308 Win IMR4895 Powder

[DueceMcGurk]

Beginning to reload 308 for my new bolt gun. Anyone have experience with 168 Sierra Match Kings over IMR 4895? Will start out target shooting at 100 yds. to zero the rifle.

Thanks.

[kevins750]

That is a very popular combo.

[golfish]

Duece, just curious what the twist rate is on your barrel?

[DueceMcGurk]

Golf,
Howa 1500 308. 1:10 twist.

[Paseclipse]

4198 pushing a 168 gr SMK is a classic hand load.

Here's a good article that's for the M14 but will also work for pretty much anything-

http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf

If your rifle doesn't shoot the load Zediker writes about in this publication, then there's something wrong with your rifle.

[Shab21]

I looked at my old recipe book and out of my bolt action SSG3000 my load was:

168 MK @ 43.2 gr.

[slamfire1]

IMR 4895 was the powder used in the development of the T65 cartridge and as such, is an excellent choice for the cartridge. (I found data where IMR 3031 was also used, but I think they started with IMR 4895 because that's what they were using in the Garand during WW2) One of the things I liked about IMR 4895 was that it has a wide "sweet spot"

A bud of mine fired this 20 round group in a 100 yard reduced NRA across the course match. This was fired, prone, with irons, single loaded.



Accurate Arms 2495 is Accurate Arms copy of IMR 4895, but stupidly AA calls it something different.

I did this in one match, with irons, prone with a sling.



This load, a 168 Match bullet, with 39.0 grains of IMR 4895, was popular as a 200 yard standing and sitting rapid fire load. It is obviously, very accurate, and did not kick a lot.

As a general rule, for distances greater than 200 yard paper punching, a 168 grain bullet with 40.5 grs IMR 4895 is a full pressure load in a new barrel. As the mileage increased on my match barrels, I would end up at 41.5 grs IMR 4895. I do not recommend increasing above this as the probability of a pierced primer and sticking case increases. The most common M1a load at an across the course match was a 168 SMK with 40.5 to 41.5 grains IMR 4895, OAL 2.8".

[highpower790]

Depending on the distance and time of year, my loads were 39-43gr using LC match brass and smk 168/175.

[FLIGHT762]

4198 pushing a 168 gr SMK is a classic hand load.

You have you powder numbers jumbled. 4198 is a bit too fast for the 168.

[DueceMcGurk]

Thanks guys.
This gives me a good 4895 powder range to build a load. Have new Hornady match brass. Already full length sized. Will break-in the rifle and use the fire formed brass for reloading.

Starting test load will be:
168 SMK
39.0 gr 4895
2.800 OAL

Will work up in 0.5 gr increments from there.

Excited to shoot this caliber. Thanks again. Be safe.

[golfish]

Thanks guys.
This gives me a good 4895 powder range to build a load. Have new Hornady match brass. Already full length sized. Will break-in the rifle and use the fire formed brass for reloading.

Starting test load will be:
168 SMK
39.0 gr 4895
2.800 OAL

Will work up in 0.5 gr increments from there.

Excited to shoot this caliber. Thanks again. Be safe.

Please let me know how this works for ya.
I fixed your OAL

[DueceMcGurk]

Thanks Golf,
That is twice this weekend that I have said "1.800" regarding that load.

[five.five-six]

I’m actually considering switching over to 4895 from varget because varget is such a PITA to meter and find.

I load 168 SMKs as well

[Shab21]

4895 was better out of my bolt than Varget

[Shab21]

I also use h4895 for my 6Dasher loads instead of Varget.