I'm gonna be loading Nosler 165Gr. AccuBonds for my ol' BAR and was wondering if anyone out there could tell me what they think the best load for it would be?

I would use a powder faster than IMR 4350.

Loads for the Garand should work good.

I load for 3 buddies who use their BAR's for Wild Boar hunting.

55.0 grs. H-4350 w/180 gr. Hornady RN's crimped w/Lee FCD in the cannelure.

All three BAR's shoot 3-shot cloverleave groups with this load.

Have fun.

No light loads. My short-trac prefers loads closer to max than min.

I'm normally a "slow" powder guy, but in the BAR I've had indications of high port pressures with slower powders. I think I would recommend something more in the IMR 4895-4064 range for your .30-06 with the 165's. These powders might run 50 fps or so behind a slower powder in optimal velocities, but you won't be stressing or damaging your action with the slightly faster powders.

Are any of these powders easier to work with than the others?

loading for my friend I found with the 165's

good accuracy with 50 to 51 grains of Varget

and 51.5 to 52.5 of IMR 4064

What is it you mean by "work with"? If you mean meter easily from a powder measure, then IMR/H4895 is short-grained and does well. IMR 4064 is longer-grained and not so friendly, but the AA version of 4064 is much shorter cut.

All of the IMR line of powders are single-based and are reasonably linear in their pressure/velocity curves, meaning their pressure usually do not tend to unexpectedly spike, ie., they are "easier to work with".

That is not to say that powders of similar buring rates from other manufacturers, including ball powders and double-based powders, would not be satisfactory in your BAR.

Yes, that is exactly what i meant thank you

IMO, IMR4350 is a bit on the slow side for an autoloader.

I'd stick to propellants like IMR4895 and IMR4064.

Frankly My autoloader (a Remington I bought new)
liked IMR4064 so well in intitial testing (20-odd years ago) that I've never loaded for it with anything else.

AD

I use in my 30/06 IMR4350 and my 300 Win. Mag. IMR4350
My 30/06 and 300 Win Mag love IMR4350
My 30/06 shoots the 165 at 2910 FPS Witch I think is pretty good

If you load in a progressive I would use 4895, if you weigh each load IMR 4064 is hard to beat. IMR 4895 was the spec powder for the 06 G.I. loads, if that means anything to you. I would shoot for 2600-2700 fps.

In nearly 30years of reloading I've yet to load a single round for a rifle cartridge without weighing it.

Yes, each and every charge.

Pistol and carbine cartridges? 'nother story...

Though for max effort hunting loads for 44mag I've weighed all of those too.

Powder measure to the scale pan, trickle in the balance and dump it in a case in the loading block and drop a bullet into the case point first.

Check each and every case visually before seating a bullet
(simply to verify that there IS a powder charge, because if there is it's correct.

Doing it that way eliminates a variable.
or atleast reduces it to <1/10 grain.

AD

I've had good luck with the 4350's in several bars and rem autoloaders.

I have heard that Win. 748 is a good powder as well for the 30-06 autoloaders. has anyone heard the same or tried it out.

quote:

Originally posted by S&W-Varminator:
I have heard that Win. 748 is a good powder as well for the 30-06 autoloaders. has anyone heard the same or tried it out.

well like most ball powders WW748 measures beautifully... if you remember to wipe down your powder measure and funnel with a dryer sheet.

AD

I use WW760 in 30-06 for my autoloader. I broke open several winchester factory loads and used the average weight of 5 factory loads. WW760 is the power they use in the silver box factory stuff. IIRC, it was 55 grains with a 180 gr bullet, worked beautifully for me. I dropped 2 grains and worked back up. Same POI as factory as well. Your results may vary, proceed with caution

wow that's a good idea, i never thought to use a dryer sheet! thanks everyone for all your input

quote:

but the AA version of 4064 is much shorter cut.

Stonecreek,

Is AA 4064 similar in loads to IMR 4064. It is odd that IMR 4064 has long since been a favorite in the .308 Win and Western powders does not even list a load for AA 4064 in the .308 Win in their load book.

similar, I use quite a bit of it.
Most burn rate charts show it to be just a tad cooler.

quote:

I use quite a bit of it.

Do you load it in a .308 Win?

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

I use quite a bit of it.

Do you load it in a .308 Win?

yes ,and a few others, 4895,3031,etc but lately mostly Varget in my Long Range ammo.

Have also been tinkering with Benchmark some.

I am used to using CCI primers, but due to the current crises with the shortage of ammo all i can find anywhere is Winchester for large rifle primers.
Does anyone know anything i should or have anything against Win. primers. i had someone tell me they are not as reliable.

I would use approximately 50 gr of 4064 with cci 200s and remingotn brass. Winchester primers are very reliable, but somewhat hotter than cci 200s. I would of course start lower and work up. Like others have said 4895 flows better thru a powder measure, but in my experience 4064 outperforms it in both velocity and accuracy in the 3006. (Not in a 308)

quote:

Originally posted by S&W-Varminator:
I am used to using CCI primers, but due to the current crises with the shortage of ammo all i can find anywhere is Winchester for large rifle primers.
Does anyone know anything i should or have anything against Win. primers. i had someone tell me they are not as reliable.

There have been some problems reported in the past
oval shaped batches not seating well,
also reports of a couple of tube type priming tools exploding
and a few batches of hard cups not firing well.

Lately I have not heard anything adverse.

I loaded some recently, the functioned well in the RCBS hand primer and in the rifle,