308Win choices

B.Ruddick

B.Ruddick

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Vancouver Island, B.C.
Tried the search engine here for some of this info, but I kept getting “sorry, no matches” response.

I see some 748, Varget, IMR4350, Hybrid 100V, IMR 3031, sitting in the cupboard, thought there was some IMR4895 and IMR4064 somewhere.
What do you folks fancy with with the 150’s?

Also with the ball powder 748, standard primer or magnum primer?
Average outdoor temperature while hunting is usually around 10C, currently with load development 0C.
 
With 150s I would use Varget, 748 or 3031, in that order (based on your list of powders).

748 with a magnum primer (or the Winchester standard). Ball powder with a light bullet is asking for trouble.
 
Ganderite said:
With 150s I would use Varget, 748 or 3031, in that order (based on your list of powders).

748 with a magnum primer (or the Winchester standard). Ball powder with a light bullet is asking for trouble.
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Just curious what could happen with ball powder and a light bullet. I was about to try 147 campro with win 748 in my savage 308
 
shoot_to_kill said:
Just curious what could happen with ball powder and a light bullet. I was about to try 147 campro with win 748 in my savage 308
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That’s an excellent question.

As for me asking about magnum vs standard primers just for the 748 powder only, is the old Barnes book I seen calls for CCI250 primers when loading with 748. Has me curious, as the other books only mentioned REM 9.5 and/or Fed 210, and the Lee book doesn’t even say. Not to mention the wide array of differences in powder charge weights between the different book listings.
The books are mostly early 2000’s publications and so is this unopened bottle of 748.

I was out today, picked up a pound of IMR 4166, since I guess I burnt up the last of 4064 a while ago, can’t find it.
Anyone had a go with this newer powder?

Another question I have is about digital scales, looking at the Frankford Arsenal DS-750, MTM sort of pocket scales, mainly for just weighing brass, but could be used as a comparison of charge weights with the balance beam I use.

Thanks for the info so far, keep it coming.
 
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Varget has massive lot to lot variance in velocity and accuracy nodes I found. Same with IMR4064. I always had to adjust charge anywhere from 42.3-43.9grs depending on the lot, and then had to adjust for the velocity differences in my ballistic app.
For primers, always just use large rifle. I had good success with federal 210 and 210M.
 
DonnieM said:
Varget has massive lot to lot variance in velocity and accuracy nodes I found. Same with IMR4064. I always had to adjust charge anywhere from 42.3-43.9grs depending on the lot, and then had to adjust for the velocity differences in my ballistic app.
For primers, always just use large rifle. I had good success with federal 210 and 210M.
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Funny you would say that...I have been shooting Varget since it hit the Canadian market back in the early 90's. My shooting is limited to .308 using 155 gr bullets and .223 using 80 gr bullets. Ranges from 300 -1000 yards. I have never really noticed much velocity difference from lot to lot. I am not saying there isn't a difference just not enough to really notice. Maybe 1/2 MOA difference at 800-1000 yards. Of course I am basing this off solid known elevations and not off actual Chrony numbers. I have never been one to chase the numbers. I had a great load of 46 gr of Varget that worked that ran 2940 fps out of a 30 inch barrel. The next barrel that I put on ran the same load at around 3000 fps. Both loads were accurate at 1000 yards.
 
Its not on your list, but here’s what works for me, just for your reference
175 SMK - N150, 155 SMK/ Hornady match is N140, 4064 for 168 SMK
 
Wrong bullet weight and wrong powder choice compared to what OP was looking for. A while ago, I read that US military started to use RL-15 in their longer range sniper rounds (M118) for 7.62 NATO. No doubt, they have changed their powder since then. At the time when that was "news", I decided to try some. I know I had been using BLC2, W-W 748 and IMR 4064 previously - it was tried as it became available to buy in local small town store in Saskatchewan - not really very much for "rhyme or reason". RL-15 made very nice targets with Sierra 165 SPBT. An unfortunate experience on a deer, caused me to change to Speer HotCor 165 SP. Is from a Model 70 Winchester, bought new by me in about 1977. We have had no reason to change from that loading. A Maximum load, as per the Speer loading manual, with Federal 210 primers, comes up on the Shooting Chrony around 2,800 fps. We have taken multiple dozen head of white tail and mule deer, and two elk, with that loading. I was able to buy 5 x one pound containers of RL-15 in August 2021, and had found 1,000 of those Fed 210 primers in March 2021, so we will be able to continue with that loading for a while longer. About 400 of those bullets are still on hand.

Like so many others on this board - this current "shortage" is NOT my first - I think first that I remember not being able to get what I wanted, I got a story that all loading components were being used up by USA in their "first" Iraq war (early 1990's). About then, I started to stock components for 5 years use, or 10 years use, as I could find (or afford to buy) them. And, unfortunately, sooner or later I have got to the five years or the 10 years, so re-stocking becomes inevitable - if I can find the stuff, if they still make it, and so on.

And I am now pretty much "freaking" about "lot" numbers - for decades, I did not even check - when a one pounder was empty, I went to a store and bought another, and carried on with the same loading. Acquaintances with more experience, are describing up to several grains powder difference needed, to achieve same velocity, one "lot" to another. I did not know that!!
 
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When your dealing with high load density cases like the 308/223 I find it’s better to run a faster powder rather then get creative with long drop tubes and vibrating cases. The last 8# of varget I bought was very slow compared to where it should be.
 
I used 4166 behind 168 and 175gr bullets with great success in a .308 target rifle. The numbers were as good as Varget and the groupings were at times better. 4166 is my powder of choice in the .308.
 
Potashminer said:
I can find the stuff, if they still make it, and so on.

And I am now pretty much "freaking" about "lot" numbers - for decades, I did not even check - when a one pounder was empty, I went to a store and bought another, and carried on with the same loading. Acquaintances with more experience, are describing up to several grains powder difference needed, to achieve same velocity, one "lot" to another. I did not know that!!
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Some powders by some makers, at certain times have had large variations in speed in the cannister offerings. 4320 comes to mind. However, when a loader comments that the new lot is slower than the old lot, it means that he left the powder in the powder thrower and it dried out. As powder dries out, it gets faster. If you want consistency, keep your powder sealed. If you buy it by the 8 pound jug, decant it into some smaller bottles.

As for RL-15, it is one of the most popular Bofors powder. I used to buy it by multiple drums at a time. Used it for sniper and match ammo. The only problem is that it is temp sensitive.

The last time I was talking to the US Army rifle team manager, I asked him why he was using Varget instead of N-140, which we both knew to be a better powder. He said the Varget was temp stable and a good load worked in all the rifles, all the time.
 
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