KenOrris Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 There are many powders that work well in the .308, its like the .45acp, many opinons. As far as popularity Varget is #1, then 4895, RL15, 4064, VV140. My favorite is RL-15. Varget worked well, but each lot was so different it took a lot of time to work up a load. In 3-gun it isn't that critical, but I shoot Palma and other long range stuff and it make a big difference. I am two ponts away from getting NRA distinguished, at age 61, not sure if it wil happen now, the front post is getting harder to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para 16 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 (edited) As of 10:28 pst all of these propellants were available here; Natchez 1 lb Alliant 10x 1+8 lb Accurate 2495 8 lb IMR 4064 1 lb H4895 1 lb Ramshot TAC 1+8 lb Winc 748 They all would work well with your .308 Edited May 12, 2009 by Para 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boats Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I sort of progressed from 30/06 to .308 now 7mm08 for Silhouette. Powders too 4064 then W 748 next ACC 2520 and finished up Varget. Any of those powders are good for the 308. Varget may be best but hard to tell from ACC 2520 performance wise. 4064 is more difficult to measure, except for that could be the best of all. Boats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopalong Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I too like AA2520, it meters well and is quite consitant. I'm using a 18 " M1a and use 42 grns for 147 grn and 168 I use 40 grns. using Wlr with good results. Good luck, and take P. Kellys' advice to the bank. Hop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amlevin Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I have CCI large rifle primers, casings that are prepped and 168 gr bullets but no powder! I've had no luck finding Varget powder and wonder what is a good second choice that might be available? HELP! I'm ready to reload but there is one small component missing .... powder. Please give me a good solid second choice for powder and maybe your load data such as how many grains and overall length. I could use the help to get me started or in the ball park. Rifle: DSA tactical 16" fluted barrel Thanks ps. Do you know where Varget is available? I have had excellent results from Accurate 2495 BR (formerly XMR-2495). Lots available locally at reasonable prices. My favorite load is 41.7 gr under a 168gr SMK. Regularly get groups less than "dime sized" @200yards and "50 cent" sized @ 300 yards from my Rem 700 SS 5-R Milspec. Also get similar results with 39.5 gr under Nosler 175gr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmon Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Consult a "Powder Burn Rate" chart and find the powder with the correct burn rate for your shorter barrel. You will need something a little on the faster side to get your MV up. No since wasting money on powder that's going to be too slow. a burn chart is not where you find a good powder for your ammunition. consult a reloading manual. and the powder that gives top velocity in a long barrel will still give top velocity in a shorter barrel. faster powders in a shorter barrel will make the gun less noisy and will probably have less muzzle blast but will also yield lower muzzle velocity. test this and see what happens H335 and a 55 grain bullet loaded to 10% under max do the same thing with IMR 4198 10% under max shoot them in a short (~16") barrel and see whats faster...H335 will prevail. now time for my opinion... Varget isnt the ONLY powder that was ever suitable to reload the 308 and 223. Varget is fine powder and does a job and does it well but it is not the only load for accurate ammo. WIN 748 works and has been around for a long time. 4895 is also very nice 4064 is a top performer in my custom Mauser 98 in .308 shooting 150 Sierra flat base at 3000 FPS in a 22 inch rifle. RL 15 is essentially the same as Varget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgunz11 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 RL 15 is essentially the same as Varget. That was all I needed to read. But I will continue anyway. I find my burn charts in the front of my reloading manual, and I've shot a couple rifles in my day, so I'll back up my opinion with a little fact printed in a "reloading manual". .308 Win Powders listed from faster burning to slower. 168gr Sierra HPBT N135 (equal to BLC-2 and Re10) 42.1gr = 2697 fps N140 (equal to Varget, H-380, and Re15) 42.8gr = 2558 fps N150 (equal to H4350 and Re17) 44.5gr = 2636 fps All of those loads printed out of the current VihtaVuori reloading guide and all max charges. Faster powders can burn complete in a shorter length of bbl generating 100% pressure curve. Slower powders in a short bbl are not burning at a fast enough rate to generate enough pressure to propel the projectile against the friction caused by the bore diameter equal to that. I only shoot enough to burn out a .308 bbl every year. Heck, I've shot 700 Berger bullets in the last 3 months with 4 different powders in .308. Win 748, Re15, and IMR 4064 are extremely temperature sensitive, though I do like H4894 for lighter bullets in shorter barrels. I do have to try and remember that temperature sensitivity is not an issue to many folks around here as it's not real prevalent until you get beyond 600 yards. I only shoot less than 600 yards doing load development, so I kind of gravitate to powders that perform at distance. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litlratt Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 IMR 4895 VV N140 Varget I've used these with good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandro Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have some N540 and N530 avalible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgunz11 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 N540 with 168gr SMK 44.5gr 2.795" COAL = 2654fps in a 24" 1/12 twist test bbl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I just bought some TAC powder for my 308. Have not had time to work up any loads. Will post results when I get them done. If anyone is using TAC please post your load info. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgunz11 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) Jax, pull a Black Hills loaded round and weigh the powder. Edited November 11, 2009 by kgunz11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney88pdc Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 So are you certain that Black Hills uses TAC powder? I think I read that some where but I would like to know 100% certainty. I have some Black Hills Gold with a 168grn pill that Noveske recommended and it shoots lights out. I tried some of my reloads for my Dad's M1A of 168gr SMK under 41.5 IMR-4895 out of that upper and the Black Hills out shoots it. Does anyone know what bullet Black Hills uses in the Gold ammo? It does not seem to be a Serria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgunz11 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I know for a fact they WERE using TAC. They used a mix of Sierra and Hornady bullets. In the 175, I think it is a SMK, in the 168 it might be a Hornady if I remember correctly. Call'em up and ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 42 grains of N140 here gives me .55 moa in my bolt gun and it has shot well in my 2 friends guns as well. But its a little on the slow side. 2590 in a 24 inch barrel and 2450 in a 20 inch gun. 168 grain SMK CCI BR primers. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basman Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Like a lot of other folks I had to switch away from Varget due to lack of availability. I found that my local shop and powder valley had periodic shipments of 4064 so I switched to that and haven't looked back. Current load is 155gr Sierra over 45gr 4064. I plan on working up a 168 load soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaredr Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I'm getting sub moa with 41.5gr of MIR 4064 under 168gr hdy bthp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sschultz Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Not to hiackbthis thread but I shoot light bullets for my 3 gun loads is there a better powder for that in the 308. Schultz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I have had good luck with H335 with 147 to 150 grain bullets. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonm1 Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Two newer powders I didn't see mentioned are IMR8208 and the CFE powder(copper fouling eliminator). 8208 is slightly fast and better with 155gr bullets. 8208 is also known for temperature stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasley Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 This is kind of off the wall but I've been seeing that Leverevolution powder regularly on the gunbot. Seems like it would work in the .308 cartridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matzka Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I really like Varget in my .308's, but since the O.P. said "available", I'd had really good success with IMR 4064, and will probably stick with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTOGuy06 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Ive had great luck with IMR 4064. I also like BLC2 and IMR 4895 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokecloud Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Varget H4895 IMR 8208xbr (absolute lowest fps variation I have ever seen) are my 3 top choices because they are all temperature stable. If I cant get those, I move on to RL15 IMR 4895 IMR4064 which is showing up again BLC2 748 (good luck getting some) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) Varget H4895 IMR 8208xbr (absolute lowest fps variation I have ever seen) are my 3 top choices because they are all temperature stable. If I cant get those, I move on to RL15 IMR 4895 IMR4064 which is showing up again BLC2 748 (good luck getting some) Thanks for that. I just started to use the IMR 8208 XBR, found that it is very temp stable, meters great, is consistent and pretty versatile. My local gun shop has gotten quite a bit in and since I just started to spool up to reload .223, I have bought a few jugs of the same production lot for a reasonable price. Reloader 15, Varget, BLC2 and 748 are all more expensive to me locally. Edited April 3, 2014 by RDA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now