Powder recommendation for 270/ 308/ 30-06

[FreeNHim]

I know that in the ideal world I should develop a specific powder/ load combination for each firearm.  My dilemma, not really a problem, is that now have the opportunity to load for a Win M70- 270,   308 carbine, and 30-06 carbine.  I would prefer to load for accuracy in each, but economics are pushing me to lean towards purchasing a bulk powder that would work well for all three.  ( Probably use 150gr bullets to start)   Has anyone been successful finding a powder that works well in all three?  Any experiences to share?  Thanks and best regards,   Jim

[Troyboy]

Id bet vargit but i'm not an expert






                                    Still sick about this election

[stimpylu32]

Varget , IMR4895 , Benchmark , BLC-2 , H335 and those are just from the Hodgdons web site , all will work , maybe not the best for any given round but they will work .

If your looking at a 8 pound keg , go with either Varget or IMR4895 , both will do well .

stimpy

[cwlongshot]

As long as your not shooting a M1/M14/M1A, I'll recomend 4350.

If you are, 4895 may prove better.

CW

[Catfish]

I`ve loaded a ton of H-4831 into .270 and .30-06 round with excellant results and it will work in the .308, but I would like alittle faster powder in it.

[Siskiyou]

I lean towards IMR4064.  I have loaded it in the 30-06, 270 Winchester, and in the .300 Savage published maximum loads with 150 and 165 grains. 

It is about as good as compromise powder you can fine for the three cartridges you want to load for.  I realize the .300 Savage is not a .308 but very close. 

Last years buck using IMR4064 to push a 165-grain Nosler PT in the .300 Savage.




When I was a young one I had a lot of success with IMR4064 in the .270 not realizing that it is a little on the fast side.  I killed a number of bucks using it to push 130-grain Bronze Pts. and C-L.  Now days I burn H4831, WW785, and WMR in the .270.

[BBF]

any of the 4350 types would work, in the Ball powders WW-760

[rickt300]

You can look at it two ways. If you are going to load 150 grain bullets in all three your best overall choice would be IMR or H4895. If you want the best performance in the 30-06 and 270 then one of the 4350's will work very well but this powder will give not so high velocities with 150's in the 308, however it does pretty good with the 180 grain bullets in the 308.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

     Ahhh I think that the important thing here is that the OP says that the 308 and 30-06 are both carbines. So one assumes that they have shorter barrels and in my experience with a 270 carbine, 20" barrel, that requires a faster powder otherwise a lot of powder is burnt at the muzzle or outside the muzzle resultign is a huge fireball. I found that H380 works well in my 270 Win.

     Although I have never used 4064 I read and here of excellent results using it so I would suggest that powder.

[buckfever 1]

I have great success with H-4350, accurate and fast.  Works very well with Barnes TSX, or TTSX.  Like the tipped TSX the best.  Buckfever

[Castaway]

The powder burns in the first two or so inches of the barrel.  The fireball you see is superheated gasses.

[Brithunter]

Hmmm really they perhaps you can explain why by changing to a faster burning powder that there is no fireball? and why magnums do better with longer barrels?  and why the Codite in the old 303 rounds burnt out throats and the first 3-6" of barrel. How can this be if ............................ if it burns in the first 2" 

Whilst I am no ballistian these facts are too well known to explain what your saying.

[wncchester]

Castaway, I think you have confused the point of peak pressure with complete burning.  They don't occur at the same time but pressure does peak after about 2-3 inches of bullet travel while much powder, slow ones at least, continue to burn long after that.

IMR 4064 and/or Varget (very nearly the same burn rate) will probably give the best perfomance under medium weight bullets in all three of those cartridges.

[wareagleguy]

Another vote for IMR 4064.  Matter of fact that is the power I load for my 308,708,30-06,and my 270.  I just ordered another 8# Friday.  I have used it for years and tried other powders to end up back with the old trusty 4064.

[FreeNHim]

Thanks to all for the responses so far. Sounds like IMR4064, IMR4895, and 4350 are coming thru as the most recommended. Brithunter did pick up on the fact that 2 of the 3 are shorter barrels.
The 308 is a 15" Encore and the 30-06 an 18.5", the 270 is is full length pre 64 M70.  Would the various barrel lengths change anyone's recommendations? 

BTW I also want to load the 45-70 in 16.25' and 23" configurations......IMR4895 and IMR4064 are both listed in the Hogdon online data.  I wish I could afford to buy 8# kegs of each of the powders mentioned so far, but $$ and storage limitations have to be considered.

[Brithunter]

Well I can only say that I started to look at faster burning powders due to that 20" barreled 270 win BSA CF2 "Stutzen" rifle I got as my first full bore rifle. Using recomended powders like Reloader 19 or Win 760 which are slower burning powders although accuracy was good the ball of flame although spectacular was not needed and I thought it might also scorch the Rosewood Schanble of the stock. So I started studying the reloading manuals and in particular the burn rate listing. As it was some years ago I cannot remember all the powders that I tried but H-380 did prove to be effective and accurate. Using the Nosler 130 grain Ballistic Tip it grouped well enough at 600 yards to win the clubs annual 600 yard cup shoot two years running when they changed the rules to ban my little rifle 

The thing about faster powders it that they use less in the case and can build up pressures quickly so in a normal barrel length you will not achieve the best velocity from them and care must be taken, more than is usual  , in loading to make sure that the charges are correct and safe. Some of the faster powders are known to be capable of pressure spikes and be possible to double charge as they take less space in the case..

Now I would contact the makers of these short barrels and ask their recomendations as surely they would have done some development with their own products? Another source would be the various forums that cater for these type of guns and those that are into long range pistols shooting as they use such chamberings I believe.