I'm loading up some .308 loads for my new CZ550 rifle. I will be using Sierra MK 168 BTHP bullets. What's the best powder to use? I've been told that Varget is good.......what do you think?

R15 and imr4064 .

Ive been useing R15 its very accurate for me

My choice for 165 to 168 gr. bullets in the 308 Win. is IMR 4064.

I've used Win. 760/H414 with 190 gr. bullets with good results as well.

Re-15 has worked wonderfully for me. But don't overlook H335 and Varget, either.

One of the guys that shoots a 308 in our matches uses Varget and does well. Another guy was using Varget this weekend was shooting really well with his 308. I use it in my 7mm08 and it works very well. H4895 will also work.

Varget worked in several of my calibers, but it was never the best powder in any of the loads for me. With respect to the 308: 168's and 43.0 grains of 4064....look no further.

Allow me to be biased to the cartridge. 43 Years of shooting the .308 and IMR 4064, still haven't found anything better with the Sierra 168. 43.2 grs with F210M and Lapua brass seated to 2.820 in my Rem 700 VSSF has held less than 1/2 MOA for over 1,000 rounds.

Lots of good powders for the .308.
I have had several .308s over the years.
Most like RL-15, varget IMR 4064, or win 748 and 760. I would start with RL-15 as that is what the snipers are using these days...tj3006

I am seeing very good results from that bullet with RL-15.

I will list all the powders that I have shot at 100 yds with the 168 bullets.All have shot more than a few one hole groups.Have shot the nosler,hornady and sierra 168 and all have shot great.So now I go with which ever is on sale,working on 500 of the hornady's now.Over the range of bullets fron 130 to 168 gr I think the 2230-c has been the best,cannot get it anymore but I loaded up 40 rounds with it and a 150 gr sst incase I wanted to hunt with the 308 again.I posted a 10 shot group I shot at 100 yds useing the reg. 2230 powder in one of my eariler posts.
Varget
H4895 ( this is surplus powder)
R-15
IMR4064
2230
2230-c (tried 2230-s but couldn't get it to shoot in anything well)
BLc2
Benchmark
Wished all my other calibers were as fussy with powder,like the 308.

quote:

Originally posted by imq707s:
I'm loading up some .308 loads for my new CZ550 rifle. I will be using Sierra MK 168 BTHP bullets. What's the best powder to use? I've been told that Varget is good.......what do you think?

Varget is my choice........

Don't overlook N 140 and Norma 202. Both clean burning and deadly accurate.

I recently had good luck with RL15 and IMR4895 w/ 168gn. MK. I have some Varget and BL-C(2) Loads ready to go to the range. I have heard they both give good results.

BL-C2 seems to work well in a lot of different calibers . My New .308 Savage seems to do well with it . Still working on load development for it along with several other powders .

Now that's a sobering thought Terry !.

" If you think you are too busy to hunt, read the obituaries tonight, and see how many are younger than you are." OUCH !!.

I'll be late to my own funeral count on that !.

Shoot straight know your target ...

I've shot through a few Kegs of WW-748 in 308's because it was accurate in my Silhouette competition loads and pours like water through a powder measure.
My current hunting loads usually use Varget. It has an excellent balance of Velocity, Accuracy and Temperature stability.
RL-15 is probably just as good but I've not shot it as much.
I've never gotten BL/C2 to give good results in the half dozen or so different rifles I tried it in. Maybe I had a bad lot or something.................................DJ