Favourite Powder for 308

[dwightlooi]

Hi all,

(1) What are your favorite powder and load for an accurate 308 loading?

(2) Currently I only use 2 loads for 308 which I shoot from 3 guns -- Weatherby Vanguard SII (24"), FAL clone and G3 clone (PTR):-

Load #1
Bullet: Sierra 155 Gr Palma Matchking (2156)
Powder Type: Hodgdon CFE223
Powder: 50.5 +- 0.02 grains
Primer: Federal 210M
Case: Federal, Hornady and/or PMC
COAL: 2.805
Trim Length: 2.010
Velocity: 2920 fps (24"), 2740 (18")

Load #2
Bullet: Sierra 155 Gr Palma Matchking (2156)
Powder Type: IMR4064
Powder: 46.2 +- 0.02 grains
Primer: Federal 210M
Case: Federal, Hornady and/or PMC
COAL: 2.805
Trim Length: 2.010
Velocity: 2800 fps (24"), 2650 (18")

(3) I am almost out of powder and both types that I use is currently out of stock and unavailable everywhere. I particularly like the CFE223 (because it is a ball powder) but it is impossible to find these days. So I am open to other powders. Heard of decent to god results with 4895, RL-15 and Varget, but have never tried these. I think Win 748 is ball too, but I haven't tried that either.

(4) I still have about ~100 bullets, but think I can still get the bullets.

Note: I notice that with the 2156 bullet and 4064 you CANNOT approach the maximum load of on typical manuals. The 2156 bullet is longer than the regular 2155 155 gr matchking. Loaded to spec COAL it intrudes deeper into the case. And, the 4064 starts to become compressed sooner. This is not a problem with CFE223.

[ExtremeX]

BL-C2

[Bastard]

I prefer IMR-4064 (as apparently you do as well)

I am sure that Varget will come up quite a bit and you will probably find 4064 before Varget.

I used IMR-4895 with good luck though not as good as 4064

also I have heard good things about Ramshot TAC but I haven't had the need to try it (I still have about 7# of 4064 )

[OpenSightsOnly]

Sierra's 2156 is as long as 168 SMK.

Since 4064 is a long-stick powder, you are going to hear the powder crunch while seating. Some folks use a drop tube to eliminate the air space.

If you don't have seating issues with the 4064 and 2156 combo, then you should be GTG . . .

Hi all,

(1) What are your favorite powder and load for an accurate 308 loading?

(2) Currently I only use 2 loads for 308 which I shoot from 3 guns -- Weatherby Vanguard SII (24"), FAL clone and G3 clone (PTR):-

Load #1
Bullet: Sierra 155 Gr Palma Matchking (2156)
Powder Type: Hodgdon CFE223
Powder: 50.5 +- 0.02 grains
Primer: Federal 210M
Case: Federal, Hornady and/or PMC
COAL: 2.805
Trim Length: 2.010
Velocity: 2920 fps (24"), 2740 (18")

Load #2
Bullet: Sierra 155 Gr Palma Matchking (2156)
Powder Type: IMR4064
Powder: 46.2 +- 0.02 grains
Primer: Federal 210M
Case: Federal, Hornady and/or PMC
COAL: 2.805
Trim Length: 2.010
Velocity: 2800 fps (24"), 2650 (18")

(3) I am almost out of powder and both types that I use is currently out of stock and unavailable everywhere. I particularly like the CFE223 (because it is a ball powder) but it is impossible to find these days. So I am open to other powders. Heard of decent to god results with 4895, RL-15 and Varget, but have never tried these. I think Win 748 is ball too, but I haven't tried that either.

(4) I still have about ~100 bullets, but think I can still get the bullets.

Note: I notice that with the 2156 bullet and 4064 you CANNOT approach the maximum load of on typical manuals. The 2156 bullet is longer than the regular 2155 155 gr matchking. Loaded to spec COAL it intrudes deeper into the case. And, the 4064 starts to become compressed sooner. This is not a problem with CFE223.

[NorCalFocus]

Varget is mine, but the IMR 4064 is another popular one.

Also you just gotta keep an eye out. I picked up 5#'s of Varget in the last month.

[DelDanko]

reloader 15

[hk91666]

reloader 15

[dwightlooi]

I prefer IMR-4064 (as apparently you do as well)

I am sure that Varget will come up quite a bit and you will probably find 4064 before Varget.

I used IMR-4895 with good luck though not as good as 4064

also I have heard good things about Ramshot TAC but I haven't had the need to try it (I still have about 7# of 4064 )

4064 with "regular" 155 SMKs will not crunch at 45 grains, it starts becoming a compressed load between 46.5 and 47.5 grains.

With the 155 2156 Palma, it starts to crunch at ~45 grains.

[CK_32]

Vargets a pretty popular powder over on SH and with most guys I've shot with that have good loads.


Its all I've ever used so my powder world is a bit small.

[Lunyfrog]

Reloder 15

[Cypriss32]

I shoot RL15, H4895, IMR 4895, Varget. I will try 2000MR with heavies, it gets crazy good velocities.

[Timberwolf]

There are lots of good powders for 308 - the standards are H4895, IMR4895, Varget, IMR4064, RE15, and RE17 & H4350/IMR 4350 for heavy bullets

I'd try either of the 4895 powders.

[cpatbay]

RL15 and 4064 for me.

[bsumoba]

going to be using: H355, Varget, 748, Benchmark, and 8208XBR. Wait a minute...thats the same stuff I use in my .223 reloading!

I havent built my JP clone 308 in 20" but I already have brass, primers, and powder so I just need to build the thing, load some boolits and go ladder testing and pet load hunting.

[Spanky8601]

There was a thread about 3 years ago where someone said that 42.5 grains of 4064 with 168 grain Sierra BTHP was the same as a Federal Gold Medal Match bullet. He compared up the size, weight and shape of the 4064 on a bunch of FGMM he had pulled apart. I tried it and liked it.