I've been using ImR 3031 and 150 gr Hornadys in my 308 (Ruger) because the 165 Speer didn't group so well. A guy at the range was adamant I should try Imr 4895. Any of yall concur? I'd really prefer 165s if I can get them to shoot well.

K31
Well there is a whack of different powders that work real well in the 308.
The diff tween 4895 and 3031 is pretty small imo.
I think 4064 in log type powders is a pretty good one.
A heck of a lot of guys swear by Varget.

The biggest problem with the .308, is that there are so many powder bullet combinations to try.
I have 3 .308s and I load for all of them.
My recomendation for the powders to try 1st with 165 grain bullets would be Varget, RL-15 , IMR-4064, W-748. IMR-3031 and IMR-4895.
If one of those does,nt work for you i would be shocked.
A good 150 grain bullet will do prety darn well on deer sized game.
...tj3006

I have not used the 165 Speer, but I have used the 165 Sierra HPBT, and SPZ Gamekings, the 168 Sierra Matchking, and the 165 Nosler Partition and their Ballistic Tip, with 39.5gr of
IMR 3031.

This load has shot good in every 308 I have tried it in, and is extremely accurate in most.

It works in lever, semiauto and bolt rifles.

In many rifles it shoots as good, or better than 168gr Federal Match.

quote:

Originally posted by WestCoaster:
I think 4064 in log type powders is a pretty good one.

me too.....

It may be that the powder isn't the inaccuracy culprit. Hmmmm! roger

what bartsche said.
try a different company's bullets, there will be one it likes.
then fine tune on the one it likes.

I have had excellent luck with Varget and 165 Nosler Bal-Tips. Start at 42gr and work up slowly. You will find a sweet spot unless the rifle is an anomoly! Also be sure that your bench tecnique is consistant.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

I have shot outstanding target groups with IMR 4895/H4895/AA2495/IMR 4064/Varget/IMR 3031/AA2520/N140 with match bullets from 150 to 175 grains.

For 190's I use IMR 4064 and Varget. Tried IMR 4350 and did not get the velocities I wanted.

The 308 is one of the easiest calibers to produce excellent ammunition.

I do prefer the 4895 series of short grained stick powders (IMR 4895/AA2495/H4895), because they throw well and the familiarity you create when you have used kegs of the stuff to win competitions.

The Nato cartridge was developed with IMR 4895 as a propellant, and it is debatable whether any other powder is an “improvement” for bullets up to 175 grains. But it is also silly to say that one powder is "better" than any of the others in this caliber. If someone can't shoot small groups with any of the powders I listed, at decent velocities, it is not because of the powder.



I did find that IMR 3031 shot very well with my Ruger M77 and 150 grain Hornady FMJBT's. This ten shot group was much better than I expected for non match bullets.

My goto powder for 308 or -06 is IMR4320. I've also had pretty good luck with H4895.

I have used 4895 with 150 gr Accubonds, 168 gr BT's, and 180 gr Accubonds with good success, but my "go-to" powder for 308 is Varget. I am loading 46.5 grs of Varget, CCI 250 primers, 165 gr Corelokts in Lapua cases, and I can assure you that it groups very well and is a KILLER. That load has accounted for 4 hogs in the last month.

Yet another Varget vote

i like to load 45 grs of RL-15 with the 150s this powder should work with 165 also.. varget, 4064 & 4895 are also great for the 308..

I'm working on an optimal load for my X-bolt 308 with 150 Sierra Game Kings. I abandoned my father's I-3031 load. Right now I'm at 46.5 gr of I-4895 with a surprisingly high velocity up above 2900 fps. That's AFTER I took it down .5 from 47 gr. I'm getting new Remington brass soon, and once I do, I'm backing that off and working up. My next power to compete with 4895 is I-4064, starting with 46 grains. Oh, my I

I wouldn't necessarily say that the powder is to blame, but I've always had better luck with 4895 than 3031. In the first place, 4895's shorter granules meter better, and even with weighed loads I've always found the velocity variation much smaller with 4895 than with 3031.

quote:

Varget, RL-15 , IMR-4064, W-748. IMR-3031 and IMR-4895.

That pretty much sums up what are the most versatile and least finicky powders for about any caliber!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by WestCoaster:
I think 4064 in log type powders is a pretty good one.

me too.....

Sure has HAdes works for me!

My tendency is to go to slower powders where possible as long as I am still getting decent accuracy and velocity.
I had a Husqvarna LW in 308 win that just did not want to shoot 150 gr bullets. Tried several different bullets and the partitions were the best.
But it still was over 2 1/2" at 100 yds with 3031, 4895, 4320, 748. Last powder I tried was 4064 and it shrunk it down to 1 3/4". This was before Varget was around.
A buddy of mine had some old Speer 165 gr RN bullets and he gave me some to try in that rifle. With the 4064 they went 3/4" a 100yds!
It just wanted to shoot longer bullets is all.

Hmm while I'm thinkin of it I also had some terrific accuracy using 760 under 150 gr Sierra's in a Mod 88 win.