Powder for .308

[RugerOldArmy]

Of those powders, Varget is the most appropriate.

Of those mentioned, I've had luck with IMR 4064....but it is like metering twigs....more challenging than Varget.

I've had good luck with RL-15 too.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

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

I've come to the same opinion for rifle cartridges. Pistol/Revolver is another story.

Extruded powders have always worked better for me in rifle cartridges, even though they often don't meter as well.

 

[texasveteod]

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

Just curious, but why? From my limited experience, most of the powders I have found to be the least temp sensitive and most accurate are all stick powders. So far my favorite powders are Benchmark, IMR8208XBR, and Varget.

 

[texasveteod]

Of those powders, Varget is the most appropriate.

Of those mentioned, I've had luck with IMR 4064....but it is like metering twigs....more challenging than Varget.

I've had good luck with RL-15 too.

My understanding is AR-Comp is RL-15 but is better with temp variations. For 223 I found it to be ok, but I found better powders for my rifle and bullet choices. I may try it on a lighter 308 168gr bullet for my Savage.

 

[Bart B.]

Just curious, but why? (are no ball powders on my list...)

They slam bullets too hard into the rifling. That deforms them. They don't shoot as accurate or precise as stick powders gently pushing them into the rifling. In spite of those tiny round balls of propellent producing more uniform metered charge weights, pressure and velocity numbers.

 

[Nature Boy]

Powders I have done some or a lot of load testing with for 308, in order of success:

Varget - Accurate loads with 168, 175, 178, 185
H4895 - Accurate loads with 155, 180
RL15 - Accurate load with 168
VV140 - Accurate load with 155
Benchmark - Accurate load with 110
IMR4064 - Accurate load with 168
Win 748 - never found a really accurate load

 

[Average Joe]

w748, I also use it in .223 so I only need one powder.

 

[Newtosavage]

Powders I've had luck with in the .308 = Varget, RL15, H4895. For the heavier bullets, I'd probably pick Varget. It does real well under my 180 Accubonds.

 

[texasveteod]

Went out today and tested both Varget and 4064. Both did well, but 4064 did slightly better. Heading back out tomorrow to narrow it down further.

 

[Bart B.]

You couldn't find accurate loads using 4064 with 150/155gr bullets?

Six of us in 1991 working up loads for Sierra's then new 155-gr. Palma bullet tried IMR4064 in 8 or 9 rifles. It didn't cut the mustard good enough for our match rifles. We settled on IMR4895 for several thousand rounds loaded on two Dillon 1050 progressives with new cases and metered charges. It shot inside 3" to 4" at 600 yards across a few dozen rifles from around the world in tests. Under 10" at 1000.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Six of us in 1991 working up loads for Sierra's then new 155-gr. Palma bullet tried IMR4064 in 8 or 9 rifles. It didn't cut the mustard good enough for our match rifles. We settled on IMR4895 for several thousand rounds loaded on two Dillon 1050 progressives with new cases and metered charges. It shot inside 3" to 4" at 600 yards across a few dozen rifles from around the world in tests. Under 10" at 1000.

Thanks for the info. It's hard to beat all he testing you and your teammates have done over the years.

Do you know if the fairly new IMR4166 loads well in the .308? I'm wondering about it and also wondering about IMR4451 in the 30-06?

 

[Walkalong]

It would be interesting to know what competitors today are using. So many more options now. Maybe none are better, but maybe so.

 

[Bart B.]

Good place for 308 load info:

http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

While some ball powders are listed, they've never been popular with top scoring winners and record setters. Best example was when Lake City arsenal was taken over by Winchester and they used ball powder in 7.62 NATO M118 match ammo. Less accurate by all standards. Service teams quickly horded all the Remington loaded stuff with IMR stick powder or used handloaded new cases with IMR4064.

I think any stick powder in the IMR4064 or Varget range is great for 160 to 190 grain bullets in the 308 Win. Lighter bullets in the 150's seem best with IMR4895 and Varget speed powders. Heavier ones with IMR4350 or IMR4320 speed stick powders should also do well. VihtaVuori powders in these speed ranges have also produced excellent results.

Test loads with enough shots per group to have at least a 90% confidence level that they're very accurate. That means at least 20 to 25 shots per group.

Here's Hodgdon's powder burn rate table to select powders for a given speed range:

http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2015-2016.pdf

 

[Howard Roark]

It would be interesting to know what competitors today are using. So many more options now. Maybe none are better, but maybe so.

Varget is the go to for .308. N140 is another popular powder used for Palma loads. The AMU uses Varget and Berger 185s for their M110 load.

 

[Bart B.]

Is Varget what the AMU team used in the 2012 Nationals winning and setting a record at 1000 yards with their AR10's?