Author Topic: Best powder for the 308 Winchester (Read 13733 times)

Minnesota1 · « **on:** September 02, 2008, 06:16:25 PM »

Hey guys,

Not to open a can of worms here but I just purchased a Tikka Big Boar in 308 win. It has a 1:11 twist and a 19" barrel. I plan on using either 150 or 165 gr. bullets for hog/deer hunting. Can anyone recommend some good powder for this cartridge and if you can give some reasons why you chose your powder I would appreciate that if there is a story behind it?

Thanks,

Bob

deerandduck · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2008, 02:32:05 AM »

Bob,
I've had my best luck with 308 using Varget. It meters well, although I measure each round, and it supposedly is more temperature tolerant. I've also seen a lot of folks use IMR 4064 and some IMR 4895. There also seems to be a Reloader but I don't remember if its 15 or not. I just like Varget.
Aren't Tikkas great? I have a whitetail hunter in 7-08 and its real nice. Almost boring, its so good.

Deerandduck

yooper77 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2008, 02:39:27 AM »

I use IMR-4320 with 150 grain bullet for the 308 Winchester.

My 7mm-08 Remington loves IMR-4064 with 140 grain bullets, its also a great 308 Winchester powder.

yooper77

Freezer · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:53:48 AM »

My rifle likes Varget with 165 Sierra Game Kings. I'm no spped freak but this one is cooking at 2900fps and holds sub moa. PM me if you want the load. It's a max load and I'll never put it on and open forum.

Old English · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2008, 04:34:00 AM »

My 308 in T3 Lite also likes Varget. I bought an 8# tub so it ain't gonna try anything else for a few years. The good news is.... it doesn't have to, Varget and the 308 are like horses and carriages. Plop in a Sierra 165gr GK and you have a load to be reckoned with.

moosie · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2008, 07:14:36 AM »

I agree with the majority of answers above. I tried several powders in my .308 Winchester and none gave the results of Varget. It is the only powder I use for .308.

yooper77 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2008, 08:29:57 AM »

Looks like I need to try some Varget, would be nice to have one powder for both 7mm-08 Rem and 308 Win.

yooper77

john keyes · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2008, 08:49:34 AM »

I like H4895

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2008, 03:56:32 PM »

IMR 4064 & RL 15

..........Rick

BBF · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2008, 07:29:45 AM »

whichever groups best. I do believe this original NATO cartridge was designed to be loaded with a ball powder. Nothing wrong with those and they do meter very well if you use that system.
The 308's in our stable were fed with WW-748 or BLC2.

tn_junk · « **Reply #10 on:** September 04, 2008, 08:09:19 AM »

H4895

I have used it for everything from .223 to 45/70 and it is the most accurate, or second most accurate, in everything I have loaded with it.

alan

JBC · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2008, 11:18:41 AM »

+1 for varget - my t3 lite .308 loves it with both 150gr and 165gr hornady interbonds loaded about 1 full grain below max from the hodgdon manual

cwlongshot · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2008, 01:06:59 PM »

My most accurate for a couple guns is a lighter load of 4320 and a discontinued Speer 165RN.

I have had good results with 4895, 760 and 4064 as well.

There is no real short but. Ceptin; trying what we all suggest, you gun will have to make the final decisions.

CW

ricehombre · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2008, 12:46:01 AM »

You may want to try Hodgdon's Benchmark Extreme. It gave me my best groups with 165-168 gr bullets and should work well in your short barrel.

warrior1 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2008, 04:28:01 AM »

most all of the powders mentioned will do the job in your 308.
i used w748 ,3031,varget,4064,imr4895. for hunting loads it was w 748 with a 180 gr rn. i'd give varget the edge in 150s and even 165s.

as for the 7mm08 most of the above mentioned powders will work.
dan

Fat NDN · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2008, 04:05:59 PM »

VARGET

Cheesehead · « **Reply #16 on:** September 07, 2008, 05:09:11 PM »

I have had great accuracy results in both of my 308 rifles with Reloader-15.

Cheese

K.K · « **Reply #17 on:** September 09, 2008, 02:56:56 PM »

Varget is my first choice, and I shoot a .308 Encore pistol with it. Very accurate.

harrys · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:00:53 AM »

rl 15 and imr4064 work well with 150-165-168 grainers in the 308. my favorite and most accurate load is 44.5 grains with a 168 match pill.drops deer easily no losses in at least 30 deer

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2009, 05:13:47 PM »

Not that it necessarily has anything to do with performance in your gun but...in either Rifle or Hand Loader Magazine most likely the latter they did a test of components to see what worked best for them in their rifle. I think it was called a Sako TRG or some such. Using Federal Gold Medal Match as a standard the rifle was able to shoot half inch 100 yard five shot groups.

So they set about to determine the effect of bullets, powders, primers and brass on accuracy.

The final decision showed Varget powder I believe it was 45.0 grains chosen altho 45.5 grains was ever so tiny bit better. The test was of All .308" 165-168 grain bullets they could lay hands on both US and foreign made. I've forgotten all the fine details but they did determine that Nosler brass and Varget powder were most accurate in their particular experiement.

03A2 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2009, 08:01:20 PM »

I have all the powders listed and have to say my favorite for accuracy with 150's is IMR4895, but my hunting loads are all win748, it meters a lot better and gives higher velocity, with only a slight sacrifice in accuracy. For some reason varget and reloader 15 have not worked out for me although I keep trying as they get respectable velocities.

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2009, 04:44:53 AM »

Try H414 Hodgon, It is the same Uncle Sam uses in his 7.62 stuff, also works very good in other medium capacity cases as well. Has about the same burn rate as 4350.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:57:30 PM »

168 Berger and 41gr IMR 4064 is death for the critters!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2009, 01:16:15 AM »

i use mostly 2460 and 748. Varget might give me a couple tenths better groups but i load my 308s in quantity on a progressive press and need a ball powder for metering.

FW Conch · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2009, 03:43:17 AM »

VARGET ! GB covered everything I would have said. Just start with it, then later if you get board or

something you can try RL 15, IMR 4064, etc., etc. JMHO Jim

blackpowderbill · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:41:06 AM »

I ahve used IMR4320, IMR4350, H380, Unique and 2400 at various times with the appropriate bullets. My overall favourite is H380. it measure easily and consistantly and gives me the same level of accuracy as IMR4320. I am currently loading it under a 170gr Lapua D46 for my FAL at a velocity of 2460fps.

mrbigtexan · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:00:08 PM »

3031,4064,4895