Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 155 Scenar and Varget

Today I went out to re-zero my 20" T3 lite .308 that I had a brake put on, as well as had CDI cut a factory laminate stock for AI mags.

Here it is:




5 shot group. That is a 45 ACP cartridge, and a 3/4" dot for comparison. Not bad (for me) and a sporter weight gun.

The cool part is next.

I took my Sako TRG-22 along to zero it with the same 155 Scenar load I use in my Tikkas, and to see if it liked it.

I figured the odds were good,given the lineage. Ends up that the TRG likes the T3 load.

Old pic of the rifle:




Today's results:




The pic is not the clearest, but the groups averaged out to .233 overall.

If only things went like that every day..

While I've never used them - I can't remember reading where anyone ever couldn't get great groups out of Scennars. Seems like Lapua is top quality top to bottom...

46.5 varget and 155 scenars shoots pretty little clusters out of mine. Load work up was easy. Start at 45.5 to 47 at mag length. Hit 46.5 and stopped.

I wish I had 1/2 the time and money back I have spent dicking around with various non magnum cartridges in the last 25 years.

95% of my shooting chores could easily be handled with a .308 ,Scenars and Varget.

I keep telling myself that I really need to trim the accumulation down to just .223, .308, and .300WM. Those 3 centerfires would cover my needs easily.

These days it seems that everyone wants a 6.5 something (like a creedmore), and think a .308 is an antique, but I find it still kills Mule Deer and Elk with ease.

Given the choice between the two I'd still go 7-08 but I wouldn't give up my 308 and would never be without a couple .30-06's

Mackay, what type of brakes are you running and how effecive are they? Can you see your hits through the scope? Just curious. I just bought my first box of scenars and hoping for good results out of a 5r milspec, I was running 175 SMK with good results.

The brake on the T3 is a Harrell's Precison, which is definitely a "best buy". Effective and inexpensive.

The brake on the TRG is a factory Sako. They are expensive, and quite frankly while it is decent, I have shot better brakes, like the APA Fat Bastard.

As far as seeing hits, on the sporter weight gun, I have a harder time. On the TRG, it is pretty easy. From the prone though, it should not be an issue, but a lot depends on how you drive the gun.

How far off the lands are you all seating those Scenars?

Thanks Mackay!

Good report. I've only recently tried the 155 Scenar in a 700 5R and found it to be quite easy to get to shoot. I'd have gone with Varget but am running low. RL15 looks to work well as an alternate. I'm getting 2,860 fps from a 22" barrel.

The Vargay and Scenar combo is tough to beat.

And I love that Lapua sells them in bulk. They don't cost any more than any other bullet.




Travis

Great post. I like the combo in everything but have one rifle (Rem LTR) that has not warmed up to it. I'll keep playing with things until I get it figured out but it's just wrong when a rifle won't shoot the bullets you want it to...

45.5 of Varget, 155 Scenar, Lapua brass and CCI BR primers, seating at mag length works in most everything else for me.

Very nice rifle

Just curious on the scenars are they a long range bullet only what about if you was hunting in woods would this be the wrong bullet choice for close deer size game? Also was the brake put on cause the weight of the gun made it jumpy when firing?

I can't address the brake question, but you can't go wrong with Scenars and Varget at virtually any range. I've used them effectively out of my 308 from 96 meters out past 600. Excellent bullets and extremely accurate.

I was just curious sometimes my shot maybe 40 yards and if I'm at a field edge it might be 300 yards

At those distances you'd be fine with a vanilla flat base Interlock.

H-4895 is not slouch either with the Skinners.....

Plus you can usually find H4895.

When Varget was unattainable there were guys on the Hide who switched to H4895 & 155's and they very pleased with velocity and long range performance. Before Varget even existed, like many guys I used H4895 for my High Power 308 match loads