Got a few lbs of IMR 4198 at a bargain basement price (I’m weak). My Speer # 12 book says it’s good for reduced loads as well as 45-70 (and the smaller calibres too). So far as I can see, there’s enough experience around - in this forum - to encourage you to develop a low recoil load “for the kids”. For my part, I shoot casts so I’ll develop some plinking loads and have some fun.
IMR 4198 308 Win
- Thread starter canadianshooter
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have a very old DuPont IMR basic reloading manual. It lists ALL their rifle powders for each cartridge.
For .308 Win. Rem case, Rem 9-1/2 primer and IMR 4198 in a 23" barrel it shows the following maximum loads:
110 gr. Hornady PSP, 38.5 Gr. - 3015 FPS - 51,100 CUP
150 gr. Remington PSP, 35.5 Gr. - 2595 FPS - 51,300 CUP
180 gr. Remington PSP, 33.5 Gr. - 2350 FPS - 51,600 CUP
For .308 Win. Rem case, Rem 9-1/2 primer and IMR 4198 in a 23" barrel it shows the following maximum loads:
110 gr. Hornady PSP, 38.5 Gr. - 3015 FPS - 51,100 CUP
150 gr. Remington PSP, 35.5 Gr. - 2595 FPS - 51,300 CUP
180 gr. Remington PSP, 33.5 Gr. - 2350 FPS - 51,600 CUP
I had to jump into the way-back machine for this one.
BTW, later data does not show 4198 data, However, cast bullet data does show 4198. Cast and jacketed data differs, jacketed will be slower with higher pressure. Good Luck.
Cast data for reference.
BTW, later data does not show 4198 data, However, cast bullet data does show 4198. Cast and jacketed data differs, jacketed will be slower with higher pressure. Good Luck.
Cast data for reference.
For reduced loads with oddball powders not normally used for a specific cartridge I often use cast bullet data. The pressures are so low, any increase from using a jacketed bullet instead of a cast is still well within SAAMI specs. I've done it with various cartridges to make light plinking loads.
My Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook shows a bunch of loads for IMR 4198 in .308
150gr bullet 20.0-26.6gr producing 1717-2201fps at 13k-26k psi
170gr bullet 24.0-30.5gr producing 1897-2341fps at 23-48k psi
180gr bullet 26.5-32.0gr producting 1856-2229fps at 22-40k psi
Bunch of other weights as well. Cast bullets tend to go a little faster than a jacketed of the same weight with the same load. But as said these are all pretty tame pressure-wise so even a 10-20% spike would be well within safe limits from starting loads.
My Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook shows a bunch of loads for IMR 4198 in .308
150gr bullet 20.0-26.6gr producing 1717-2201fps at 13k-26k psi
170gr bullet 24.0-30.5gr producing 1897-2341fps at 23-48k psi
180gr bullet 26.5-32.0gr producting 1856-2229fps at 22-40k psi
Bunch of other weights as well. Cast bullets tend to go a little faster than a jacketed of the same weight with the same load. But as said these are all pretty tame pressure-wise so even a 10-20% spike would be well within safe limits from starting loads.
canadianshooter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Northern BC
Thanks for all the info. Gotta find time to get loading and shooting now.
Update
I plink with cast 145 gr wadcutters in a 338-06. So I started with 35 gr of 4198 ... and my first shot was on a metal gong at 30 yards. It set the gong swinging, as expected, but when it slowed down I noticed a hole in the 1/4 inch plate. Whoa! I now have a hunting load. Same load worked well on 225 gr casts at 90 yards. Primers showed no signs pressure in both cases. Can’t report on accuracy since I was distracted by black flies.
