.308 win - Accuracy Powder

[fgw_in_fla]

You guys shooting the .308 with a 24" barrel, What powder works best for you? Accuracy, not speed or hunting, etc. I have on hand:

IMR 3031
IMR 4895
IMR 4064
IMR4320
IMR4350
RL15
RL19
H380 (which I hate. Reminds me of metering salt)
H4831 (too slow)...

[yobuck]

4320 with a 168 smk shoots ragged holes in my grandsons 308 savage.
its the heavy model with muzzel brake and alum bedding.

[fgw_in_fla]

4320 with a 168 smk shoots ragged holes in my grandsons 308 savage.
its the heavy model with muzzel brake and alum bedding.

I was really hoping someone would say that.
I sure do have a lot of it. It's good in my .243, too

[kelbro]

4064 for me and several different bullets.

[Topsail]

4064 is my go to powder for accuracy in my M1A and bolt guns. However, my FTR really likes Varget.

[JWW123]

Frank my 308 likes rl15 42.5g have fun

[jhelmuth]

Frank,

I'm using RL-15 very successfully in my 30" Heavy Bull CBI. Given the extra 6" (over the 24") I would venture a guess that the 4320 might be a slightly better powder, but I'd probably try both and see what results I get. Ones I would rule out are:

IMR 3031
IMR 4895
RL19
H380
H4831

Jim

[jhelmuth]

...and the 4064 might be another good one to try as well

[rs]

Varget and the 165gr SPBT gives me excellent accuracy in my 308 sporter.

[jhelmuth]

PS... also important to powder selection is bullet weight. When going to a slower powder, you will typically be doing so with heavier bulletos! For RL-15 and 4320, I'd use it only on 165ish grain pills (Sierra Match King 168's come to mind). I think the 40644 might be better for those 150ish grain bullets.....

[fgw_in_fla]

Thanks to all for your input. I had a feeling the 4064 would get the majority vote.
And it appears the standard rules apply - heavier bullet / slower powder.

Well, it looks like I have a little testing & experimenting to perform. This is always the tough part. Getting out there to shoot. A lot of ammo. All day.
At the range.
In the Florida weather.
During the early spring.

Man.... tough times ahead.
Thanks again, y'all.
Frank in Fla

[homefrontsniper]

imr xbr8208 imr4064 reloader 15 varget

[stomp442]

Imr4064 is probably my favorite powder. Works great in my Ruger m77 with 168 bergers. I use it in everything from 223 to 22-250 to 250 savage to 270 and 06.

[LHitchcox]

I have shot a lot of Varget, 4895, 4064, RL15, and BL-c2. I like Varget best. Too bad none seems to be available.

[Willoughby]

varget has been most accurate for me
165-180 gr bullets with 42g -44g varget seems be gtg in most 308's
my current 24' fcp barrel likes 42g Varget & 175 smk's .004 off lands
my last 22' Var barrel liked 180 sgk's & 43 g varget -jammed
I can reduce either load by 2 gr when using a mag primer
rather than a large rifle primer
& acheive the same results
more spark- ignition -
less powder
I'm not seeing a down side here

[fgw_in_fla]

Looks like it's coming down to 2 of my favorites... 4064 & RL15. Good thing that's the powders I used to make all those rounds.

By the way, there's 2 reasons I didn't put Varget on the list:
1) I don't have any.
2) I HATE VARGET.

It always works for everyone but me. Even my young friend Matt had reasonably good success with it, but when I tried it NOOOOoooooo! No such luck.
Are you guys taking the can of Varget & putting it in the backyard under a full moon & dancing naked around it or something?

[jhelmuth]

Mag primers will generate more burn on initial strike. Unless I am wrong somehow, this always leads to slightlly higher chamber pressure (for a given powder). Whether that is "good" (or not) is entirely objective. Unless you actually measure it, you may be playing with fire (so to speak). Of course, one cannot say for sure that isn't a good thing either (as - again - you can only know if the pressure is actually measured).
Of noted interested is use of Magnum primers in large projectile cartridges when combined with slower powders. I can't comment intelligently on this use, but there is some precendent to it...

[jhelmuth]

Looks like it's coming down to 2 of my favorites... 4064 & RL15. Good thing that's the powders I used to make all those rounds.

By the way, there's 2 reasons I didn't put Varget on the list:
1) I don't have any.
2) I HATE VARGET.

It always works for everyone but me. Even my young friend Matt had reasonably good success with it, but when I tried it NOOOOoooooo! No such luck.
Are you guys taking the can of Varget & putting it in the backyard under a full moon & dancing naked around it or something?

No... but I do rub the bottle 3x and watch porn while I shake it for 1 hour straight

[fgw_in_fla]

No... but I do rub the bottle 3x and watch porn while I shake it for 1 hour straight

I gotta say...'ol Big Jim doesn't say much but when he does.....

Now that was pretty funny. I wish I hadn't read that while drinking coffee. It's kinda difficult to get it out of the keyboard.

[eddiesindian]

RL-15

[stomp442]

I have the same results with varget frank so don't feel bad. Everyone of my rifles hates the stuff. I have done some load development for some friends rifles though and theirs loves it. Its kind of strange.

[Willoughby]

my fouler group was .5moa with varget -before load devlopment
why ?
because is just happened to be the correct amount of powder
to have the bullet exit the barrel
while the vibrations were at the the chamber end of the barrel
ANY powder will produce good accuracy
if
if
if
you find the right amount for your barrel & bullet
some powders will be consistant regardless of ambient temperature
Varget is one of the latter
mag primers are actulay called for in some 243 & 308 load data
over pressure is readily seen in the primary overpressure indicator -the primer
after each upward increment in load development the primer should be inspected for pressure signs

[Topsail]

Looks like it's coming down to 2 of my favorites... 4064 & RL15. Good thing that's the powders I used to make all those rounds.

By the way, there's 2 reasons I didn't put Varget on the list:
1) I don't have any.
2) I HATE VARGET.

It always works for everyone but me. Even my young friend Matt had reasonably good success with it, but when I tried it NOOOOoooooo! No such luck.
Are you guys taking the can of Varget & putting it in the backyard under a full moon & dancing naked around it or something?

The moon was not full.

[fgw_in_fla]

The moon was not full.

It was to.... But there was a heavy overcast that night.

Actually, to be fair I have to point out - When it comes to powders I hate, its a toss up between Varget & H380.

Never had good results with either. Maybe next time I'll get the ol lady to dance naked under a full moon whilst shaking a can of varget & chanting some words of encouragement. As long as she doesn't blind any of the neighbors it might work.

[thermaler]

I like 4064 in my 308 loads as well--but it's a "recoil pounder" compared to RL 15.