Powder recommendation

[Jarhead69]

Just getting into reloading and having a hard time finding powder like everyone else. I have a Remington 700P 308 with 1/10 twist barrel. Looking at bench shooting 600 plus yards. Looking at either a 168 gr up to 180gn bullet, which in the loading manual, IMR 8208 XBR is common across these. Is anyone using a different powered that I might look for? Appreciate any help.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Just getting into reloading and having a hard time finding powder like everyone else. I have a Remington 700P with 1/10 twist barrel. Looking at bench shooting 600 plus yards. Looking at either a 168 gr up to 180gn bullet, which in the loading manual, IMR 8208 XBR is common across these. Is anyone using a different powered that I might look for? Appreciate any help.

Assuming it's a .308. . .

H-4895, AR-Comp, Varget, IMR-4064 . . .and more.

Good luck finding any of it. given the current market.

 

[Lone Hunter]

Just getting into reloading and having a hard time finding powder like everyone else. I have a Remington 700P with 1/10 twist barrel. Looking at bench shooting 600 plus yards. Looking at either a 168 gr up to 180gn bullet, which in the loading manual, IMR 8208 XBR is common across these. Is anyone using a different powered that I might look for? Appreciate any help.

You also might want to look at a 175 SMK or Berger 185. The 168’s will do good to about 800 then start to get unstable. This is the 168 SMK I’m talking about.

 

[Ned Ludd]

IMR 8208 is an excellent choice for bullets in the [approximate] 155 gr to 175 gr range. I personally think it's a tick too fast for 180+ bullets, but it will certainly work even with the slightly heavier bullets. As has been mentioned, H4895, Varget, or IMR 4064 would also be good choices, but there are many more, depending on what you can find with regard to availability. Below I attached a burn rate chart with the most commonly-used powders for .308 Win boxed in green. Obviously, powders at the upper end are faster burning than those at the bottom. FWIW - Varget and H4895 are available, but you have to search diligently and buy some immediately when a store or online vendor receives a shipment; they don't stay around very long.

You did not mention whether you intend to load to mag length or single feed. One bullet in the weight range you listed that might be worth looking into is the Berger 168 gr Hybrid. It has a very good BC for the weight, and does not suffer from any boattail angle-induced dynamic instability issues like the 168 Matchking. I have had very good results running the 168 Hybrid over H4895. I'd imagine 8208 XBR would work equally well with it. Another choice might be Berger's 175 gr OTM Tactical bullet, which has a tangent ogive and is not too finicky with regard to seating depth.

 

[Kevin Crain]

For me in .308 its varget and imr4064.

Varget in federal brass and a barnes 175 matchburner
Imr 4064 in lapua brass with 175 smk's
Both shoot very well, I use the smk's for F class and the matchburners for 1K steel.

 

[Comrade Terry]

My barrel likes N140 for that.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

42.0 of IMR 4064 and a 175 SMK, will get you to 1000 yds no problem.

 

[Knuckledragger]

Just getting into reloading and having a hard time finding powder like everyone else. I have a Remington 700P with 1/10 twist barrel. Looking at bench shooting 600 plus yards. Looking at either a 168 gr up to 180gn bullet, which in the loading manual, IMR 8208 XBR is common across these. Is anyone using a different powered that I might look for? Appreciate any help.

I like 42.0 gr RE-15 with 168 gr Sierra Match Kings
It's an "old school" load but works well in my Savage 112 B/T .308

 

[MikeMcCasland]

It's probably easier to list the powders that won't work in that application that it is to list powders that will. Some are obviously better than others, but the .308 with 168s-180s is pretty forgiving.

Pretty much anything slower than a pistol powder can be loaded with that combo and made to work. Hell I bet dunking a .308 case in a keg of H1000, 7828, H869 etc. and loading a bullet on top would probably be fairly accurate.

That said, any of the following would do well.
N140, N150, H4895 (any 4895), 8208XBR, RL15, Shooters World Precision, Varget, Ramshot Tac, IMR 4064 (really any 4064) etc.

 

[Jarhead69]

Appreciate all the responses and will look into each. I just came across a site that has Hodgdon CFE 223 in stock, anyone have experience in using this. Forgot to mention in the original post it is a 308.

 

[Jarhead69]

IMR 8208 is an excellent choice for bullets in the [approximate] 155 gr to 175 gr range. I personally think it's a tick too fast for 180+ bullets, but it will certainly work even with the slightly heavier bullets. As has been mentioned, H4895, Varget, or IMR 4064 would also be good choices, but there are many more, depending on what you can find with regard to availability. Below I attached a burn rate chart with the most commonly-used powders for .308 Win boxed in green. Obviously, powders at the upper end are faster burning than those at the bottom. FWIW - Varget and H4895 are available, but you have to search diligently and buy some immediately when a store or online vendor receives a shipment; they don't stay around very long.

You did not mention whether you intend to load to mag length or single feed. One bullet in the weight range you listed that might be worth looking into is the Berger 168 gr Hybrid. It has a very good BC for the weight, and does not suffer from any boattail angle-induced dynamic instability issues like the 168 Matchking. I have had very good results running the 168 Hybrid over H4895. I'd imagine 8208 XBR would work equally well with it. Another choice might be Berger's 175 gr OTM Tactical bullet, which has a tangent ogive and is not too finicky with regard to seating depth.

Thanks Ned for the info, much appreciated.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Appreciate all the responses and will look into each. I just came across a site that has Hodgdon CFE 223 in stock, anyone have experience in using this. Forgot to mention in the original post it is a 308.

I've ran it in my .308 with 175SMK out to 1000, it shot very good. I don't remember the load but it was a steel banger all the way out. Biggest plate was 18" down to 6" cleaned them on a kyl rack.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Just getting into reloading and having a hard time finding powder like everyone else. I have a Remington 700P 308 with 1/10 twist barrel. Looking at bench shooting 600 plus yards. Looking at either a 168 gr up to 180gn bullet, which in the loading manual, IMR 8208 XBR is common across these. Is anyone using a different powered that I might look for? Appreciate any help.

Where are you? I have surplus H4895 in Phoenix.

If I assume correctly that you're a (former?) Marine, thank you very much for serving our country.

 

[Jarhead69]

Where are you? I have surplus H4895 in Phoenix.

If I assume correctly that you're a (former?) Marine, thank you very much for serving our country.

Hello Jeffrey, I'm in Katy, TX just outside of Houston. Yes, still a Marine at heart.

 

[SPQR70AD]

A 308 is not picky when it comes to powder but every 308 that I used AA 2520 powder in shot tight groups

 

[shoot4fun]

IMR4166 should be on the 308 powder list as well. With heavier (175-185) bullets I had good success with Alliant 2000-MR but it can be temperamental (no pun intended). If you want velocity though it has been the best for me in that category.

 

[r bose]

Another vote for 2000MR. Works well and you can find it today.

 

[Jarhead69]

Another vote for 2000MR. Works well and you can find it today.

Do you know if this measures good in like a Hornady powder measure?

 

[Jarhead69]

A 308 is not picky when it comes to powder but every 308 that I used AA 2520 powder in shot tight groups

Do you know if this measures good in like a Hornady powder measure?

 

[Adam0321/0306]

I have had good luck with my .308 and 4064 shooting a 2155 Sierra Match King 155 gn HPBT. I know it is light, but it is a slow twist barrel.