Bamaboy1970
Inactive
What is the best powder for the .308/ 150 grain and what grain powder?
Powder to load 308
- Thread starter Bamaboy1970
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4runnerman
New member
The 308 is the easiest round to load for. Powders are many.
Varget, 4895, 4064. Ect. Take your pick and work up a load.
Varget, 4895, 4064. Ect. Take your pick and work up a load.
Sweet Shooter
New member
A full case of 4064 (43gr — not compressed) is usually on the low end, and very accurate with 150 SSTs...
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Unlicensed Dremel
Moderator
For the benefit of the OP - you'd like get more/better responses if you posted in the forum specific for handloading, here:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9
Thanks.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9
Thanks.
Varget is my go-to powder. But I've gotten very good results with several. You'll probably get a lot of responses for IMR4064 as the most accurate and it gives very good speeds as well. 4895 is highly thought of too. I've used both as well as RL15, 3031, and TAC.
For me the accuracy and speeds I've gotten with all of them has been very good. My preference for Varget is simply because it is less sensitive to temperature changes. RL15 is supposed to be very good in that regard too. The others will vary 1-2 fps for each degree temperature changes. That could mean you are 50-100 fps slower if you are shooting at 20 degrees than when you worked up the load at 70 degrees. Or 30-60 fps faster at 100 degrees. If you ever get down to zero or below, or in a desert environment where temps can go over 120 degrees you can see a significant difference.
Varget and RL15 are affected by temperature, just much less so. Expect about 1/2 fps for each degree temperature changes.
For me the accuracy and speeds I've gotten with all of them has been very good. My preference for Varget is simply because it is less sensitive to temperature changes. RL15 is supposed to be very good in that regard too. The others will vary 1-2 fps for each degree temperature changes. That could mean you are 50-100 fps slower if you are shooting at 20 degrees than when you worked up the load at 70 degrees. Or 30-60 fps faster at 100 degrees. If you ever get down to zero or below, or in a desert environment where temps can go over 120 degrees you can see a significant difference.
Varget and RL15 are affected by temperature, just much less so. Expect about 1/2 fps for each degree temperature changes.
As a rule of thumb (okay, MY rule of thumb), powders no faster than IMR-3031 and no slower than IMR-4064 are what I like to use in .308. If Varget is listed as slower than 4064, I'll make an exception and use it anyway.
You don't get very specific about the barrel length or projectile weight involved, so it's sorta difficult to narrow down much beyond that. GENERALLY, rifles with short barrels (say, 16.5 - 21") or launching lighter projectiles (less than 165gr,) will do better with faster-burning powders. Heavier projectiles (165gr. and heavier) usually do better with slower burning powders, as do loads fired from longer barrels (over ~21"). All the numbers I use are what work for ME, so just use them as a guideline.
You don't get very specific about the barrel length or projectile weight involved, so it's sorta difficult to narrow down much beyond that. GENERALLY, rifles with short barrels (say, 16.5 - 21") or launching lighter projectiles (less than 165gr,) will do better with faster-burning powders. Heavier projectiles (165gr. and heavier) usually do better with slower burning powders, as do loads fired from longer barrels (over ~21"). All the numbers I use are what work for ME, so just use them as a guideline.
101combatvet
New member
IMR 4895 shoots the best for me.
Saltydog235
New member
Varget's worked for me for years. Can't argue with the velocity and accuracy I see. Just haven't seen the need to experiment any further when I'm putting 3 shots in a nickel sized hole.
Pond James Pond
New member
I have a limited choice when if comes to powders over here but, as luck would have it, I am limited to one of the best!!
I've loaded some very serviceable .308 loads with 155gr Hornady bullets using N135 from VihtaVuori. I have also some heavier loads (165-170gr) using N140.
Very clean burning and consistent.
A little more expensive perhaps given it is of Finnish origin but good powder if the cost is not too great an issue.
I've loaded some very serviceable .308 loads with 155gr Hornady bullets using N135 from VihtaVuori. I have also some heavier loads (165-170gr) using N140.
Very clean burning and consistent.
A little more expensive perhaps given it is of Finnish origin but good powder if the cost is not too great an issue.
bamaranger
New member
powder
I run 4064 for .308/150 hunting loads, an old John Wooters (?) load reduced by a grain, and have no complaints in 3 different sport rifles.
Aside, I've had good results with Varget and 168/175 gr Match Kings in a heavy FTR rifle.
I run 4064 for .308/150 hunting loads, an old John Wooters (?) load reduced by a grain, and have no complaints in 3 different sport rifles.
Aside, I've had good results with Varget and 168/175 gr Match Kings in a heavy FTR rifle.
stagpanther
New member
150 gr ballistic silvertip powered by 42.3 grs of RL15 can do this:
100 yds out of a $275 Savage Axis
100 yds out of a $275 Savage Axis
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precision_shooter
New member
Varget here...
Huffmanite
New member
FWIW, I've listened to a number of discussions at range I'm a member by gents who are very very experienced reloaders with .308 rifles. Three powders are generally mentioned that they prefer to use. In order they are: Alliant RL15, Varget and IMR or Accurate 4064. For you 4064 users, the Accurate version of 4064 is a smaller grain powder than the IMR, that meters much better. Those that have used both, see no difference in performance when it comes to accuracy.
Basically, I'm neutral on what's the best powder. I can write I prefer RL15 and Accurate 4064 for my .308 reloading......but then I've had good luck with Hodgdon's H100V Hybrid powder in my .308. Much slower than any powder mentioned and no load data for it available for the .308. There is H100V load data for .243 and 7mm-08.....so, had a gent with a Sierra Quick load program run the numbers for H100V in .308 that I played with for awhile.
According to a gent I'd trust for reloading info, that prefers RL15 for .308, big thing about reloading for a .308 for maximum accuracy is getting the bullet out to just off the lands. Seem to recall him commenting recently, he'd solved this problem when he'd bought a metal lathe that he'll use for gunsmithing.....his early rifle work with the lathe has been quite good. In other words, he can cut the chamber the way he wants it, to eliminate the long jump to the lands you'd normally find with most factory .308 chambers.
Basically, I'm neutral on what's the best powder. I can write I prefer RL15 and Accurate 4064 for my .308 reloading......but then I've had good luck with Hodgdon's H100V Hybrid powder in my .308. Much slower than any powder mentioned and no load data for it available for the .308. There is H100V load data for .243 and 7mm-08.....so, had a gent with a Sierra Quick load program run the numbers for H100V in .308 that I played with for awhile.
According to a gent I'd trust for reloading info, that prefers RL15 for .308, big thing about reloading for a .308 for maximum accuracy is getting the bullet out to just off the lands. Seem to recall him commenting recently, he'd solved this problem when he'd bought a metal lathe that he'll use for gunsmithing.....his early rifle work with the lathe has been quite good. In other words, he can cut the chamber the way he wants it, to eliminate the long jump to the lands you'd normally find with most factory .308 chambers.