.308 win powder

Hmatt said:
What have you guys used for your .308s? I use 4064 thinking of making a change. I started off with benchmark and considering moving back to that. 4064 also works with my 6.5x55 but was considering moving to Varget for both. Thoughts?
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This is probably very dated information - from a book titled "The Palma Match" by Colin C.C. Cheshire - second edition, 2007. On page 4.184 it says that the Palma Council, at the 29-Aug-1992 Match in Raton, New Mexico, USA., decided that the loading used "for future Palma Matches" would be Fed 210M primer, Winchester case, 44.8 grains IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 155 grain bullets. I believe that competition was based on all shooters using 7.62 NATO / 308 Win. I have no clue if that standard was subsequently revised, but was likely "good enough" for some of the better long range shooters in the world, then.
 
I use Varget, N140 and IMR and H 4895 in my 308's for the most part. but there are lots that work well.
At one time I used a lot of 3031 and 168 grain bullets for my 300 meter shooting.
Cat
 
iron cat said:
I use Varget, N140 and IMR and H 4895 in my 308's for the most part. but there are lots that work well.
At one time I used a lot of 3031 and 168 grain bullets for my 300 meter shooting.
Cat
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I’ve got a bottle of 3031 I have been saving haha. For what? Who knows.. it as available when all they had was titegroup and leverevolution lol
 
There are a number of containers of IMR 3031 here - I was advised to use it to try to reproduce WWI 30-06 ammo - 150 grain flat based bullets, and slower (lower muzzle velocity) than "modern" loads - but what those elderly rifle's sights were calibrated for, I think.

That stuff was also suggested to me by a CGN'r for 52 / 53 grain bullets in 22-250 cartridge. Another CGN'r suggests it is "the best" for 303 British.
 
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Potashminer said:
There are a number of containers of IMR 3031 here - I was advised to use it to try to reproduce WWI 30-06 ammo - 150 grain flat based bullets, and slower (lower muzzle velocity) than "modern" loads - but what those elderly rifle's sights were calibrated for, I think.

That stuff was also suggested to me by a CGN'r for 52 / 53 grain bullets in 22-250 cartridge. Another CGN'r suggests it is "the best" for 303 British.
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If those containers of IMR3031 are all different lot numbers, I would suggest that you pour all of them together in a bucket and mix them thoroughly into one consistent lot and mark your containers accordingly.
 
Hmatt said:
What have you guys used for your .308s? I use 4064 thinking of making a change. I started off with benchmark and considering moving back to that. 4064 also works with my 6.5x55 but was considering moving to Varget for both. Thoughts?
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There’s not much difference in Burning rate or accuracy between 4064 and Varget just stay with the 4064 if you have it . RJ
 
I'm currently loading with Win StaBall match, VV N540, and IMR4064. All have proven to excellent powders in my 175-185gr bullet loads; at least over the summer months this year.
The StaBall has been especially pleasing, both in it's metering(it's basically a pistol powder), and consistently accurate loads and low fowling. I'm currently shooting my best groups with this powder, and I'm looking forward to testing the "Temperature Insensitivity" claims over the next few weeks here.
I've tried Varget as well and it is also very good, as it seems almost anyone on the planet loading for .308 these days will tell you. I just gotta be different I guess.
 
A full case of Varget is excellent for all bullet weights up to 208 grs, although faster powders will give you higher MV's for bullets lighter than 150 grs.
 
Potashminer said:
This is probably very dated information - from a book titled "The Palma Match" by Colin C.C. Cheshire - second edition, 2007. On page 4.184 it says that the Palma Council, at the 29-Aug-1992 Match in Raton, New Mexico, USA., decided that the loading used "for future Palma Matches" would be Fed 210M primer, Winchester case, 44.8 grains IMR 4895 powder and Sierra 155 grain bullets. I believe that competition was based on all shooters using 7.62 NATO / 308 Win. I have no clue if that standard was subsequently revised, but was likely "good enough" for some of the better long range shooters in the world, then.
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I was at that meeting. (Captain of the Canadian Rifle Team). That spec was for the ammo used at the Raton (USA) match. I think the agreement for the future events was ammo with a bullet not exceeding 156 gr. I was against mandating the Sierra bullet, since that would stifle developments and price competition.
 
B said:
Hard to beat CFE223 for high velocities at lower pressures. Accuracy loads typically get 4064.
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I tried it against varget and imr 4064. Ran into pressure before book max with cfe223 that I didn't do with the others. And it came fast. Loosened primer pockets on lapua brass. Accuracy wasn't as good with cfe223 in my barrel
 
I wouldn't recommend CFE for a target gun, as I mentioned 4064 is preferred there. I don't know what's up with a lot of the data out there but it seems not to jive with what I see across my half dozen .308 semis. Regardless, it gives very high velocities, meters perfectly and produces more than good enough accuracy for my purposes. I have different brass on its 5th and 6th load without any primer pocket or separation issues while running 150FMJs at 2800+fps from an 18.5" barrel. I would guess the need for annealing will become a problem before either of those.
 
B said:
I wouldn't recommend CFE for a target gun, as I mentioned 4064 is preferred there. I don't know what's up with a lot of the data out there but it seems not to jive with what I see across my half dozen .308 semis. Regardless, it gives very high velocities, meters perfectly and produces more than good enough accuracy for my purposes. I have different brass on its 5th and 6th load without any primer pocket or separation issues while running 150FMJs at 2800+fps from an 18.5" barrel. I would guess the need for annealing will become a problem before either of those.
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I actually just retired all my .308 win I’ve been shooting 147 gr campros with 41gr of 4064 I believe and they are all in great shape still I just have lots of other 1x I’ll start loading.
 
Anyone try TAC with lighter bullets...Nosler data shows it gives top velocity with 125 grainers in the 308.

Trying to save my Varget for match loads and TAC is readily available.
 
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