What would you start with for 150 grn bullets in a 20" bbl. ? I can't afford to buy a lot of powders and bullets. I would like to get good vel. and accuracy for deer hunting. Some have suggested 748,4064,3031,R 15 etc.
I know every rifle likes different combinations. But, what would you start with ?

For accuracy, 4895 is hard to beat. RL15 & VV140 are also good performers.

Curious as to if any one has tried the new IMR 4007 SSC powder yet ?. I understand it lacks high velocity but it's also much lower in pressure by quite a margin .

I've had success with H and IMR 4895 along with IMR 4064 .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target .

hard luck,I have used 748 Win. in my .308 for years, with a Sierra game king, works good in my rifle.

6.5 SWEDE

hard luck, mine loves RL15 and Varget is 2nd.

I've had good luck with W748 and Varget in the .308 Winchester.

With a 20" barrel I would lean towards IMR3031

quote:

Originally posted by hard luck:
What would you start with for 150 grn bullets in a 20" bbl. ? I can't afford to buy a lot of powders and bullets. I would like to get good vel. and accuracy for deer hunting. Some have suggested 748,4064,3031,R 15 etc.
I know every rifle likes different combinations. But, what would you start with ?

Several folks have suggested the various versions of 4895, and I think that is a classic powder for the .308. AA2520 is also widely used at Camp Perry. Many of the shooters during the .308's days there as the "top dog" referred to it as ".308 powder".

For myself, I would start with VV N-135. Why? Just because I have used so much of it in so many chamberings, that it and I seem to understand each other. For me it has proved to be "sort of" a cleaner burning European version of 4895...very flexible and not critically sensitive as it approaches max loads. Also measures somewhat easier without cutting grains due to its smaller kernals.

For bullets heavier than the 155 gr. Palma slug, I'd probably go with VV N-140, but for 147 and 150 gr. slugs, it would be N-135.

I've had the best results in my current 20in barrel with Varget, and it hasn't displayed any of the temperature sensitivity I had with RE-15. I had a Rem Mod 7 with another short barrel that loved H380, though. Good luck.

LH3

WW748 has been an outstanding performed in my 2 308's with 150/165 gr loads.

I use IMR4064 for the 308

I've had pretty good luck with both IMR-4895 and R15. Those are the only two I have tried so far...

John

varget; < 0.5 inch groups with steyr and nosler ballistic tips.

For all around accuracy and stability Varget is the place to start IMO.
There are lots of good choices for it though...................DJ

IMR 4064 seems to work well in my bolt guns and my M1A.

John

H4895 will give you the best accuracy and highest velocity from 150gr bullet. 4064 is a little slow and cant get enough of those bigg kernels in the case, although it shoots well. Alot of people like Varget, but niether one of my 308s like it at all.

You're right, there are countless combinations but I have to agree with many of the threads above - for a starter I'd select 150 gr. Nosler BT's and either H-4895 or VV N-140; you'll probably end up staying there 'cause these three components make up into alot of potential very accurate combinations.

As for the BT's; well they're pretty accurate bullets and make up into a solid performing Deer load at the velocity you'll get from a .308 Win. - some others that have been prooven performers for me are (as mentioned AND depicted above) the Sierra 150 gr. Game King and Remington 150 gr. Bronze Points.

I was seeing some very good results out of my 20" barreled rifle with RL-15 & 168gr SMK's.

quote:

Originally posted by Indlovu:
varget; < 0.5 inch groups with steyr and nosler ballistic tips.

so what. you could shoot a .311 over 35 grains of FFF and get that....
with a steyr.

Here in Australia quite a few of us use the US made WINCHESTER 748 with good results.

I have reloaded for lots of .308s
When I am loading for a new rifle so chamberd I start with RL-15. Varget has also been good.
My currant .308 is a Pre 64 Featherweight and after trying both those powders I was not happy with the accuracy , to the point I was thinking of trading the rifle. I tried IMR-4064 and things got much better. Recently I tried W-748 and It shoots great with that powder !
...tj3006

WC-846 is the same spec powder as BL-C2 and WW 748. It was orginally formulated for the T-65 (7.62 Nato), or .308 Winchester. There's no wonder it works pretty well for many people. To my knowledge, all of the powders with these designations have been produced at the St. Marks, Florida facility. Some of the AA powders are also produced there and may be spec identical to those previously mentioned.

The 4895's have a similar burning rate (but differing burning characteristics) and they also work well. But there are probably a dozen powders in this burning range that may be the "best" powder for a given rifle and bullet. Start with whatever is most readily avaialble in this burning range, and try something else if it doesn't seem to do the job for you.

150gr Nosler Partition and 46gr of Varget.

If I ever get another .308 I will try Ramshot TAC.

Based on what I've seen, here's what you'll get good results with:

-Win 748
-Varget
-RE 15

In that order.

What about if you go to a 24" barrel and 165 grainers??? Then which powder???