Worked up a load that shows some potential

Tikka CTR 308
20" factory barrel with suppressor
Lapua virgin brass
CCI BR2
43.8 gr Varget
0.030" jump

It does show some potential. Keep working on it, you are getting close.

Tikkas shoot good .

Is that a hot load ? Hornady data says max at 42.4 of Varget for 178 eld-x. I tried to use the same data as Amax and was blowing primers at 43.5 out of a AR10. Ended up at 41.6

It's above book max for Hornady. Hodgkin lists 45 g as max for both 175/180 bullets albeit those listed are not the eld-x. Nosler lists 43.5 as max. But, no pressure signs in my gun -- no primer flattening or cratering. No stiff bolt. As always start low and work up.

Did you go even hotter than that?

Seen more than one .308 shoot great between 44.0 and 45.0 of Varget with 178 A-Maxes.

Yep. Worked up to 44.4 in .2 increments without any pressure signs

The Amax data shows up to 45. That's why I started with 43.8 with the ELD-X. Happy spot for Rem R25 was at 44.6 with Amax. Was hard to find data for ELD for a while. Working up load for buddys Les Baer custom with essentially same specs at The R25. Loaded 43.8 to 44.6 by .2. First 43.8 blew primer. Thought OK bad something on my part. Sent second round and no blown primer but pressure signs out the wazoo. Went back and deconstructed all had built. Went to 42.4 and built another test group. Pressure at 42.4. Took all those apart. By then Hornady had published some ELD data that says 42.4 max (varget) on ELd-x 178. Went to 41.4 and built again. Found sweet spot at 41.6.

Keeping in mind this was with AR's and supressed. Out of the Les baer (and lead sled) was getting .255 groups at 100 yards. Did not test out past 100 as I was only the get it rolling huckleberry.

I believe the bearing surface of the 178 eld-x is quite a bit longer than the Amax.

My initial ladder done with Hornady brass had a node at around 41.5 and then 44.2 -- I started over when I switched to Lapua brass and high node ended up at 43.8 after working from 42.0-44.4 in .2 increments.

Gotcha. Thanks for the dope....Currently loaded ladder for 300WM with the 200 grainers. H4831 71.2 to 72.2 Looking forward to firing them off tomorrow and see where that's at.

Looks like I'm done

43.8 gr Varget with 0.030 jump

Yeah buddy!

Makes me so proud.

Thx, Coach!

Looks good, you meant .030 jump?

Yes 0.030 jump

Not trying to rob your post, but how would you compare the ELD's to Berger VLD's? I just swapped to ELDx's but haven't shot a deer with them yet.

I have not had a chance to use them on game yet.

looks low and right to me

On purpose, so he didn't mess up his aiming point...

Resurrecting an old post.

I'm looking at a Hornady loading manual and it shows the max as 42.4gr for Varget. I too am about to load the same powder and bullet combo in virgin Lapua brass. I thought I heard something before like lapua brass is slightly thicker with slightly smaller case capacity.
So can this combo (Lapua brass, Varget and 178gr eld in 308) go up to 44 to 45gr? Assume I'm going to follow standard safety protocols such as starting from low to high and climb slowly while checking for signs of over pressure.

Just start low an work up watching for pressure signs

Great bullet, shooting the factory load out of 16" Tikka CTR, definitely hammers game..
Same thing with an 18" gas gun..

The 178 AMAX was my favorite 308 bullet, one bullet, long range steel or game.
The ELDX hasn't disappointed

^^This.

And 45.0 gr would be the most I would load. You may see pressure before hand, no problem, just stop. Go home and pull apart the ones you didn't shoot. If all is well, shoot up to 45.0 gr. I've had many a .308 shoot at 44.2 or 44.4 gr, but none were on Lapua brass. I don't blame you for using it though.

Yep. Start low and work up. 44+ was with Hornady brass. When I switched to Lapua I had to drop back down. Ended up at 43.8.

I failed to mention, with Lapua brass, I'd start just under 43.5 gr, and go to 45.0 gr.