I would appreciate any and all experience in the above chaps.

I'm thinking it would be too slow for all except the heaviest bullets?

I think it may be a bit slow. RL15 would be a better choice in the .308.

Here is a QL ranking of top powder suggestions with a 165 Accubond. Allowing up to 110% of capcity.

Alliant Reloder-17
Ramshot BigGame
Hodgdon H414
Winchester 760
SNPE Vectan SP 11
IMR 4895
Vihtavuori N550
Hodgdon BL-C2
Norma 203 old
Winchester 748
Norma 203B
IMR 3031
Raufoss RA11
Bofors RP11 ~approximation
Alliant Reloder-15
Rottweil R903
Somchem S355
Hodgdon H4895
Accurate 2520

If you limit to 100% then these are the top three. RL15 and RL17 drop off being almost 100fps below the top powders with RL 15 being better than RL17.

Hodgdon BL-C2
Winchester 748
Hodgdon H4895

ANY research you do will show both RL15 and Varget being the the two most popular powders for the 168g bullet in the 308 Win. w/ top shooters. QL or not.

quote:

ANY research you do will show both RL15 and Varget being the the two most popular powders for the 168g bullet in the 308 Win. w/ top shooters. QL or not.

I wouldn't begin to comment on that. QL is simply a forecast of VELOCITY using the burn rate in the system along with barrel length, OAL, capacity etc. One of the key impacting pieces of data is your max load density. If you don't want any compressed loads many of the slower powders will drop pretty far down the list.

Like manuals etc just one piece of data using one set of assumptions.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
I would appreciate any and all experience in the above chaps.

I'm thinking it would be too slow for all except the heaviest bullets?

I used 46.3 gr behind 210gr Hunt/Match Bergers in Win case with CCI BR2 primers. I am happy with the load.

A hunting load should not go beyond about 89% load capacity or you get compaction.

quote:

A hunting load should not go beyond about 89% load capacity or you get compaction.

I've used compressed loads for almost 40 years. What is your issue or concern? What am I missing?

quote:

ANY research you do will show both RL15 and Varget being the the two most popular powders for the 168g bullet in the 308 Win. w/ top shooters. QL or not.

NC, both RL15 and Varget have a long history in the shooting community. RL 15's been around since the early 1980's so it's not suprising that over the last 30 years it's been used to develope some great loads. RL 17 is the new kid on the block. Since it's only been out a year or so, it doesn't have the benefit of 30 years of experimentation.

QL is a great tool for generating idea's. These idea's still have to prove themselves on paper, and over the chrongraph. But like Paul, I'd come to the conclusion that RL-17 would be worth a try in the .308. But since I'm sitting on a keg of BLc(2) and have worked out a set of submoa loads for my .308's I'll let someone else run that experiment.

Ray, I'm another one that shoots mostly compressed loads. Some are in the 110-115% range. I've never had a problem with them.

RE 17 is a wonderful powder for the 308. But it is too slow for up to 165 grainers. But it starts to shine with 180 and becomes really wonderfull with the 200 grainers. Do a little research over at snipers hide where they shoot alot of heavy wt 308 and it has been fantastic. I have used ql and the data from snipers hide and gotten up to 2500 fps with the 208 amax in just a little 20" rem vtr. Accura cy and consistancy has been wonderful.

I have used the 17 in my 308 loads with heavy Nosler accubonds with good results. I cant recall off the top of my head and my notebook is in the box still from my recent move.

If I recall correctly I was right at 105% compacted load with a 180 accubond. Accuracy was pretty good and I want to say my velocity was right around 2580...

But now I have switched to 165 accubonds and the RL-15 powder...Accuracy is better with 47 grains and my velocity is right on par with the load. Accuracy results are in the 1/2" at 100 yrds with a bone stock Remington 700 308 with a 21" barrel and its about 23 years old.

Rl-15 and IMR 4064 for me in the .308

quote:

Originally posted by sbhooper:
I think it may be a bit slow. RL15 would be a better choice in the .308.

I agree!! Add Varget to that and you can cover all the 30 cal offerings with good speed and good accuracy.