Best Powder?

bill c68

bill c68

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Looking for opinions.

What is the best powder for 30-06 based cartridges and .308? AND WHY?
Accuracy, temp? etc.

I have been using Varget in 22-250 and 7mm-08 seems to do the trick.

Varget can be used in the 06 but I understood it was more for the smaller cases.
 
WOW! you narrowed it down to about 20 LOL!

For 308 i have used with great success 4895 both IMR and H RL-15, BLC-2, H-380, IMR 4064, Benchmark, Varget. I use Varget and BLC-2 most of the time. But starting to play with Benchmark because it meters well and is showing potential with accuracy off the bench.

For 30-06 its a bit less for me I have used RL-22 and IMR 4064, along with 4895 and some H 4350 with heavy bullets. I finf 4064 seems to work in every 30-06 to a certain point for hunting accuracy anyway.

Why because the 30-06 and moe so the 308 are pretty forgiving to load for and accept a wide range of powder burn rates.

Thats my 2 cents feel free to give me change back if you wish.
 
Powder criteria. The "best" powder will be one that fills the case to the base of the bullet with a full power load. With the 30-06 the most popular is probably 4350. However, this is only so for bullets of about 180 grains. H4831 will likely give a bit more speed to a 180 bullet, without overload, but the powder may be compressed a bit, which is just fine with the 4831. Where that powder really shines in a 30-06 is in bullet weights of 200 and 220.
A faster powder that gets full, maximum pressure, without filling the case, is far from ideal.
150 grain bullets should have a powder more in the class of 4064, 4320, or maybe even 4895, in the 30-06. 4350 is often used, but a full cae probably won't be a very hot load with a 150 bullet.
 
I have tried a lot of powders over the years, but in a Rem 700 Bdl 1/10 twist
and 168 gr match to test and 165gr Acubonds to hunt Rl 19 was by far the best in my gun, I know its only three shots but at 300 yards off bench 4 shot group was just over the 1.25" Note: the brass was neckturned, primer pockets done, and necksized only, just kissing the lands,you would have to seat bullets more to cycle in magazine to hunt with and it could affect to acuracy results some.
Good luck
P1040081.jpg
 
In the .30/06 I like SR-4759 for cast bullets. This powder was developed for testing helmets and things at down range velocities, so it's a natural for accurate low velocity applications. I've used 3031 with mixed results and have pretty much abandoned it in the .30/06. IMR 4064 and 4895 have a long and illustrious history for good accuracy with light to mid weight bullets and my experience is no different. There's no reason why Varget would not produce good accuracy with mid weight bullets in the '06, but I reserve mine for the .243. H-4350 or Win-760/H-380 is my choice for heavy bullets. I used to use H-4831 quite a bit, but I've decided that drop tubes are a pain and that there is no velocity advantage over 4350, particularly when very long bullets like heavy Barnes 200 gr X's or 240 gr Woodleighs are loaded. The ball powders are particularly nice with these long bullets due to their higher loading density.
 
The Sierra manual has accuracy load listings and in a lot of instances, I use their 'suggestion' as a starting point. Your firearm used and choice of bullet may well vary from what they're using but I've always found their info pretty reliable and again, a good starting point in testing for accuracy.
Generalising, one of the powders I've had the best success with in 7x57, 30-06, 300WM and 308NM is IMR 4350. Years ago when I was reloading for my 308, a powder that worked well for me was 748.
 
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