In load development process, stumbled upon this one

[gearheadpyro]

I'm working through a load development for my .308 Winchester with 175 grain Matchkings. The final powder option was IMR 4350, and today was my first time shooting this powder.
The first group I shot was this...





That's the best load I have ever just stumbled on before. I'm trying other charges too, because this one has too low of a velocity for my liking. But still, it's impressive. Does anybody else shoot .308 winchester with IMR 4350?

 

[BullfrogKen]

No, but I like IMR powders for .308 very much.


The 4895 and 175g Sierra MK's go together like peanut butter and jelly.



Nice group.

 

[gearheadpyro]

I tried the hodgdon 4895 for this bullet. I found it to be ok, but nothing extraordinary. Best groups were around .55"

 

[BullfrogKen]

Hodgdon 4895 and IMR 4895 are not the same powder. Very close, but not the same.

 

[gearheadpyro]

True, but I had the H 4895 and am yet to find any IMR 4895. So that's what I went with.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I developed my loads 15 years ago my the IMR powder.

It's tough to find today. I can find Hodgdon 4895 everywhere.


What does that suggest to you about the difference between the two powders?


If you want accuracy out of 175 SMK's out of the .308, nothing beats IMR 4895. It sets the standard all others strive for.

 

[rcmodel]

What does that suggest to you about the difference between the two powders?

Everyone is buying up all the IMR-4895?

rc

 

[kelbro]

Try some IMR4064. Works in both of my 308s with 175s and 178s better than Varget. Easy to find too.

 

[gearheadpyro]

I tried IMR 4064, and results were good on average. That powder too is very difficult to find around here. The store had tons of the 4350 though and always has, even through the shortage. One of my biggest criteria in powder selection is I have to be able to find the powder in bulk locally, that way when I settle on my load I can load up on it.

I am yet to find a really great load with varget, I'm overall unimpressed.

 

[Slamfire]

There is a reason you do not see many loads with IMR 4350 in the 308. Its not accuracy, its velocity.

I purchased 6000 155 Nosler Match bullets, and was curious to see how fast I could push them in a bolt rifle with IMR 4350. The maximum amount of 4350 I could get in the case was 47 grains.

Velocity was slow. Accuracy was not bad.

I was easily able to reach 2700 fps with IMR 4895.

Even with 190’s, velocity is not exciting.

A shooting bud of mine won this year’s NRA F class tactical with IMR 4350 and 185 Bergers. His barrel is around 30 inches and the rifle weighs 19 pounds (22 pounds?). With the long barrel and ultra thin brass, he is getting the maximum velocity you can get with IMR 4350. With shorter barrels, I don’t recommend the stuff in a 308.

IMR 4064 works well with 175's and 190's.

[SIZE="3"]Ruger M77 MKII 
26 " Barrel 1:10 twist	


155 Nosler Match 46.0 grs IMR 4350 wtd lot 6164 (late 60's) Mixed Brass CCI200  	
OAL LT. 2.800" 
4 July 2009  T =  86 °F							
								
Ave Vel =	2426							
Std Dev =	17							
ES =	56							
High =	2446							
Low =	2390							
N =	10							
							
								
155 Nosler Match 47.0 grs IMR 4350 wtd  lot 6164 (late 60's) Mixed Brass CCI200  OAL LT 2.800"	
	 						
4 July 2009  T =  86 °F							
								
Ave Vel =	2496							
Std Dev =	24							
ES =	78							
High =	2523							
Low =	2445							
N =	10							
V. Good accuracy							
								
155 Nosler Match 42.5 grs IMR 4895  wtd lot L7926 mfgr 2000 TZZ  Brass CC#34  OAL 2.750"	
	 						
4 July 2009  T =  86 °F							
								
Ave Vel =	2716							
Std Dev =	33							
ES =	113							
High =	2794							
Low =	2681							
N =	10							
							
190 Speer 47.0. grs IMR 4350 wtd Fed210S	161grs ≤ Fed cases ≤ 164.9 grs		
17-Aug-06	T = 90 °F			
Ave Vel =	2407	 		 			
Std Dev =	5			 	 		
ES =	11.24			 	 		
High =	2414			 	 		
Low =	2402			 	 		
N =	4[/SIZE]

 

[BullfrogKen]

Everyone is buying up all the IMR-4895?

rc

During a visit to one of the local shops that keeps a very nice inventory on hand, they had at least 2 lbs of everything IMR sells on the shelf, and close to 10 lbs for a few in the line. Lots of 8lb jugs, too.

They had everything in stock but IMR 4895.


It's a very popular powder.

 

[USSR]

There is a reason you do not see many loads with IMR 4350 in the 308. Its not accuracy, its velocity

+1. Yep, too slow of a powder for the .308.

Don

 

[Ret.CWO]

I use IMR 4895 along with a 168 Gr. Serria Match Grade Boat tail HP. 43 Gr. even. Trim: 2005 COL: 2800 LC 74 Brass. If your familure with the Winchester marking targets with the Diamond in the center. at 100 Yards it takes out the Diamond. Forgot the primer #34 CCI Nato.

 

[USSR]

^^^ Hot Load in Lake City brass.

Don

 

[Ret.CWO]

Max is 43.5 and I trickel the powder into a dillon digital scale. Has a bit of a kick.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Does anybody else shoot .308 winchester with IMR 4350?

I don't load for the .308 because I don't have a rifle that shoots it but I do load a lot of 30-06 rounds. For bolt action 30-06 ammo I use mostly 4350 and I think it's the best powder for that job. I see no reason it would also be the best powder for heavy bullets in the .308 too.

 

[BullfrogKen]

ArchAngelCD,

Heavy bullets and slow powders are what .30-06 does best. .308 not so much, and certainly not, "the best".

There is very little difference in performance between .308 and .30-06 with today's advances in powder. There exception is .30-06 can take advantage of heavier bullets and the slower powders while the .308 struggles to keep up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Opps, sorry about that.. Thanks for that info Ken, I thought you could load the 308 and 30-06 almost the same. I didn't realize heavier bullets in the .308 were a slight issue. I'll have to keep that in mind for the future. Thanks again...