308 winchester powder choices
- Thread starter 257robertsimproved
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Personally, I like Varget with .308. Speer's manual doesn't have Varget listed with the 165gr, but it does for the 168gr. The weights are 42.0-46.0 grains.
You could also go with BL-C2 and a magnum primer, I had good results with that powder as well, in which case 38.0-42.0 grains.
You could also go with BL-C2 and a magnum primer, I had good results with that powder as well, in which case 38.0-42.0 grains.
Most popular powders: Varget, Reloder 15, IMR 4064, 4320 and 4895, Vihtavuori N140 and N540, H414 and BLC(2).
I've also had excellent results with 50 grains of IMR 4350 and a 165-grain bullet. It's a ##### getting all that coarse powder into a .308 case, however, but the load is quite moderate, and it gives good velocity.
For sheer velocity, though, I think Vihtavuori N550 is hard to beat. It's pricey and hard to get, but it gives insane velocities and excellent accuracy.
If you go with Varget, Reloder 15, 4064 or N140, most people find something between 44 and 46 grains to be the best, depending upon the powders and rifle.
I've also had excellent results with 50 grains of IMR 4350 and a 165-grain bullet. It's a ##### getting all that coarse powder into a .308 case, however, but the load is quite moderate, and it gives good velocity.
For sheer velocity, though, I think Vihtavuori N550 is hard to beat. It's pricey and hard to get, but it gives insane velocities and excellent accuracy.
If you go with Varget, Reloder 15, 4064 or N140, most people find something between 44 and 46 grains to be the best, depending upon the powders and rifle.
gushulak
CGN frequent flyer
Varget is THE powder in .308, I use 44.0gr with the 168gr. SMK so try around that range with the 165gr. Manuals list 46gr. max with a 168gr. bullet, I find 44gr. gives the best accuracy from my Rem700P, velocity 2650fps. I have tried BLC-2 and Win-748 and of the three Varget is the clear choice!
Varget has been the main powder for target rifle shooting here in Ontario for the last few years. However RL-15 seems to be coming on strong in the last year or so.
High velocity does not always = accuracy. Work up the loads and find out what your rifle likes best.
High velocity does not always = accuracy. Work up the loads and find out what your rifle likes best.
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I like Reloader 15 
308BAR said:
My rifle is a stainless Ruger MKII. My brother-in-law shoots a Parker Hale 1200. We use the exact same load in both with similar accuacy:
Winchester brass
Federal 210 primer
IMR4064: 43.0gr
Sierra BTHP 165gr
The Sierra BTHP is the most accurate, but 165gr Hornadys also shoot well as do 165gr Sierra SP's.
Last time I was to Grandlund's in Campbell River Karle recommended giving H-380 a try as he'd had good luck with it in his 308s. Good call, for 165gr Hornadays I recently worked up a load of 50 grains (max 50.5 Lyman manual) for my Ruger mark 11 rifle. Makes 2740 ft/s in the 22" bbl and just a whisker over MOA accuracey
Other than that I like RL 15 too and have some 3031 that I'll give a go one of these days....
Other than that I like RL 15 too and have some 3031 that I'll give a go one of these days....
308BAR said:
I go up .2 of a grain at a time the first go around. 5 of each. Once you find the sweet spot a second round of testing with the best loads and .1 grain increments. Then of course you start playing with seating depths to see if you can squeeze just a bit more accuracy out of the load.
Not something you want to do if you have to drive 50 miles to the range each time just to do testing. My test range is the backyard.
I use Varget and it works well for me but I know a lot of guys are going to Reloader 15 with good results.
When I want to work up a new load I size and prime a bunch of cases then bring them to the range with a Lee Loader, bullets, powder, scale and vernier caliper. That way I don't have to go home and reload some more cartridges based on what I find, I can do it all in one trip based on what I see with each shot or group.
When I want to work up a new load I size and prime a bunch of cases then bring them to the range with a Lee Loader, bullets, powder, scale and vernier caliper. That way I don't have to go home and reload some more cartridges based on what I find, I can do it all in one trip based on what I see with each shot or group.
