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Old January 10, 2007, 05:09 PM   #1
rahtreelimbs
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Powder For A .308 W/sShort Barrell???

I have a Ruger 77 compact in .308. With a 16.1/2 barrel I know I lose some velocity. I plan on using 150 gr. bullets.

What powder would be good for this???

I have plenty of H-4895 which is a relatively fast powder. Can I go to a faster powder without pressure problems???
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Old January 10, 2007, 07:34 PM   #2
paknheat
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I have had good results with Varget in both long and short barrelled .308 rifles. I primarily stick to 150 gn bullets though.
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Old January 10, 2007, 09:43 PM   #3
Zak Smith
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Choose the same powder you would for a longer barrel. Velocity is a result of the area under the pressure vs. time curve, and the vast majority of the work done on the bullet is in the first 6-10" of travel. From there on, the pressure is trailing off exponentially.

In a short barrel, the only optimization you can do is to reduce the muzzle flash at the expense of velocity loss.
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Old January 10, 2007, 09:48 PM   #4
rahtreelimbs
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Back in the early-mid 90's I had a Magnum Research Lone Eagle in .30-06. I used H-4895 (don't remember the charge weight) with a 135 gr. Sierra Pro Hunter pistol bullet. With a 14" barrel the velocity was 2700 FPS!

The pistol would regularly do 1" 5-shot grps. at 100 yrd.


Boy I miss that pistol........should never have sold it!!!
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Old January 11, 2007, 01:53 AM   #5
T-Bear
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I've run with 4895 in the same barrel length in the past. But now I use 2230. No problems with either one, both are excellent powders.
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Old January 11, 2007, 01:13 PM   #6
Tom Matiska
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Nosler's #4 has a wealth of short barrel(14" T/C) 308 data in their handgun section. Some of the handgun data is as much as 400-500 below the 24" rifle data, with 4064 only losing 190. The asterisk denoting most accurate load is often at the starting loads that are another 200 or so below max.
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Old January 12, 2007, 09:09 PM   #7
Daniel BOON
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4064vsVarget

I have good results with my remington with 4064; but if i want to tighten things up a bit, I go with Varget.
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Old January 13, 2007, 07:27 AM   #8
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I've tried MANY powders in the 308 and have never been able to beat 4064. Your MMV.
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Old January 13, 2007, 08:18 AM   #9
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Load with what you have. I just started using Varget and so far so good.
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Old January 13, 2007, 10:45 AM   #10
rahtreelimbs
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tell me I am wrong here..........in looking on hodgdons site it apperars that 4064 is no longer made!!!


Is there an IMR equivalent?
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Old January 13, 2007, 01:44 PM   #11
ConRich
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I think that they were talking about IMR 4064.
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Old January 14, 2007, 02:32 PM   #12
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Correct , either IMR-4064 , or AccurateArms-4064. I do believe their burn rates are different though.
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