Best All-Around Powder for 308

[yoda4x4]

I've got two (2) 308 rifles that I'm planning on reloading for - 110 Storm and 110 Tactical. The 110 Storm is going to be a hunting rig with the 110 Tactical being a bench gun. Up until now I've always been planning on using IMR 4064, but I'm starting to get second thoughts. I've been starting to think that IMR 3031 and/or 4895 would be as good or possibly a better choice. I don't want to buy multiple powders so I'm looking at just buying one powder. What would you all recommend as an all around good powder for both guns?

David

[hardnosestreetcop]

David no two rifles will like the same bullet weight,powder, primer. The 308 Winchester is a very forgiving round to reload, if one of your rifles are going to a hunting rifle then use a hunting bullet, if one is going to be a target rifle then use target bullets . IMR-3031 with the Sierra 168 Gr International today we know it as the Matchking was the original powder used by the Marines rifle team, then the changed to IMR-4895 and on to IMR-4064. Today we know as the Gold Metal Match. A good bullet weight for hunting is a 165 Gr boat tail from Nosler or Speer.

[yoda4x4]

David no two rifles will like the same bullet weight,powder, primer. The 308 Winchester is a very forgiving round to reload, if one of your rifles are going to a hunting rifle then use a hunting bullet, if one is going to be a target rifle then use target bullets . IMR-3031 with the Sierra 168 Gr International today we know it as the Matchking was the original powder used by the Marines rifle team, then the changed to IMR-4895 and on to IMR-4064. Today we know as the Gold Metal Match. A good bullet weight for hunting is a 165 Gr boat tail from Nosler or Speer.

As of right now, my plan for the Tactical is to shoot 168gr Matchkings as Federal GMM 168gr shoots really good out of the gun. And for the 110 Storm, the #1 bullet that I'm looking at is the Hornady 165gr BTSP since they're readily available; my mind isn't made up on this yet though. I just want to try to use 1 powder for the both of them.

David

[CFJunkie]

I've had good results with H4895 (an extreme powder that is very insensitive to temperature variations) and VV N140 (moderately temperature sensitive).
I've had great results with IMR4166 Enduron (also temperature insensitive), and very good results with IMR4064 (temperature sensitive).

I have two 110 Savage .308s - both Law Enforcement models. One likes 155 grain and 168 grain bullets, best the other likes 175 and 195 grain bullets best even though they both have 24 inch Savage barrels.
Unfortunately, you almost have to test each of your barrels to confirm their preferences - I was surprised that my two .308s had such different preferences.

[hardnosestreetcop]

As of right now, my plan for the Tactical is to shoot 168gr Matchkings as Federal GMM 168gr shoots really good out of the gun. And for the 110 Storm, the #1 bullet that I'm looking at is the Hornady 165gr BTSP since they're readily available; my mind isn't made up on this yet though. I just want to try to use 1 powder for the both of them.

David
iam not saying that it can’t be done, but since those two bullets has different ogives profiles that inself requires good attention to detail. During your load development you are going to need to use the CBTO method, which is more accurate than the COAL method.

[NF1E]

IMR-8208,Varget,IMR-4895, IMR-4064 all represent excellent powders for the .308. I have been shooting a lot of 150 gn Berger fb bullets over 41.5 gn of 8208 lately with good results and right around 2600 fps. Shot this 10 dot target at 100 yds recently with an M14. I think sub .5 moa for 9 of the 10 rnds is pretty decent.

80098010

[charlie b]

Yes, different rifles like different bullets. Mine likes the 155's and can do ok with the 168 AMax, but, not so much the 168SMK.

Varget is what I used the most. IMR4166 is another that does ok for me. Have not tried many of the others cause I need cartridges that perform closer over a wider temp range. I have used RL15 and BLC2. They do well on days when the temps don't change much. Summer out here not so much.

[Robinhood]

Good advice above.


BLC-2: Great for the 168
Reloder 15: Temp sensitive but if you know you weather a top powder. Very predictable in speed variation.
Varget: Most used powder for a good reason
4064: good for the 175SMK at 2600-2650. Not bad with the 185 Berger
H4895:
IMR 4895 Worked for a long time.
8208XBR:

VV 140, 150, 540, 550.

Take your pick and make it work. with sound case prep and reloading practices you will find good results. Some of those powders like different primers but if your not going long It will be easy to get a good load.

I have seen great results with all of these powders and realized great results with most of them.

Varget and BLC-2 are top contenders for your weight class.

Best of Luck

[yoda4x4]

I appreciate all of your comments and after reading them I realized that I'd like to make a clarification. While perfection is always the goal, I have modest expectations for my reloads. They are: 3/4 MOA out to 300 yds. That's it. Thanks again. In your mind, is this easy or difficult to obtain given my preference for only 1 powder?

David

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[GrenGuy]

Given Your preference and clarification above, I would say You would be hard pressed to find a powder that “ won’t “work in a 308(reasonably speaking, of course). After all, the 308 Win is the most inherently accurate chambering of all time :rolleyes:

[yoda4x4]

Given Your preference and clarification above, I would say You would be hard pressed to find a powder that “ won’t “work in a 308(reasonably speaking, of course). After all, the 308 Win is the most inherently accurate chambering of all time :rolleyes:Ok... Thanks for that.

David

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[halfmile]

My best 308 round is 52 gr. of 760/414 behind a 150 Game king. No need to look any further.

HM

[JeepsAndGuns]

In my two rifles, I have had my best accuracy with IMR 3031 and AR-comp. Even though AR-comp is made for, well, AR's, it actually has been performing extremely well in my bolt action 308 and 223.
I have shot from 155gr up to 175gr bullets with 3031 and it always seems to be on top for accuracy. If it is not top, then it is usually 2nd place behind AR-comp.
I have tried RL15, varget, BLC-2, 8208, and a few others I can not remember. 3031 keeps coming out ahead of the others.

[charlie b]

Problem is these days you can't be very picky about what powders you buy. That is really the good part about the .308. Almost any of the above will work and get you less than MOA. Keep in mind that shooting less than MOA is more about the shooter than the rifle and reload.

[wbm]

Best All-Around?

IMR 4064

[charlie b]

https://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

[SharpShooter82]

Last year I started loading for my new 110T using Varget and Nosler 168gr HPBT custom competition bullets. I am starting testing with IMR4064 and the same bullets so will have to see.

From my research the .308win is a very forgiving cartridge and I feel that any of the powders mentioned so far in this thread will work fine.

Like you I am not going for “minute of knat’s butt” accuracy. With the Varget I have gotten many sub MOA groups on my 80 yard range if I do my part, I am pleased with this.

I enjoy doing the load development testing so in the future I plan to expand testing of many different powders and other components just for record. I will choose what work best using components that are readily available most of the time. But I will have info to be able to use most other components when things get hard to find.

Eric


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