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Marco Califo · June 10, 2016, 12:29 AM

iagbarrb,
What that means is that, like the rest of us, you will need to select a suitable powder that is available to you. Then you start testing loads at 90% of maximum loads and work up slowly, checking accuracy and fired cases for any signs of over-pressure (perforated primers, flattened primers, etc.). Yes, you will be able to load factory quality ammo with these cannister powders. The only advantage of bulk powders is/may be cost, not capability.

Here are some (there are a lot more) commercially available powders well suited to 308/7.62:
Ramshot: TAC
Accurate Powders: AA2230, AA2460, AA2495, AA2520
IMR: 4895, 4064, 4320

The bolded powders are explicitly endorsed for gas operated 308 rifles: "within the threshold limit for the M14 systems." ALL eight of those powders are in the same general burn rate range (#84-105 http://imrpowder.com/PDF/Burn%20Rate...02015-2016.pdf). Even if you are not shooting a gas gun, these powders and their published loads are definitely mainstream for any 308 firearm.

Go here, select your caliber, bullet weight, and they will list many loads:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
Accurate and Ramshot data is available here:
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...1-2016_Web.pdf

Some of the powders listed are made in Belgium, Canada, and Australia, and may be known by different names in different countries. So, find out what you can get, and then see if you can find load data for it. Only then you are ready to purchase powder.

You original question, "what does CAVIM use?" We don't know, that info is not published. If you have some CAVIM 308 ammo, pull the bullet out, and dump the powder where you can examine it. It will be either A) tiny sticks or cylinders (extruded) or, B) tiny specs which are flattened balls (ball powder). Whatever they used will be closely equivalent to AA2495, or IMR 4895 (sticks), or TAC, or AA2520 (ball). Any of those powders will be fine, and exactly appropriate. And as Unclenick pointed out, U.S. military 7.62 uses a ball type powder available as Hodgdon BL C(2) and WC846 (surplus when available).

June 10, 2016, 12:29 AM	#5
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,614	iagbarrb, What that means is that, like the rest of us, you will need to select a suitable powder that is available to you. Then you start testing loads at 90% of maximum loads and work up slowly, checking accuracy and fired cases for any signs of over-pressure (perforated primers, flattened primers, etc.). Yes, you will be able to load factory quality ammo with these cannister powders. The only advantage of bulk powders is/may be cost, not capability. Here are some (there are a lot more) commercially available powders well suited to 308/7.62: Ramshot: TAC Accurate Powders: AA2230, AA2460, AA2495, AA2520 IMR: 4895, 4064, 4320 The bolded powders are explicitly endorsed for gas operated 308 rifles: "within the threshold limit for the M14 systems." ALL eight of those powders are in the same general burn rate range (#84-105 http://imrpowder.com/PDF/Burn%20Rate...02015-2016.pdf). Even if you are not shooting a gas gun, these powders and their published loads are definitely mainstream for any 308 firearm. Go here, select your caliber, bullet weight, and they will list many loads: http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/ Accurate and Ramshot data is available here: http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...1-2016_Web.pdf Some of the powders listed are made in Belgium, Canada, and Australia, and may be known by different names in different countries. So, find out what you can get, and then see if you can find load data for it. Only then you are ready to purchase powder. You original question, "what does CAVIM use?" We don't know, that info is not published. If you have some CAVIM 308 ammo, pull the bullet out, and dump the powder where you can examine it. It will be either A) tiny sticks or cylinders (extruded) or, B) tiny specs which are flattened balls (ball powder). Whatever they used will be closely equivalent to AA2495, or IMR 4895 (sticks), or TAC, or AA2520 (ball). Any of those powders will be fine, and exactly appropriate. And as Unclenick pointed out, U.S. military 7.62 uses a ball type powder available as Hodgdon BL C(2) and WC846 (surplus when available). __________________ ............ Last edited by Marco Califo; June 10, 2016 at 01:00 AM.