308 powder

Thanks for the responses, no wonder there are so many where can I get varget threads. So I have to ask, where can I get varget online or something else mentioned? I've checked a few sites and haven't found anything. Last time I bought powder I bought a lot so I haven't seen how short supply has been recently.
 
W748 under both 150gr .308 and 55gr .223.

Under the 150gr pill, 46gr of 748 approximates the Military load.
42 gr of IMR-3031 " " " "
42.5gr of IMR-4895 " " " "
43gr of IMR-4064 " " " "
 
H or IMR 4895, Varget, W748, RL 15, IMR 4320, Imr 4064, Ramshot TAC, Vihtavuori N140 or N540, Accurate 2460, H380, H335, IMR 3031.....
The 308 cartridge is fairly Catholic in it's tastes, with many different powders working well.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Gleevo said:
What are you guys using for reloading 308? I haven't reloaded rifle yet just pistol and am not sure what everyone is using. Yes, I did read the reloading manual just looking for powder opinions.
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I'm reloading 308 for my Norinco M14 (M1A). I tried 9 different powders to see what it likes.

Here is what I tried. All loads were Remington once-fired FL sized brass. I used CCI Benchrest Large Rifle BR-2 primes. Hornaday 155gr A-Max 30 cal 308" bullets.

I loaded 10 of each powde using a middle of the range load in all. I have 7 sources for data. Hornaday #8, Speer #14, Lyman 39 (I think), Lee, Barnes, Nosler, and Hodgdon's Data site (basically the Lee data from what I can see. I took data from every manual for each powder if I have it. I took all the starting loads for a given powder, added the grain values, and divided by the # of entries to get an average. I did the same for each manual's Maximum loads. I then chose a grain weight halfway in between the average for the minimum and maximum average numbers. I checked to make sure it did not exceed any manuals maximum, and if it did not, that is the load I used. I did this for every powder I had.

I used Vihtavuori N-140, Win 748, IMR 4350, IMR 8208XBR, Hodgdon Benchmark, Hodgdon H322, Hodgdon Varget, Hodgdon 4895, and Hodgdon BL-C(2).

The best groups were shot with Vihtavuori N140 and Hodgdon H322. Almost no difference. Hodgdon Varget and IMR 8208 XBR were close runners up. Win 748 and Hodgdon BL-C(2) were a little bigger groups. Hodgdon 4895 wasn't too great. Finally, IMR 4350 and Hodgdon Benchmark were very open with a couple fliers in each group.

I reload in bulk for practice with Varget because I have 16lbs of it. For my match reloads, I use 322 because it meters so consistently.

Those are my results. In my experience, every rifle prefers a different powder. This may give you a starting point, but I do encouraghe you to try a few and see what YOUR rifle likes.
 
I like Varget, then I go to H4895 or IMR 4895.
Of course the Varget loads are 168 grain and up and I like using 150grain with the 4895s that I bought from HN at Budget in bulk.
I am looking for a load of BLC2 though just for a pound to see how that works.

Pretty soon I will be doing a bulk order through Higginsons once I know what more they may be getting in.

The Wife said its ok to order 21 pounds up for fathers day.:D
 
P2 said:
I like Varget, then I go to H4895 or IMR 4895.
Of course the Varget loads are 168 grain and up and I like using 150grain with the 4895s that I bought from HN at Budget in bulk.
I am looking for a load of BLC2 though just for a pound to see how that works.

Pretty soon I will be doing a bulk order through Higginsons once I know what more they may be getting in.

The Wife said its ok to order 21 pounds up for fathers day.:D
Click to expand...

I get the shakes when I have less than 5 pounds of Varget on hand. Good stuff. Works with everything from .223 to .308.
 
I have used Varget, H4895 and W748 for years in .308 loads... But in the past year CFE-223 has replaced them as my go to powder (also in .223, .243, .260 and 7-08). It is faster AND more accurate... A rare situation.
 
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