308 175 SMK Loads - IMR 4895 vs Varget vs CFE 223... opinions?

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mpofficer31a

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All,

I'm down to less than a pound of IMR 4895, which is my go to for 308 w 175 SMKs. Favorite load = 43.8 grns of 4895, 2.795" COL, FC brass, Win LRPs (Winchester primers are what I could get and they work for me, I'd prefer CCI, but then I'd prefer to be driving a new Corvette to work every day, but that aint happening either...)

I've got a few pounds of Varget and just picked up 8 lbs of CFE 223. I'm looking for an accurate 175 SMK load with Varget or CFE 223. Any opinions?

Thanks.

Scott
 
Somewhere between 43.0 and 43.8 of Varget will get you 2580-2620 from a 20 inch barrel. 43.6 is my load in barrels long and short with that weight class bullet. Seems to be the OCW. I have ladder shot it twice with two different billets and both gave the best performance with 43.5 and 43.6. This is the most accurate load I shoot in 308.

Below you will see 2 different seating depths. One is with a 178 Amax at 2.800. Took seating depth tuning to bring it to sub half MOA. 178 ELDX liked 2.820 for sub half MOA.

513E8544-B577-4887-BA46-593536F857F5.png 5568601F-E5A1-46F6-9F68-570367379EDA.png
 
Work up slow. If using military brass reduce by 10%.
 
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What kind of gun is it? I don’t use CFE223 with 175 grain bullets but I tested some loads with 168s. It was a consistent powder/bullet combo as the largest group was about 1.3 MOA and the smallest was about 0.8 MOA. If you’re using a semiauto it might cause excess gassing issues. I have to turn my gas block down or the brass nearly chases the bullet down range.
 
Both should work well, I personally would lean towards Varget. 175's/Varget seems to be a pretty popular combo, and shouldn't have any problem working up a load to match your 4895 load. Shoot, if you were closer, I'd sell you the 2 lbs of IMR4895 I have for what I paid for them!
 
Of the two I'd use Varget for load development but the amount of CFE223 lends itself to longterm use if you found a suitable load for your rifle and distance.
 
If you can see a difference on paper between IMR 4895 and Varget you are a better shot than most people. It used to be Varget was the darling of the F Class tactical crowd, then a bud told me H4895 is becoming a preferred powder. Flip a coin.

Varget gave me slightly better velocity than IMR 4895, so that is what I would recommend.
 
If you can see a difference on paper between IMR 4895 and Varget you are a better shot than most people. It used to be Varget was the darling of the F Class tactical crowd, then a bud told me H4895 is becoming a preferred powder. Flip a coin.

Varget gave me slightly better velocity than IMR 4895, so that is what I would recommend.
I was watching the switch from varget to ar comp. Now it's gone. I was hoping for rl 15.5 to drop.
 
Varget gave me slightly better velocity than IMR 4895, so that is what I would recommend.

That's why I suggested Varget in post #2, and particularly with the 175's.

I've always considered IMR4895 the 'Unique' of rifle powders, there's very few rifle cartridges it can't load... and at least push the bullet out of the barrel, but, like Unique, it may or may not be the best answer. IMR4895 with 150's is a good choice in .308, but once you move to 165grn and up, slower powders are likely more efficient and practical.

I've used CFE223 to push 178 ELDs with great success.

I've always been confused by CFE223... which shows a burn rate similar to Varget and BL-C(2), not something I would pick for .223 unless I was pushing heavies. The powder does intrigue me, however.
 
I have no luck with 175's and varget, I have with a lighter bullet though and that's the key to accuracy finding powder bullet combo that your rifle likes.
I have qualified these in my Tikka. 308 1-11 twist
IMR 4064 -165 -175 gr
RL-15 -165-168 gr
Varget - 165-168 gr
H4895 - 155 gr .. Very fast very accurate
 
All,

I'm down to less than a pound of IMR 4895, which is my go to for 308 w 175 SMKs. Favorite load = 43.8 grns of 4895, 2.795" COL, FC brass, Win LRPs (Winchester primers are what I could get and they work for me, I'd prefer CCI, but then I'd prefer to be driving a new Corvette to work every day, but that aint happening either...)

I've got a few pounds of Varget and just picked up 8 lbs of CFE 223. I'm looking for an accurate 175 SMK load with Varget or CFE 223. Any opinions?

Thanks.

Scott

43.7 gr Varget
Peterson case
175 SMK
CCI 200 primer
10 thou jump to lands
2729 fps
23 ES
9.5 SD
Savage model 10 w/ 26" Criterion barrel
Shoots right at 1/2" 5 shot groups from my gun.
Have shot it to 1000 yards with ease.

I would not use CFE 223 unless its all that you have. Its a good blaster powder for 223 and 308, but dont expect great accuracy. You have to run very close to max charges to get any consistency out of it and when you do that you are getting close to being over pressure. I developed a load for 308 with 168s, and it shot great, no pressure signs, good SD, good velocity, and accuracy was good. It went up 15 degrees and I was popping primers. Being down loaded just doesnt seem to yield decent groups. I started with 8# and I have 3# left. And its all been load testing as I never could find anything it was particularly great at. The remainder will get burned into 55gr 223 blaster ammo and be done with it. I will not be buying more.
 
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