.308 Win/175 gr SMK powder question

[dpease4]

Looking for some input on powder choices. We are shooting through a 24" barrel with a 1 in 10 twist on a Savage 308 Winchester rifle. Have good quantities of several slower burning powders for the 270 WSM and 300 Win Mag and would like to use them. Any experience with:

IMR 4350, H4350 or Hybrid 100V? We use IMR 4831 and H4831/4831SC too and have plenty but expect these burn too slow to use. Probably H1000 completely out of the question?

Thanks

 

[Slamfire]

In the 70’s and 80’s, a common 600/1000 yard load was a 190 SMK and 47/48 grs IMR 4350. The basic problem was getting enough powder in the case. My 308 cases are totally full at 47.0 grains. I shot that load at 1000 yards and it was accurate.

I met a gentlemen at a F Class match who was using a 175 SMK with 47.0 grains IMR 4350. I have no idea the velocity but he shot well.

IMR 4350 is not a good powder in the 308, it is far too slow for bullets in the 168, 155 grain level. I have not tested 175’s with IMR 4350 but I suspect I would not be happy with the velocity.

About the slowest powders I have used with success in the 308 are IMR 4064, AA4064, and Varget. I have shot kegs of powder using a 175 SMK with 41.5 grains IMR 4895. Varget gave me a bit more velocity and shot very well.

That is the direction I would recommend you go.

[SIZE="3"][B]Pre-64 M70 
24 " Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist[/B]

175 gr Sierra Match 41.5 grs IMR 4895 , Fed cases, Fed210s OAL 2.750"
						
30 Dec 1999 T = 58 °F				
						
Ave Vel =	2551				 	
Std Dev =	20				 	
ES =	54				 	
Low =	2528				 	
High =	2582				 	
N =	5[/SIZE]

[SIZE="3"][B]Ruger M77 MKII 	26 " Barrel 1:10 twist[/B]	
						
174 FMJBT 42.5 grs AA4064 wtd Lot 5902 LC mixed CCI#34 OAL 2.800"
						
29 Dec 2010 T =  40 °F				
						
Ave Vel =	2575					
Std Dev =	23					
ES =	76				
High =	2610					
Low =	2534				
N =	10					
						
175 Sierra Matchking 44.0 grs Varget wtd Lot 4295 W/W new cases Fed 210S
	 	OAL 2.800" 			
30 April 2008 T =  71 °F				
						
Ave Vel =	2606			 		
Std Dev =	13			 		
ES =	28			 		
High =	2621			 		
Low =	2593		 	 		
N =	4					
		[/SIZE]

 

[Jasper1573]

I have been reloading for .308 Win for about a year and a half now, and have also settled on the SMK 175 HPBT. My standard load is 42.5 to 43 grains of Reloader 15 with a CCI #34 primer and Lake City mil surplus brass. I use the lighter 42.5 grn load in summer and 43 grns in winter. I shoot a Rem 700 with 1:11.25 inch twist and barrel length is 24 inches. This rifle shoots sub-moa at 300 yards consistently, around .7 MOA with this load, even with me pulling the trigger.

Another good load is 41 grns of Accurate Arms 2520 powder behind the SMK 175. This shoots about as well as the Reloader 15.

Varget will also produce excellent results. I tried it early on, but decided on Reloader 15 instead. IMR 4064 does well also with about .5 less grn of powder than the loads listed above. I still use IMR 4064 sparingly; it doesn't meter as well as the other powders and every load must be weighed and trickled in order to ensure a consistent charge.

I am sure there are other excellent choices, but these are my favorites.

 

[rehorne]

I concur with Slamfire1. I have had very good results with IMR 4895 and Varget with the 175 gr SMK's and the 168 gr SMK's. I have also had very good resluts with 44.3 gr of Reloader 15 and the 175's. Shooting these in a Marlin XL7VH with a 26 in bbl

 

[Jim Watson]

Agree with the rest. As R. Buckminster Fuller said, simplify as much as possible BUT NO MORE. Save the slow burners for your magnums and buy something actually in the books.
I use Varget but Reloder 15 is very good, too. Nothing wrong with either flavor of 4895, either.

 

[dpease4]

Truly helpful comments. Thank you again. Some Varget, Reloader and RL-15 have been ordered.

 

[kelbro]

Varget did well for me. IMR4064 was consistently a little better. 600 and 1K yds. Savage action with a 24" 1:10" Benchmark tube.

 

[john wall]

Accurate 2520. End of discussion.