velocity I want and then find the seating depth that shoots well. It amazes me how much a few thousandths difference can easily cut the group size in half or more.

The critical thing in any loading endeavor is to find a load with the lowest Standard Deviation possible. If that load isn't accurate start changing your distance to lands until the groups improve but first get the load balanced and a low SD will tell you when you're there.

Johnny, long time subscriber, few time commenter - another great video. I noticed especially with your second group out of the AR that it was "walking" from left to right. It seems to me like there is more going on here than simply the gun not liking that load. If I were you I'd be pretty suspect of that scope. I want to love the Vortex, too- I've been a big fan and recommended them to a lot of my friends; however, AR-10s are notoriously hard on scopes and with that being one of their lower end ones, you may want to try a heavier duty scope on there and see if you get the same results. One thing that I learned from better shooters than myself is to focus on followthrough with my trigger pull. I noticed you do the same thing I'm trying to break myself of and completely letting off the trigger when the shot breaks. Reportedly, you might tighten up your groups by focusing on keeping the trigger pressed to the rear through the break. This makes an even more noticeable difference on ARs due to that hammer having to swing so far before anything happens. I know it seems nitpicky but when you extrapolate just a hair of movement into the gun to 100yrds and out, it can really blow your groups. I'm a big fan of the Grendel and looking forward to seeing what you do with the new bullet in those. I've killed three mule deer with the 123 SST and it's suited me well but isn't shooting cloverleaf groups either. Also interested in hearing whether you think the SCS is worth it - I've been talking myself out of buying one for years now because I'm afraid I'll end up wanting to buy one for each of my ARs. Finally, good call on using the hornady micrometer seating stem like that across multiple dies. I bought one for my Grendel die and I wish it would work in all my other brand dies because now I'm spoiled.

My Rem 40X puts bullet hole almost into bullet hole. An older wooden stocked Rem with Hart barrel in 7.62. Using Hornady 168g HPBT and IMR 3031.

looking forward to the 6.5 CM. BTW I as well have poblems with the 308 round thinking of purchasing another Thompson center in 308 just to see

Very well done. Thanx

I'm late to the party and you have more experience then I but a few thoughts. - Those markings on the cases from the ejector are certainly in part to the square ejector in the JP bolt. If you can try the other bolt or ejector. - The markings are also of course happening when the bolt rotates, mayyybe there's still some pressure when doing so. If so a longer lockup might help. That would mean a heavier BCG or buffer. - On accuracy, no idea if you're cleaning the bore but all my .308s are more accurate when they haven't been cleaned for hundreds of rounds.

Johnny, Patriot Valley Arms makes production replacement barrels and barrel nuts for Tikka. They use and manufacture a barrel nut like Savage. They use Rock Creek barrels, button rifled or cut rifled. They have 4 different barrel tapers. Check them out.

A heavier buffer! Finally

Hopefully they will carry over to .224” as well. I’ve always liked the Sierra #1365 as it was a thicker jacket BTSP and didn’t fragment as readily as most other 55gr softpoints. If they make a 55gr bullet with that new ballistic tip, I will be buying a bunch.

you need a heavier buffer weight in your A.R. 10. My brass looked very similar to yours with case head swipe. I went up to an H2 to buffer weight, that delayed the rearward motion of the bolt long enough for the case expansion cycle to complete in the chamber. The problem with my rifle was that the bolt was trying to unlock while the brass was still expanded in the chamber. This cured all of my case damage issues unless I load an extremely hot round.

I am liking the AR-COMP been using it in 308win with different cast bullets. used AR-COMP with SST 165gr 41.6 gr worked well with my Rem.722 20" barrel 👍👍🍕🍕🍦🍦🐗🐗✊✊🌧🌧🤣😂🇺🇸🤓

I’m going to have to try these in my p.o ackley.308 with 1-12 twist

I’m sure this has been asked before but where do you get your targets. Great videos , I’m new to reloading and your videos have helped me tremendously. Gave me the confidence I needed to feel safe when reloading and due to the fact I shoot a Tikka T3 lite I was even more at ease with my selection of bullets and powder.

It would be interesting to see if what affects the heating of the ammo in the magazines might produce. Powder is affected by heat energy. Warmer ammo does burn faster as do primers. The faster ignition and burning produces a sharper pressure curve on the projectile. More pressure should produce higher fps. Less time traveling, the less drop on the projectile. From personal experience with heated ammoi; a 30 cal M1 carbine which had too many rounds fired over a short time (800 rds/30 min). caused the firearm to reach its "cook point" , that's where a round detonates part way into the breach due to super heated receiver and magazine. My face and eyes took the brunt of the blast, brass fragments, receiver pieces and hot gases. Deaf for awhile too . So temperature can have an effect on powder and ballistics..

as far as your chronograph goes, i know they're pretty pricey, but those LabRadar's are top notch. you can shoot in the dark and get velocity readings all the way out to 80 yards. maybe one of your rich patreons will donate one to your channel haha. also, i shoot 308 in F class competition. i believe you're loading these things pretty light. keep going up on your charges a little until you feel your bolt just start to get a little sticky. at least that way you know where your ceiling is with that case/bullet/powder/primer combo. you may find another velocity node up there where you've not been on the high side. also, i have good results with IMR 4064 in 308

Johnny, I just learned about you re-opening your Patreon account after dropping a few cents in the hat for the channel via PayPal. I don't know how I missed it since I hang on your every word. LOL But if I missed the announcement, I'm sure there are others as well. Maybe you could mention it every now and again or throw something back in the video at the end like you used to.. to remind the people that would like to contribute. Now I'm back on board over at Patreon again. Thanks for letting me back in the club brother!

I was watching an older video while loading some ammo. You mention having a .243 but not an exciting gun to shoot. Putting a .243 barrel on the Tikka could be a fun project.

That 41.1 AR10 group was "circling the wagons."

Magic Magazines!!! Appearing from thin air.

I love my Tikka T3. Mine is a lite stainless .308. I have a Vortex diamondback 4-16 on it. I don't think it kicks at all, personally. It shoots sub-MOA with anything I've thrown at it except for standard NATO 147gr

The Super Shock Tip 150 is the game changer in 308.

"Don't screw it up! Don't screw it up!"... I laughed way to hard at that lol.