Powder for short barreled rifles

[crazykayaker]

I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact in .308 Win. It has a 16.5'' barrel. I'm looking for a good powder that burns quickly, so I can get all the propulsion out of it before the bullet leaves the barrel. I have experimented a little with W-748 and RL-7. Is there any powder specifically designed for shorter barreled rifles? Thanks in advance.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

I'm using IMR4198 in my 20" .308 Scout. The other powder I considered was IMR4227. The Hodgdon versions should also work fine. These are fast-burning powders.

 

[jerkface11]

Where do people get the idea that you need a fast powder for a short barrel? It's done burning in the first couple of inches.

 

[ranger335v]

"..a fast powder for a short barrel? It's done burning in the first couple of inches."

Not really. Peak pressure occurs in the first couple inches but not the burn.

No matter the barrel length, what ever powder produces the highest velocity in a long barrel will do the same in a shorter barrel but the speed will not be as fast.

Powder is powder. We have enough burn rates avaiable to provide optimum performance in any cartridge but none of it's specifically intended to be used in long or short barrels.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Whatever powder gives the highest velocity in a long barrel will also give the highest velocity in a short barrel.

The only advantage to using a faster powder in a short barrel would be to reduce muzzle blast slightly.
But at a loss in velocity over a slower burning powder.

rc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Whatever powder gives the highest velocity in a long barrel will also give the highest velocity in a short barrel.

I agree.

Start with the powder you usually use and like for your other .308 ammo and work from there. chances are your most accurate load will also be accurate in your new rifle. You may have to tweak it a bit to squeeze out the best accuracy but you probably won't need to change powders.

 

[jerkface11]

I would expect the most accurate charge to be different since the barrel harmonics will be different.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I use IMR-4895 in .308, gives very good numbers in a long barrel, it'll do the same in my 20" barrel Remmy 700 SPS.

 

[Twiki357]

I use 2400 and/or 4227 for 357 Mag (6.5”bbl), 30 Carbine, and 7.62 x 39 (16”bbl).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There's a great article in the April 2011 Guns Magazine about barrel length vs powder speed. It's in page 18 under Handloading.

I highly recommend reading that article.