Powder for .308

Varget is my favorite, followed by IMR 4895, and H4895.

Try the Varget. It should get you where you want to be.

Assuming you intended to say your target velocity is 2,500 to 2,600 fps, Varget should get you there no problem. Under 178gr Amax/ELDxs, 42.5gr of Varget chronos about 2,550 fps, and 44gr hits 2,620 fps out of my 20" barrel. In my rifle 44gr seems a bit warm, 42.5 gr does not, accuracy was good with both. Of course I load those bullets to 2.885", so if you are loading a lot shorter, pressures will probably be higher.

Honestly AR-Comp worked well for me with 168gr bullets, what weight were you running under your 175's?

H4350 will work

The listed powders you already have I would go with Varget. If you are trying to make a duplicate Federal GMM load I would try IMR 4064. IMR4895,H4895,Varget,IMR 4064 are all good choices.

I use Varget, and Benchmark in a pinch.

44 g of varget, 178 eld-m gets me 2700 fps in my 24" barrel, verified 9.9mils at 1000 yds.

I found pressure signs at 44.7 (win brass, cci 200 primer, kissing the lands).

4064 is good as well depending on brass you can duplicate FGGM

25-5 said:

Varget is my favorite, followed by IMR 4895, and H4895.

Click to expand...

Ditto

texasveteod said:

How is 4064 with temps? it's available pretty much everywhere here. I'm going to do a load from 41.9 to 44.6 this weekend and pickup something else next week.

Click to expand...

IMR4064 does well. Search around the net like the M14 forum and some the MR/LR oriented sites and IMR4064 is well regarded. Some may say its more temp sensitive then say Varget.

I load for a 30-06. IMR 4064 works best for me. I've also used Varget and IMR4350 and I must say IMR4064 is by far better in my gun with 150gr bullet and Winchester Large Rifle primers. I've also have tried various primers CCI, Federal #210 , etc. My rifle likes 150gr hunting bullet seated to recommended C.O.A.L , IMR 4064 and WLR primers best. Yours may like something totally different. Just have to experiment.

texasveteod said:

Look for a powder for a .308 load. I like to have 2 different powders in case one powder is unavailable. Specifically I want to be about 2500-2500 FPS, the bullet is a 175 SMK, FGGM brass, CCI LR primer. Rifle is 20" bolt-gun. I am starting by using what powder I have on hand, I tried AR-COMP which got me close but not until I was at near max load. I have some Varget that I will try next. I was thinking H4895 or IMR4064 but I would have to purchase that. Anyone have any personal experience that can help me get there without me having to shell out more money for a powder that may or may not work? Would Quickload help me get this info?

Thanks in advance.

Powders I already own:
Varget
Benchmark
CFE223
H335
H4350
AR-Comp

Click to expand...

Of the powders you listed Varget is popular. I load for both semi-automatics as well as a bolt gun and have developed a liking for AA 2495 as well as the usual IMR 4895 and IMR 4064. The AA 2495 is a favorite with my bolt gun pushing the 168 and 175 grain Sierra Match King bullets. While QuickLoad is a very nice to have I personally don't see it as worth the money for your question addressing a single caliber. QuickLoad in my limited experience does a nice job with software solutions for many things like chamber pressures projected case volumes and other areas. You would do well with just a few load manuals and online load data. Settle on a primer which works for you and start developing loads, that being my opinion anyway. The .308 Winchester is just one of those cartridges which can be loaded with a wide range of powders much like the 223 Remington. The trick is finding what works best for you and your rifle.

Ron

I use IMR4064 with 175 Sierra's. Varget has been the best for me with 155's.
IMR4895 and RL15 are good to but not quite as good as 4064 in my 308.
All the powders suggested are going to work well. Maybe you will get lucky and find the best one first, but how will you know without trying them all?

Sounds like IMR4064 is worth a try!

texasveteod said:

I actually want 2 different powders. I also load for .223 and at some point will do 9mm, .40, and 6.5 CM (will be my next gun purchase). For me loading and trying different things is the funnest part, for my 223 I have a bunch of different loads. For my .308 will probably only do maybe 3 or 4 different bullet type/weight variations. I know mine likes the 175 SMKs so that is what I'm going with first, next will probably be a cheaper bullet. I did try the AR-Comp, it wasn't terrible, I just couldn't get good velocity until it was almost a max load.

Click to expand...

With that in mind you may want to try IMR 4895 and the VihtaVuori powders like N 135 and N 140. The common problem I generally have run into is the powders which perform best in one cartridge are not always the best for another cartridge. Anyway the powders I mentioned along with likely H 4895 would be worth a try.

Ron

texasveteod said:

I actually want 2 different powders. I also load for .223 and at some point will do 9mm, .40, and 6.5 CM (will be my next gun purchase). For me loading and trying different things is the funnest part, for my 223 I have a bunch of different loads. For my .308 will probably only do maybe 3 or 4 different bullet type/weight variations. I know mine likes the 175 SMKs so that is what I'm going with first, next will probably be a cheaper bullet. I did try the AR-Comp, it wasn't terrible, I just couldn't get good velocity until it was almost a max load.

Click to expand...

I got some IMR4166 to try. Haven't used much yet but it seems very similar to Varget.

As you see IMR4064 is considered THE .308 powder and I agree completely.

***IMO ***
4064 from IMR or Accurate
Varget
4895 from IMR or Hodgdon
AA2495
AA2520

I would also like to hear from anyone who has tried the fairly new IMR4166 in the .308.

There are no ball powders on any list of powders I'd recommend for any use.

3031, 4064, H4895