Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .308 Lapua 155 Scenar load info

I just got finished reading through the 29 pages of the Deceased via scenar bullet
Deceased Scenar Pix

Well I'm sold. I was able to find a box of the 155's (not the scenar-L) and I'm looking to get started. I currently have a Tikka T3 that shoots lights out with Rem coreloks and Fed blue box 150's damn near in the same hole at 100 yards. But of course their BC is terrible and I was looking for a better bullet for longer shooting. I stumbled on that thread that started back in 2011 and is still apparently going strong.

My Tikka T3 lite has a LA bolt stop as well as a spare LA mag so whatever I do, I won't be limited to mag length. Any info you guys could share would help greatly, powders, primers, seating depth. I do plan on doing a load work up but was curious if those with Tikkas had any success seating long.

I would start with Varget. Seating depth is always a mystery to me. I would start close to lands and move back.

Varget and I'm sure you'll find plenty of accuracy at mag length constraints.

Varget if you got it. 4895, 4064, CFE-223, RL-15, W-748, PP 2000-MR, TAC, IMR-4166 are good options also. IME, Scenars aren't all that sensitive to SD. I'd start at 2.800" in the Tikka mag and go from there.

Actually my tikka has the LA bolt stop and I have long action mag as a spare, so mag length won't be a problem. I did take a once fired Remington brass and placed a round in it leaving it long. I slightly bent the neck to hold a little tension on the round but not too tight where it will not slide. Chambered it slowly and checked. My Tikka with those 155's are at a 2.880 COAL. Of course it will change with a different bullet but for these scenars 2.880 is my COAL. Don't have a Hornady gauge yet to measure bullet seat to ogive, but will.

Be very careful with it as they are a bit fragile.

I recently put 5 rounds through one ragged hole at 100 yds with a 308 win target rifle. Load was 47.0grs of imr4320 and the 155 sierra palma match. I was very impressed with that load. I believe it's one of the smallest 5 shot groups I've ever been able to pull off.

Exactly what 155 gr scenar are people recommending for hunting? What is the difference between the “regular” mines and the “L” version?

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All of the success stories on here on the 308 and the 155 scenar also lead me towards a recent purchase of my first 308. Gun is a Weatherby Vanguard with a 24" barrel. I have tried two common 308 powders and got both to shoot well.

155 scenar, 47.5g Varget, 2.815", 2,870 FPS - Shoots 0.5" 3 shot groups at 100 yds.
155 scenar, 46.5g H4895, 2.815, 2,940 FPS - Shoots 0.8" 3 shot groups at 100 yds.

Both are above most book loads and I worked up to them without any pressure signs in my rifle. The H4895 load is probably pretty close, though.

SDupontJr, you got me excited. I have a LA bolt stop and LA mag for my 308 T3x Lite. I have 155 and 168 Bergers and Varget. Time to go to the reloading room.

It’s interesting the different results from different rifles. My 22” Kimber Hunter shoots the 155 Scenars with 46 gr of Varget also at 2.815 at 2890. I wouldn’t even think to bump up to 47.5 gr.

42.5 grains of N140 with Lapua brass and Federal 210 LRP. Not screaming fast but shoots well in my RRA AR.

Your results seem more normal. I should have mentioned I am using WIN brass, which is probably some of it. Not sure if I had a slow batch of Varget, or if it's the gun.

I'm loading 155 scanar, Nosler case, 44gn H-4895, Fed 215 primer, 2835fps out of a 22' Ruger Hawkeye. @ 44.5gn H-4895, it's at 2861 fps with a slightly heavy bolt lift. At 45 gn it's at 2890fps with heavy blot lift and ejector marks on case head. All COAL is 2.850, .040 off. I've settled at 44gn H-4895 @ 2835 fps.

Oh, and for comparison 46.0g of Varget in that same rifle was 2,760 FPS. 130 FPS slower than your rifle, and with a 24" barrel.

I would caution anyone loading 308 Winchester to pay attention to your BRASS. The case capacity varies a lot. I do not push MY LOT of Federal cases. MY LOT of Winchester cases take two more grains of powder. MY Federal Brass primer pockets opened up after two firings, but demonstrated better accuracy. In MY 308, 44 to 45 grain range ( Federal brass) with MY LOT of Varget is very accurate. Military brass can be excellent, again thicker and heavier than some commercial cases. Palma shooters anneal brass a lot.
>>>>>>>Switch to a small primer, precision case and reduce your starting loads even more ....but velocity (pressure) may increase with thicker, heavier brass<<<<<<<<<<<<

FWIW, Creedmoor Sports (https://www.creedmoorsports.com/category/Rifle-Ammunition) offers ammunition loaded with the 155-grain Scenar bullet in Lapua brass. It was $75/50 rounds before the pandemic, and you had once-fired Laupa brass when you were done. As you might expect, it was very accurate. It chronographed just north of 2,700 in my 22" Remington 700.


Okie John

They are the same except one has a higher degree of uniformity and QC. The L is about 5 dollars more per 100. I’m not a good enough shot to tell the difference.