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?
.308 win powder
- Thread starter Hmatt
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Since about 1990's, I have been using RL-15 powder with 165 grain Speer HotCor bullets in a Winchester Model 70 in 308 Win. Fed 210 primers, Winchester (W-W), Remington (R-P) and Federal (Fed) brass have been used. Earlier than that load, I was using IMR 4064 powder with Sierra Soft Point Boat Tail 165 grain bullets. If I could not get any more RL-15 powder, I think I would try Varget - because I have some here. That RL-15 load gets right around 2,800 fps on the old Shooting Chrony - many times - it is listed as "maximum" load in the Speer #14 Reloading Manual. The quantity of RL-15 powder that I have been using for past 20 years is actually 0.5 grain below what Speer lists as "maximum".
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Thank you for that, I’ve been considering a jug of varget as it works in my 6.5x55 aswell. If I can get reasonable results out of both
I’ll switch to that.
300_savage
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
I mostly use imr4064 in 308 and 150-168gr bullets. Tried a few other powders but haven't found any better for accuracy than 4064 in my rifle.
Hmatt, you just aren't giving us enough useful information to answer your question properly, without have to make assumptions.
For one thing you don't mention the type of rifles you're shooting these two cartridges out of.
The reason this is important is because you are comparing apples to oranges as far as pressure differentials between the two cartridges.
Depending on the rifles being used, and depending on what sort of performance you're looking for out of them, you may just need two powders.
Either of your original choices are just fine for both cartridges. However, you can greatly enhance the performance of the 6.5x55 if it's chambered in an acton that is stronger/safer than the M96 type Swede Mauser receivers.
If you're willing to accept the limitations of one powder between the two, all of the recommended powders so far will do equally as well.
Many good powders. Varget, 4895, RL15,748, BLC2. Varget is a safe choice but all these powders are a bit fast for a 6.5x55. If you are shooting heavier bullets in the 308, like 180, then something like 4350 is good for both calibers.
Probably 8/10 target rifle shooters that are limited to 155 gr bullets will be shooting Varget. With the powder shortages in the last few years things have changed depending on what you could get your hands on, in volume to shoot the season with. VV N140, VV N150, IMR 4895 and 4064, and Reloader 15 and of course Varget if you had a stockpile.
Saving my 4350 for tje 30-06
