....in burn rate.

Varget, Varget, Varget, Varget and IMR4320

At first blush and without the aid of notes I'd guess IMR4895. I could be wrong. I only blush once a year.

IMR 3031
Norma 201
AA 2230
Norma 202
H 335
SNPE S10
RWS R903
ICI SBRP2
RE 15
Brigadier 3032
AA 2460
Win 748
BLC-2
IMR 4895
H 4895
SNPE Tubal4
VVN135
AA 2520
IMR 4064

Faster to slower:

100. N-140
101. N-540
102. AA-2700

103. RL-15
104. H-380
105. W-760

106. H-414

Don't get carried away with a powder 'cuz it's close with respect to "burning rate"...the answer is, as Brad said....Varget!

I won't dwell on burn rate but I want to determine if powders I have on hand are remotely close to RE15/Varget. I have looked at powder burn rate charts and and there may be 10 powders between two that are know to be good performers in a particular cartridge. The ten between may or may not be recommended for the cartgridge. It can be a little confusing.

I have used a pound or two of Varget with pretty good results, then a canister of BLc2. I'm out of both, the wife recently lost her job when the company folded and I want to continue load development with the 150 gr Mag Tips, 165 gr Deep Shoks and 180 gr Ballistic Tip CT's. We are already tight at the end of the month so I don't want to spend money on another pound of powder.

My search of the archives pointed to Varget, RL15, IMR 4895, BLc2 and IMR 4064 for the 308 Winchester.

I have H380, H335, H4350, IMR 4831 and IMR 4064.

Everyone knows that bullet and powder manuals vary but there are some consistencies.

Hodgdon favors Varget, H4895 and BLc2
Speer RE15, AA2520, IMR 4064
Nosler Varget, IMR 4064
Speer shows top velocity for more powder than any other manufacturer...H335 and H380 for example, which don't seem to be a powder of choice in the other manuals.

IMR 4064 seems high on the list but I have avoided opening the can after finding high pressure signs when using it in my 7-08 well below max (+/- 2 grs). It is likely, that I had incorrectly adjusted dies, the cases were to long or some the cases still had some lube on them. I don't know for sure and it's been close to two years but it spooked me.

I hate to start chunking lead downrange too...it's early in the year and I have plenty of time.

[ 04-19-2003, 18:20: Message edited by: Oilburner ]