308 - best powder for velocities in 2400 to 2500 range

[JWK1]

I'm getting my first 308 and will be using it for deer hunting this fall. Ranges will be in the 50 - 125 yard for the most part. Definately nothing at 200 yards and probably never over 150. So I'm thinking to start with a cup and core bullet like the Hornady Interloks with modest velocity.

What powder would you recommend for consistency and accuracy in this velocity range? So far I'm thinking 4064, IMR or AA. Maybe Varget, but I hear that it doesn't work as well in the lower range.

Thanks for any advice and info.

[rjtfroggy]

What your asking is very selective to YOUR rifle, each and every one has it's own likes and dislikes so the only way to find out is to test yours. Read the suggested loads from the manuals and then make a decission.
What I can tell you is my 20" mod. 10LE likes 150 gr. smk with 41.8 grns. IMR 4895, my other 308 that I put together with mod. 12 single shot and now with a Criterion 26" barrel is a work in progress(hoping to finish this weekend) is coming in with a 42.6-42.8 grns. of the same powder. we will see.

[earl39]

You don't say what weight bullet you plan to shoot. To stay under 2500fps you almost have to go to a 168gr bullet or larger unless you do a reduced load. I think i would worry less about speed and more about what works in your rifle. If you want less recoil use a lighter bullet. If you want to have a large selection of powders to use and stay inside your 24-2500 fps window you will have to go to a heavy bullet. Both will kill deer and both will travel a long way if you hit nothing.

[M.O.A.]

Why do you want to stay in that range and like has been asked what bullet weight??????

[M.O.A.]

But any way here's one for you 180gn sp interlock over 43gns varget would be around 2500 and a good hunting round but I bet it kicks like a mule ;-)

[JWK1]

Yes, I neglected to mention the bullet weight. Sorry about that. I'm going to try 125gr or 130gr first, then maybe go to 150gr if that doesn't work out. I think the lighter weight will be fine for my purpose.

To answer M.O.A.'s question as to why I want that range; it's because I shot a 270 for many years out west and I know what the standard cup and core bullets do within 100 yards when they're going over 2700 fps. These type of bullets work best between the 2200 and 2600 fps range. Nice mushroom without blowing a lot of animal apart.

In any case, it seems like I have found my answer. H4895 works for this range in anything up to and including 165gr bullets.

[BigHorn]

This is old news but still useful sometimes. I have never had the rifles shoot to same POA as there full power loads but the reduced loads always gave good accuracy

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

[darkker]

Win 748