Those of you who load .308's, what are your favorite powders??
I'm going to have to start hunting for a pound of powder to do a loading project for my son. I think I might have better results if I have multiple powers to look for. I would like to know which powders you have had the best results with. I think personal experience is better than consulting a loading manual.
My choice would be Varget but there is very little powder left in my existing Varget can, so I either need to find another can of Varget or a good substitute.
I will be loading with Barnes tipped triple shock X 130 grain spitzer boat tail bullet. Before anyone thinks that is to light of a bullet for deer, our South Carolina deer aren't very big.
This bullet was selected because my son thinks it looks cool. {Imagine me hanging my head and shaking it side to side!!}🤣
In his defense this is the bullet he killed his first (only) deer with. I load this same bullet in a .243. It kills deer as quickly as it is possible to drop a deer.
Another question?? Once I have a list of powders to choose from where are the best places to try and find powders in this weird climate??
I have always thought on topics like this the GB crowd is VERY knowledgeable, so thanks up front!!
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4064 is usually one of the best, along with RL15, but not sure with such a light bullet though. I'd guess that Varget would work, but it's harder to find than most powders now.
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The list of medium-speed powders is very long. 748, TAC, RL-15, Varget, 4895, 4064, 335, 3031, BLC-2, and 4320 all work fine.
In the .308, you can never go wrong with 748 in ball powder, or 4895 in stick form.
Refer to Barnes data for specifics. It is always best to use data from the bullet maker, as bullet construction can have a very big effect on pressures.
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I've used 4064, I've used 4895 but both cans are getting down in volume. I'm hoping I will have a list with at least 8 powders for when I go powder hunting. Never did I ever think I would have trouble getting powder, or for that matter that I might be forced to get up in the 50 dollar per pound price range!! OUCH!!
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Another vote for 4064.
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In addition to the ones I wrote above (from memory), also look on this burn rate chart for powders between about #85 and #115... (print it and take it with you to the store)
https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2020-burn-rate-chart.pdf
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3031 has been my go-to powder for decades for everything up through 30 caliber with light bullets.
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I have used RL 15 and IMR 4895 with good results under 150grain pills .
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Rocky has hit the nail on the head for your 130s. I too like 748 for duplicating standard mil 150 FMJBTs,
Have a hvy barrel target 700 with 1 in 10 that likes Varget and N140 for 190 & 200 gr SMKs.
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4064
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imr3031 or 4320 here but I almost always load 150gr or 180gr
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Been loading 308 for 40+ years. 4064 always worked best for me.
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I use W748 with 125 gr. Sierra in my .308's.
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