.308 & 30-06 - What powder for both?

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kb50

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Hey everyone,

I've got an old 30-06 & a new 308 that I plan on reloading with the same components. Picked out 165 gr Interbonds, CCI primers, new brass for the 308 (once fired for the 30-06).... Now I just need to know what & how much powder I should use to reload both. I'm not looking to enter competitions or tweak to the max. This will only be for hunting & paper punching. I plan on buying a 7/8 lb tub-o-powder and I don't own the reloading equipment as I will be enlisting the help of a friend. Just want to be able to bring everything to him and start pressing. Thanks in advance.
 
My humble newbie opinion is to start with a smaller tub of powder and make sure it works for what you want it to do. You may end up wanting to try one or two and/or might find one rifle likes one and the other likes another.

I too have a 30-06 and a .308 Win. I bought 1 lb tubs of IMR 4350 and Varget based on suggestions from others here and have followed the recipe in the reloading manuals to the tee with good results so far.

So far I've loaded Hornady Match 168gr and have purchased Hornady 180 gr Interbonds and SSTs for my 30-06.
 
I've loaded for 2 30-06's ( Garand and BAR) and 1 308 (M14) for years. 165 gr Hornady SP's in '06's and 150 FMJ's in Norinco. Tried most of the medium burning powders and settled on IMR 4064 years ago. These were both hunting and plinking loads. Good accuracy and the right burning rate for the gas operated semi autos. Have used up more than 30lbs. Only small issue is that it is long grained and may not meter evenly with some powder measures. Works OK through my old Lyman 55.
 
I am just buying a couple pounds of the most common types and finding out what my rifles like best before committing to 7-8 lb of one type of powder .
I have Varget and H4895 and will get some IMR4895 ,IMR4064.
 
IMR4064, Varget and will give a try Re17.
I like IMR4064, IMO one of the best powder in medium group.
 
Whatever powder you decide on, do the math and see how many loads you'll get from a pound (7,000 grains) before you commit to 7 or 8 pounds. That's a lot of shooting for .308/30-'06.
 
I am not sure that you will found a powder that will be really good in both. It may excell in one and do just so-so in the other, especially with that bullet weight. If it were 150 grainers only, then I think it may be a bit easier choice as H4895 may fit the bill.
 
As others have stated, mediums like - BL-C2, 4895, Varget, 4064.

I have found 4350 and similar slower powders too slow for .308.

Personally I've been using IMR 4895 with both 150's and 165's in both .308 (45.0 gr) and 30-06 (50.0 gr) and have found it works well. I get about 75 fps more with the 30-06 than the .308 with same bullet weights.
 
Vihitori N150 or N140 will run fine in both, I have run both in those calibers as per Lapuas loading data chart with great results
 
I use surplus powder from Higginson's (WC735). I buy it in 21lb lots for $17 a pound.
Being a cheap-assed SOB, I have been using this powder for everything for years. .223, .243, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x54Rmm, .303Br, .308, .30-06. I have loaded every weight of bullet in each. Though, while not the perfect powder, it works just fine and has never failed to bring home dinner.
 
You did not mention what rifles you have in those calibers. If it is a Garand and a M14, the answer is that both of them require a medium speed powder, with Varget or 4320 probably being as slow as you can go.

If both your rifles are bolt or lever action, then any powder from 4895 to 4350 would be fine. A pound of powder only makes about 150 rounds, so an 8 pounder won't last very long. Since you are not trying for bench rest type accuracy, a ball powder is a good choice because it meters dead nuts without having to weigh each charge. I use BLC2 and H380 in your application, for that reason.
 
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