Reloading for .308

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cheier

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I'm starting to do my research into loading for .308. The main thing I am stuck on right now is powders. I am looking at various powders, namely ones I can find. I have family coming from Lloydminster so I was hoping to get them to pick something up from Prophet River or Magnum Guns.

I'm considering loading 150 to 165 grain bullets mainly, and they will probably vary from bullets like the Nosler Partition or Speer Grand Slam soft tip expanding bullets, to target shooting (high BC) and plinking bullets. I hear Varget tends to be the go to all round good powder, but I'm looking for other suggestions as well. I've been considering VV N140.

I plan on shooting them primarily through a Tikka T3 with a stainless barrel.
 
A very popular topic. See the thread immediately below on Varget Powder. Also see the thread on IMR 4895 towards the bottom of page 1 of this forum. Also, see page 2 for a thread titled "Reloading for the .308".
 
I've been working on some .308 loads myself, so far using 155gr Sierra Match King Palma bullets, out of my Tikka T3 sporter. I started with Varget, getting pretty good groups, but then I ran out of Varget and couldn't find any for the longest time, so I finally caved and bought some IMR4895. (Was the only option I could find at the time.)
Did some preliminary work with the 4895, and it didn't seem to group as well as the Varget loads. And the charge that grouped best was at the high end (can't remember exactly, I'm at work and don't have my data with me, but it was something like 45-ish gr). With that bullet, and the 4895, it was a compressed charge (or very close to it) and I was starting to get some early pressure signs (stiffer bolt lift, but primers OK, etc).
Last week, I managed to find 5lbs of Varget, so I'm going to abandon the IMR4895 for now as a "precision" load, and go back to working on the Varget. I'll probably use the 4895 in "plinking" loads where I can drop the charge to something more reassuring (not to mention using cheaper bullets, brass, etc for the plinkers).
The Varget is still in somewhat short supply, from what I can gather, but is starting to show up here and there, so maybe the "shortage" is ending.
 
I did a lot of load testing/development with 168gr match bullets, Federal Match brass and CCI benchrest primers in a stock Remington M700VS chambered in .308 Win. Average 100 yd group sizes for a variety of best performing propellants from my range log:
1. .61inch with 43gr WC755
2. .62 inch with 41gr IMR4895 (duplicate of military match load)
3. .63 inch with 44gr W748 and 41gr H4895
4. .66 inch with 39gr IMR3031 (duplicate of military match load)
5. .67 inch with 42gr IMR4064 and 38gr IMR3031
6. .68 inch with 40gr IMR3031 and 44gr Varget

All of these propellants, except for WC755, are still around and are worth a try. The .308 is very good with a variety of propellants in this burning rate range. There's a saying that if your .308 won't shoot well with IMR4895, you have a rifle problem. Results will vary in different rifles. Always use a reloading manual(more are better), start low and work up in .5gr increments watching for pressure signs. Make sure OAL will fit your magazine.
 
VV N540 for less then 168gn and VV N550 for larger then 168gn, this is I use and I find the velocities higher then RL15 or Varget, the folks at ATRS will tell you the same.
 
Thanks for the help. I was calling around in Lloydminster and managed to find some Varget and IMR4895 there. I'll just start with Varget as I think the 2 lbs should work for now, but I am seriously considering the IMR4895.

shell_guy, so based on the VV powder choices, is it correct to say that you would use a faster burning powder for lighter bullets and slower burning for heavier bullets? Also, what is the difference between using N140 vs N540 or N150 vs N550? Are the burn rates really much different? Are they different kinds of powder (like stick or ball)? Mainly curious as I currently run N110 loads for .500 S&W and Prophet River seems to have good pricing on VV powders.
 
"...considering the IMR4895..." Look into IMR4064 too. It's more consistent than either 4895 in all bullet weights, but especially match bullets.
 
Varget and IMR 4895. I have used these powders ranging from 155 to 175 gr bullets with similar and very satisfactory results. Thats the beauty of a .308, lots of options.
 
cheier said:
Thanks for the help. I was calling around in Lloydminster and managed to find some Varget and IMR4895 there. I'll just start with Varget as I think the 2 lbs should work for now, but I am seriously considering the IMR4895.

shell_guy, so based on the VV powder choices, is it correct to say that you would use a faster burning powder for lighter bullets and slower burning for heavier bullets? Also, what is the difference between using N140 vs N540 or N150 vs N550? Are the burn rates really much different? Are they different kinds of powder (like stick or ball)? Mainly curious as I currently run N110 loads for .500 S&W and Prophet River seems to have good pricing on VV powders.
Click to expand...

N140 and N150 are single based powders, N540 and N550 are dual based powders. What I have found is that the 540 and 550 dual base seems to spread the pressure out (2 pressure spikes) this allows more velocity without dangerous pressure spikes. (540 and 550 are a bit more temperature sensitive but not horribly).
 
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