.308 Powder help needed????

[nosler06]

Hi, I am new to this site, and wanted to ask a question. Here is a little of the details that should help.
I am trying to settle down my groupings on a .308. In the past my dad had loaded I believe 48.5gr IMR4350 with 165gr Nosler Part bullets. This gun a 1971 Browning BLR .308. The groups were tight and consistant over many years. After having the gun passed on to me I was looking at the load data and asking questions. At the time I was told that the IMR4350 powder is not a good powder for this caliber. So I did some asking and all people pointed towards IMR4895. I did the switch and have had nothing but trouble trying to get any type of tight groups. I work up loads in summer and in fall. I have target shot the gun in summer and fall, and it is very inconsistant. I was advised to use H4895 powder as it is less sensitive to temp changes. I have not found any data for H4350 powder for the .308. I look at the Nosler#6 manual and they tested IMR4350 and the 47.0gr load would be a compressed load.

My question is what powder is a good fit for the .308 Browning BLR and 165gr Nosler Part. bullets for use with temp ranging from +35 to -20 deg celcius? I believe the barrell is 19" long.

"Live to hunt, hunt to live, and best of all, enjoy the great outdoors".

Nosler06 :?

 

[muleman]

nosler06,
Welcome to the Forum!
My go to for the 308 is Varget; also had good luck with BL-C(2) and Win748. The first thing I do when working up a load in a new to me rifle is clean the barrel down to bare steel. Then refoul the barrel before any serious load work ups. You would be amazed at how many "inaccurate" guns were fixed by a very serious cleaning.

Good luck!

Scott

 

[DrMike]

Welcome to the site, Nosler06. IMR4895 is, indeed, a good powder for the .308. As Muleman has stated, Varget, BL-(C)2 and W748 all work in the .308. Big Game, Hunter, RL15, IMR8208XBR and H414 (W760) also perform very well with that bullet in the cartridge. Since you are relatively new to hand loading, you are wise to refer to a good manual that presents loads that have been pressure-tested and certified as safe given the conditions employed in the testing. Nosler lists a maximum charge of 50.0 grains of IMR4350 with the 165 grain Partition, and that is right in line with projections with QuickLoad. H4350 is likely not listed as it is slightly slower that IMR4350 in that particular loading, and you would have a difficult time seating the bullets.

 

[Guy Miner]

Your father isn't the only one who got good results with IMR 4350 in the .308 Win... I haven't used it often, but yes, it works. If it shot well for your father with that same rifle... Well... Why not continue to use his load?

Or - many (like me) who dote on the .308 Win, have found that either Varget or RL-15 work very well with 165/168 grain bullets... I see about 2750 fps with well under MOA accuracy from my rifle's 24" barrel using Varget & 165's or 168's. Very consistent too, winter or summer, it shoots just fine.

Here's a link to a great article on handloading the .308 Win - I don't think you'll find IMR 4350 noted anywhere in it - but your father got good results from it in that rifle - in your shoes, I'd be tempted to simply keep on using his load.

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

The article is mostly concerned with target shooting - but there's a lot of applicability to hunting loads as well.

And, welcome to the forum.

Regards, Guy

 

[SJB358]

RL15 works excellent with 165's. About 2780 out of my wife's old 308 and excellent accuracy..

Then again, if IMR4350 were working for you, no reason to mess around. Seems good enough to me!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I ran IMR 4064 in my .308 with good velocity and accuracy. Load for 165 Partitions really varies with brass being used.

 

[AzDak42]

I've had very good luck with Varget (168g AMAX), RL15 (165g Part) and 4064 (150g SP)

No velocity numbers to share, but all were hitting their stride near book max out of a 788 Remington.

 

[FOTIS]

Varget is king in mine!

 

[Mortis]

165 grain Hornaday SST
Powder - 44.5 grains of BLC2
Primer - Federal 210M
Case federal, Win or Rem


180 grain Hornaday Interlock
Powder - 45.5 grains of H380
Primer - Fed 210M
Case Federal, Win or Rem

Over all length - 2.833

The OAL is based on what will fit in the magazine of my CZ 550.

 

[nosler06]

I am looking at so much data that I myself am getting dizzy. I am hearing alot of good stuff about Varget and Reloader15. Many reloaders/hunters from BC and Alberta have been saying that Varget is very stable when it comes to temp changes. Also many have good success with tight groups in the .308 short barreled rifle like the 19" Browning. If any of you were to choose between the Varget and the Reloader15 which would you go with? Of course I will have to start a full work up load to find the best powder load for my gun.

 

[SJB358]

Of course I will have to start a full work up load to find the best powder load for my gun.

Whatever you can get the easiest and for the least amount of money. They are one in the same for me, for the most part.

 

[dlove]

I haven't seen any velocity variations with varget. I see a swing of about 35-45fps with RL 15. my little brother's 308 doesn't like either one. I have been chasing a load for his rifle for way too long. it's a 22" and seems to like W748. 748 has also been the fastest powder in his rifle.

but I would choose whichever one shot the best groups.

 

[Larry in SD]

A couple weeks ago I loaded up a bunch of 165gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips with Varget for my wife's Semi Custom 18 1/2" Remington Model 700 SPS Stainless .38. The end result was a 9 shot group at 100 yards with all 9 holes inside of a 1" square. Muzzle velocity from the 18 1/2" Remington was 2606 FPS.

I don't think we'll find a whitetail that can withstand this load.

Larry

 

[nosler06]

I think that with all that I am reading and all of the great info you all have supplied I am leaning towards the Varget. Looking in the Nosler#6 manual it shows a starting load of 42.0gr, and that would be my start. I like to load up 4 shot loads moving up 1.0gr increases up to the 46.0gr max load. This seems to make it the easiest to locate the sweet load for this particular rifle. I will as muleman suggested do a complete clean of the barrel before any rounds head down range. What is Varget powder like to dispense? Is it the same type of granuals as IMR4895 or larger like the IMR4350?

 

[Desert Fox]

You can't go wrong with either Varget or Reloader 15, or BLC-2, or 4064 or 4895 or pretty much any powder with medium burning rate. Take your pick. 308 is one easy cartridge to load.

 

[Wincheringen]

The .308 Winchester is very easy to load for, so many powders work for it and as long as its a standard twist gun, 1-10 to 1-12, nearly every bullet will work great in it.

I use Ramshot TAC in mine.

 

[nosler06]

Well after all of your valuable information I just purchased a new can of Varget. Now the fun part begins. I guess as the Nosler#6 manual writes I will start at 42.0grs and work up 4 rounds of each increment of 1.0grs. I will probably stop at 45.0grs as my max. I am not a fan of compressed loads in a lever action rifle. A good old bolt action I feel comfortable pushing it. The manual says they found the most accurate at 44.0grs for 165gr and 44.5grs for 150gr. I have some old 150gr Nosler Part. that I am going to shoot off and then tune it in with 165gr Nosler Part. I will update when I have loads done and headed to the range. All that being as long as we here do not get a dump of snow making range access extremely hard.

 

[SJB358]

Don't be scared of a compressed load in your rifle buddy. I think if you look for the most accurate load, you will be in great shape. 45-47 grains of Varget should net you some excellent speed and accuracy in the 308. The 165 PT would be an excellent load for alot of hunting!

 

[BK]

I just loaded up a batch with RL15 and Varget... I have a can of TAC that I'll probably try as well...

 

[Alaska]

Very Nice Rifle first year Production

I suggest Not to use any form of 4350 in your 308Win

Varget, Reloader 15 and IMR 4064/4895 work very well in the 308 Win.

You could damage your rifle with 4350.......too slow of powder.

PM me for recipes.