Your favorite powder for .308 - Page 2

TATER · July 20, 2012, 11:33 AM

Farmerboy, Not saying that it doesn't get you there faster. But,
with some rifles, You could miss the accuracy node moving
In .5 increments. I know it does not sound like much of a difference. But, I would recommend moves in .3 grain increments .

farmerboy · July 20, 2012, 12:17 PM

Understand with .3 increments but if one powder skips at .5 than you want a different powder. You want a powder with nearly 1 gr. increment and Varget has always given me that or a little more for a sweet spot. Plus it don't sway with temp. You'll find it if you look.

a7mmnut · July 20, 2012, 12:32 PM

Win. 748

-7-

tobnpr · July 20, 2012, 10:03 PM

That's why I prefer Varget- and others like H4350 and 8208 XBR for other calibers- the "extreme" powders- as they're insensitive to temperature variations.

browninghunter86 · July 23, 2012, 06:07 PM

8208 XBR and Varget is what I use. I like 8208 bk it meters beter than Varget for me

357gp · July 24, 2012, 09:27 PM

IMR 3031 has given me the best results out of the 4 or so powders I've tried.

jackpine · July 24, 2012, 10:24 PM

BL-C(2)

Caliber · July 24, 2012, 11:30 PM

another +1 for Varget using 44.6grains with sierra and nosler 175grain BTHP's. CCi bench primers, hornady brass 2.012 case length , 2.798 OAL out of my Savage 10FP

Caliber · July 24, 2012, 11:32 PM

Vhitavouri N140 is also great performs about the same "burns a little cleaner though" so I usually just grab whichever is cheapest at time of purchase

Bart B. · July 25, 2012, 09:29 AM

When the .308 Win. was "the" cartridge for high power match rifles in competition, the following loads won virtually all the big matches and set virtually all the records using milder primers:

Sierra 168 HPMK over 41 through 44 grains of IMR4064 in Winchester/WCC60 cases. Lighter loads for 200 and 300, heavier ones for 600 yards.

Sierra 175 and 180 HPMK's over 42 to 43 grains of IMR4064. Good for 600 yards and further.

Sierra 190 HPMK's over 42 grains of IMR4064 in a WCC58 or Winchester case for 600 yards and beyond.

Sierra 200 HPMK over 48 grains of IMR4350 in WCC58 or Rem small rifle primer case for 600 yards and further.

Nobody capable of winning used ball powder; it just didn't shoot very accurate with any bullets. They had the skills and knowledge to prove it's poor accuracy. Even Lake City 7.62 NATO match ammo loaded with ball powder was not liked by folks shooting the best scores with service rifles; 'twasn't all that great.

Here's a bit of history on the 7.62 NATO load for long range use:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...nge-match.html

And here's some current long range load info for the .308 Win. and other cartridges:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...pet-loads.html

When Sierra's 155-gr. Palma bullet came out in 1991, it was first loaded with 45.3 grains of IMR4895 and shot 1/2 MOA in several Palma rifles from around the world; not too bad for new cases, 3/10th grain charge weight spread and 3/1000ths bullet runout. IMR4895 was replaced by Varget a few years later as the favorite for this bullet.

JRI · July 26, 2012, 07:38 PM

IMR 4320

July 25, 2012, 09:29 AM	#35
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	When the .308 Win. was "the" cartridge for high power match rifles in competition, the following loads won virtually all the big matches and set virtually all the records using milder primers: Sierra 168 HPMK over 41 through 44 grains of IMR4064 in Winchester/WCC60 cases. Lighter loads for 200 and 300, heavier ones for 600 yards. Sierra 175 and 180 HPMK's over 42 to 43 grains of IMR4064. Good for 600 yards and further. Sierra 190 HPMK's over 42 grains of IMR4064 in a WCC58 or Winchester case for 600 yards and beyond. Sierra 200 HPMK over 48 grains of IMR4350 in WCC58 or Rem small rifle primer case for 600 yards and further. Nobody capable of winning used ball powder; it just didn't shoot very accurate with any bullets. They had the skills and knowledge to prove it's poor accuracy. Even Lake City 7.62 NATO match ammo loaded with ball powder was not liked by folks shooting the best scores with service rifles; 'twasn't all that great. Here's a bit of history on the 7.62 NATO load for long range use: http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...nge-match.html And here's some current long range load info for the .308 Win. and other cartridges: http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...pet-loads.html When Sierra's 155-gr. Palma bullet came out in 1991, it was first loaded with 45.3 grains of IMR4895 and shot 1/2 MOA in several Palma rifles from around the world; not too bad for new cases, 3/10th grain charge weight spread and 3/1000ths bullet runout. IMR4895 was replaced by Varget a few years later as the favorite for this bullet. Last edited by Bart B.; July 25, 2012 at 09:38 AM.

July 20, 2012, 11:33 AM	#26
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Farmerboy, Not saying that it doesn't get you there faster. But, with some rifles, You could miss the accuracy node moving In .5 increments. I know it does not sound like much of a difference. But, I would recommend moves in .3 grain increments .

July 20, 2012, 12:17 PM	#27
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Understand with .3 increments but if one powder skips at .5 than you want a different powder. You want a powder with nearly 1 gr. increment and Varget has always given me that or a little more for a sweet spot. Plus it don't sway with temp. You'll find it if you look.

July 20, 2012, 12:32 PM	#28
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	Win. 748 -7-

July 20, 2012, 10:03 PM	#29
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	That's why I prefer Varget- and others like H4350 and 8208 XBR for other calibers- the "extreme" powders- as they're insensitive to temperature variations.

July 23, 2012, 06:07 PM	#30
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 524	8208 XBR and Varget is what I use. I like 8208 bk it meters beter than Varget for me

July 24, 2012, 09:27 PM	#31
357gp Member Join Date: April 22, 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 20	IMR 3031 has given me the best results out of the 4 or so powders I've tried.

July 24, 2012, 10:24 PM	#32
jackpine Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Posts: 351	BL-C(2)

July 24, 2012, 11:30 PM	#33
Caliber Member Join Date: January 30, 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 45	another +1 for Varget using 44.6grains with sierra and nosler 175grain BTHP's. CCi bench primers, hornady brass 2.012 case length , 2.798 OAL out of my Savage 10FP

July 24, 2012, 11:32 PM	#34
Caliber Member Join Date: January 30, 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 45	Vhitavouri N140 is also great performs about the same "burns a little cleaner though" so I usually just grab whichever is cheapest at time of purchase

July 26, 2012, 07:38 PM	#36
JRI Member Join Date: December 17, 2009 Posts: 50	IMR 4320