Best Powder for 308

[softail99]

Just gearing up to start reloading the 308 Winchester. I also load .223 and 7.62X39. Is there a really great powder for all 3? It sure would be great to find out I can consolidate powder purchases to an allin one.

Have heard that Hogdon BL-C2 was a great choice for all 3. Any advise?

 

[NCsmitty]

BLC2 is a good choice.

www.hodgdon.com

NCsmitty

 

[neal7250]

BLC-2 is the best that I have used

 

[Bear2000]

I like Varget.

 

[lgbloader]

Hello 99,

What kind of rifle is your 308? I think BLC2 would work in all three calibers as would varget or 4895. But to get the most out of your rifles, I would chase the Pet load, you know what I mean.

Besides the Powder, you can also try different weights of projo's as well. Find the round that your rifle loves to eat and what you love to feed it.

LGB

 

[Slamfire]

I have no experience with the 7.62 X 39. I have decades of experience with the .223 and 308.

Varget is well known to give great accuracy at decent velocities with 69 gr + plus bullets in the .223, and does exceptionally well in the 308. However it might be too slow for the 7.62 X 39.

I have used IMR 4895/H4895/AA2495 in the 308 and that series of powder shoots exceptionally well. I have used IMR 4895/AA2495 in the .223 and it also shoots exceptionally well. IMR 4895/H4895/AA2495 is a little faster than Varget so I suspect it will do just fine in the 7.62 X 39.

 

[tbtrout]

I use IMR 4895 for 308 and 223 with great results, but do not load for the other.

 

[Kernel]

Stock up on Varget.

 

[dagger dog]

What makes a cartridge great? One thing is that cartridge works well with many powder bullet combos. Guess what? .308 Winchester is just such a cartridge.

The .308 shoots well with many powders, BLC2 Varget Win 748 IMR4895 RE15 etc.etc.

As a reloader it's up to you to find the correct powder for the bullet weight and twist rate for your .308 rifle bbl.
As a rule of thumb you want to use a powder that gives the velocity required for your selected bullet weight,at the lowest pressure, and one that has the highest volume to fill the case. Then fine tuning with primer selection, and bullet seating depth.

If this is the only problem faced in living the world would be a better place to live

 

[janobles14]

varget hands down

 

[interlock]

Re 15 is good in my experience in .308 win. as is Viht N140. The N140 is also good in the .223 with 50 gr plus bullets.

 

[brdavis]

I have had best results with IMR 4064 and Varget second.

 

[sam700]

A while ago, I asked the same question. People recommended varget and I never looked back. It shoots great groups, meters reasonably well through a powder measure and seem to be horribly sensitive to variations in temperature. I've only tried it in a .308.

 

[sublimaze41]

My understanding is Varget is temperature INsensitive.

Per Hogdon regarding Varget

The first of Hodgdon's revolutionary Extreme Extruded Powders, VARGET features small extruded grains for uniform metering, insensitivity to hot/cold temperatures and higher energy for improved velocities over other powders in its burning speed class. Easy ignition and clean burning characterize other features that translate into superb accuracy, higher scores and more clean, one shot kills. The perfect powder for competitive Match shooting 223 Remington and Heavy bullets. Outstanding performance and velocity can be obtained in such popular cartridges as the 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington, 308 Winchester, 30-06, 375 H&H and many more. Available in 1 lb. & 8 lb. containers. Take the Extreme Tour.

 

[R.W.Dale]

varget for the other two but it's too slow and bulky for x39

aa1680 for 7.62x39

or with a slight comprimise in performance use h335 for all three

 

[GRIZ22]

I use Accurate 2230 for 223 and 308. It might work for 7.62x39 but I have no experience reloading thuis caliber as I still have a good supply of surplus.

 

[Horsemany]

Varget is what I compete with although I've never tried BLC-2.