A good powder/bullet for 308

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nettlle

nettlle

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I recently started reloading 308 and my first loads were Sierra Match King 168 gr HPBT over 45 grns of AA2520. A good starter load but think I could do better. I getting ready to order bullets and powder again. From my research it looks like Varget and Sierra 168 gr TMK. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
45gr Tac/150gr for accurate and economical bench shooting. My range goes to 800yds. I've shot sub moa groups at 100 with both my 308s and this load, hit steel automatically to 600 yds, and hit steel 3 out of 4 times at 800 yds out of my 16" which always makes me smile and feel like a genius
 
Target practice, hunting, style of rifle, etc.?

I have 2 .308 rifles...a bolt action and a .308 AR.

I use the 175 SMK and 178 Hornady Amax interchangeably, but I use a different powder for both rifles. For the bolt gun, I use Varget. For the AR, I use H4895. The bolt gun has a 24" barrel and the AR has an 18.5" barrel.
 
It's a Bula Defense 22" barrel M21 MDR with a 1-10" RH twist. It's for range use only. Unless Ohio legalizes hunting with rifle cartridges. For now I am looking at accurate target bullets and powder.
 
I usually use Varget or Bl-c2 for 150-168gr in 308 Win. I did find some Accurate 2495 today at Sportsman's Warehouse to try for .308 Win and heavy 69-77gr bullets for .223 Rem.
I've used a lot of Nosler 150-168 BT over the years for 308 Win. with good results, but even their factory 2nds are getting expensive:(
 
I like aa2520 and IMR4895 for .308 with 168 SMKs. I use surplus powder 846 for 308 with the 150 FMJ’s. All with good results.
 
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I use IMR 4064 and CFE 223 with 175 gr SMK and 168 gr Amax respectively for my most accurate loads, though they won’t do 1/2 MOA. I don’t load the CFE 223 load for my rifle any more as it has a fairly different gas block setting from my other loads. In a bolt gun I bet it would be great though.
 
I was just out today running my .308 test loads in my Savage 10 TAC. The 3-way Bullet Smackdown... SMK vs NCC vs Hornady 168's... the SMK walked away with it, again. It's just a better shooting bullet, period.

My powders were TAC and IMR4064. Those are the two powders I've picked, because IMR4064 works well with both the 168's, and, eventually, the 175's. TAC has impressed me with it's versatility and performance. In my tests today, at 150yds, the 168grn SMK shot equal with both of those powders... it was hard to tell the difference. I did not test for velocity... that's the next step.

ETA: I'm not sure what's wrong with the Hornady BTHP bullet... in the 6.5CM, the Hornady outshoots the 142grn SMK, but in two different sessions, the .308 SMK mopped the floor with the Hornady.
 
Walkalong said:
4064, 4895, Varget, 168 match bullets and you'll be good for shooting small.
Click to expand...

For some reason, my Savage does not like IMR4895... which was quite disappointing. Again, today, it told me in it's subtle but definite way... "Stop trying to force IMR4895 on me... I don't like it." Who am I to argue?
 
I reload the 308 for my son occasionally. His rifles like the 168hr SMK and 165gr SGK bullets. (same charge weights, both bolt action rifles)

A lot of loaders jumped on the Varget bandwagon and it works well enough. H4895 and IMR4895 are always good choices and IMO better than Varget. BUT, I always go back to my favorite .308 powder, IMR4064.

With 4064 I charge 44.5gr under the two above bullets. Of course you will have to find the node that works best in your rifles. (like 43.5gr lol)
 
45 grains of 4064 and a 165 Speer grand slam is one of my hunting loads that are .75 moa. 42.5 tac and a 155 lapua is 1moa. I have a 44 grain load with the 155 I'm still working on thats about .75. These are 10 shot groups. I don't expect better than .75 out of my factory 308. If I need small I have a 6br.
 
I’m currently shooting 150 grain Nosler Accubonds with 46 grains of Varget and getting good results out to 300 yds which is the limit of our range.
I’m getting ready to work up some load’s with 130 grain Barnes ttsx and Varget to see what I can get.
I want to use those loads for whitetail deer hunting next season.
 
I have used IMR-4060 and IMR-3031 for years, very good results, but sometimes you will have load inconsistency’s because of the type of powder, CFE-223 is also a powder I have had good results.

I think you could use any one of these, work your loads up in a .1 or .2grain ladder until you find what you are looking for.

Good Luck
Dan
 
There's lots of great choices for the 168 smks in .308, the guys here have given you very good advice! Me personally it'd be IMR 4064, AR Comp, or H4895. I've had very good luck with all 3 and 168's in my .308!
 
My M1a super match produced 1/2" are better 3 shot groups with Varget and 155 A-max, I think it was around 45g. Those groups were shot with a scope and the action is bedded into the stock. The trigger has also been worked.
 
My first powder choice is 4064 followed by Varget and 4895. Bullet choice would be either a 168 or 175 SMK or Berger VLD. But don't overlook the 155 grain Palma bullet.
 
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