Man_Myth_Mace
Inactive
I can't find gun powder for a .308 to save my life. Is it safe to use VihtN160 for a 168gn Nosler Custom Competition? If so, how much should I use?
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Reloading .308 with VihtN160
- Thread starter Man_Myth_Mace
- Start date
Been there
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N160 is simpy too slow for the .308, regardless of bullet weight.
You need a medium burn-rate powder such as N135, N140, N540 or IMR 4895, 4064, 4320, 4350 or H380, H414 or Winchester 748, 760 or ADI 2208 etc,etc.
What can you get, where you are?
You need a medium burn-rate powder such as N135, N140, N540 or IMR 4895, 4064, 4320, 4350 or H380, H414 or Winchester 748, 760 or ADI 2208 etc,etc.
What can you get, where you are?
Agree that N160 is too slow for the .308.
In my two Savage .308s, I've tried N150 and N140 along with Reloader 15, Varget, H4895, and even H335.
Of all of them, N140 out performed N150 by a large margin even for 175 grain bullets by almost 0.2 inches on average per group.
H4895 had the best long term average across 175 grain bullets.
N140 had the best long term average across 168 grain bullets.
In one of the rifles, N140 had the best overall average across 150 and 155 grain bullets and in the other H4895 had the best average with the 150 and 155 grain bullets.
But when you consider the top 25 loads in both rifles, N140 had the best averages per load in 20 of 25 loads for each rifle with 150 through 168 grain bullets. The other 5 are for H4895 - all the 175 grain bullets.
In my two Savage .308s, I've tried N150 and N140 along with Reloader 15, Varget, H4895, and even H335.
Of all of them, N140 out performed N150 by a large margin even for 175 grain bullets by almost 0.2 inches on average per group.
H4895 had the best long term average across 175 grain bullets.
N140 had the best long term average across 168 grain bullets.
In one of the rifles, N140 had the best overall average across 150 and 155 grain bullets and in the other H4895 had the best average with the 150 and 155 grain bullets.
But when you consider the top 25 loads in both rifles, N140 had the best averages per load in 20 of 25 loads for each rifle with 150 through 168 grain bullets. The other 5 are for H4895 - all the 175 grain bullets.
I gather from your post you do not have a reloading manual.
The BEST advice I can give you is to get one. A Hornady, Lyman or Sierra manual will really pay off in the long run.
As to your specific question, I have had very good results using BLC(2). It is a spherical powder and it is easy to meter. I do not have load data in front of me so will not give you a charge weight. It works well. My .308 works really well with the 168-175 gr. bullets.
The BEST advice I can give you is to get one. A Hornady, Lyman or Sierra manual will really pay off in the long run.
As to your specific question, I have had very good results using BLC(2). It is a spherical powder and it is easy to meter. I do not have load data in front of me so will not give you a charge weight. It works well. My .308 works really well with the 168-175 gr. bullets.
Man_Myth_Mace
Inactive
What can you get, where you are?
All I can get is VV N160. Every store is sold out of everything else. I have been told that their new shipments literally have people waiting for them to come off the truck to buy the stuff that I need. I live in the North Pole/Fairbanks area of Alaska.
I gather from your post you do not have a reloading manual.
I have three: Lyman, Speer, and Nosler. The problem is that my only option is VV N160.
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All of the websites I have checked are sold out as well, does anyone know of one I may have missed? I prefer the IMR 4895, but I will take anything at this point. I am only shooting out to ~500yds for the moment and I just want to shoot.
Thanks!
-M