308 win Powders

[D-4297]

I've been developing loads for TR using VV N-150 with surprisingly good results . Currently have a 43.7gr load for a 185gr Juggernaut OTM that is a tack driver in my rifle . No pressure issues showing using Lapua SRP brass and loading typically long to .005 off . If you're loading to Mag length , I'd start with VV's recommendations . But the N-150 is supposed to be one of the most temp-stable powders on the planet . Don't overlook the Vihtavouri powders . For lighter bullets , the N-140 should be a fix . I only wish I'd tried them sooner .

 

[PAC3006]

My 308 Win loads with 168gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.
44.5grs of TAC
45.5grs of Varget
46.5grs of Accurate 4064

 

[Big_Daddy]

……….. My first two choices are Varget then RL15...…...

BINGO......Same for me.
Both extremely accurate with 168 SMK's

 

[Uglybird]

Any experience with RL16 and Norma URP in relation to RL17?

I'm liking the 208 eld-m seated long. My load is 45 gr RL17 @ 3.043 COAL for ~2625fps. Moving to RL16 and Norma URP for temp sensitivity and potentially better SD's. Is RL16 the same as URP? Does RL16 generally require ~1 more grain of powder to match RL17 velocity? Just looking for general guidelines - I will be loading down and testing as normal, just trying to keep waste to a min.

edit: loading some up now - RL16 is much larger than RL17, and URP is a bit smaller than RL17. With a 208 ELD-M, and 3.043, the case is full of RL16 with ~45.5 grains. I started @ 43.5 and have some compressed at 46 and 46.5 grains w/ Coal of 3.05, 3055, respectively. Will see how they do. The URP won't have a case fill issue.

 

[Alliant Reloading]

Any experience with RL16 and Norma URP in relation to RL17?

I'm liking the 208 eld-m seated long. My load is 45 gr RL17 @ 3.043 COAL for ~2625fps. Moving to RL16 and Norma URP for temp sensitivity and potentially better SD's. Is RL16 the same as URP? Does RL16 generally require ~1 more grain of powder to match RL17 velocity? Just looking for general guidelines - I will be loading down and testing as normal, just trying to keep waste to a min.

edit: loading some up now - RL16 is much larger than RL17, and URP is a bit smaller than RL17. With a 208 ELD-M, and 3.043, the case is full of RL16 with ~45.5 grains. I started @ 43.5 and have some compressed at 46 and 46.5 grains w/ Coal of 3.05, 3055, respectively. Will see how they do. The URP won't have a case fill issue.

Reloder(R) 16 is absolutely not the same as URP.
Both made by Bofors, but URP is traditional process, whereas Reloder 16 is TZ process.
They are close burn speed wise.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Any experience with RL16 and Norma URP in relation to RL17?

I'm liking the 208 eld-m seated long. My load is 45 gr RL17 @ 3.043 COAL for ~2625fps. Moving to RL16 and Norma URP for temp sensitivity and potentially better SD's. Is RL16 the same as URP? Does RL16 generally require ~1 more grain of powder to match RL17 velocity? Just looking for general guidelines - I will be loading down and testing as normal, just trying to keep waste to a min.

edit: loading some up now - RL16 is much larger than RL17, and URP is a bit smaller than RL17. With a 208 ELD-M, and 3.043, the case is full of RL16 with ~45.5 grains. I started @ 43.5 and have some compressed at 46 and 46.5 grains w/ Coal of 3.05, 3055, respectively. Will see how they do. The URP won't have a case fill issue.

Don't know if this will be of any help to you regarding RL17 . . .

I tried some that I had laying around in my .308 for some of the Berger 185 Jugs. Using 45.8 grs I got 2618 fps out of my 26" Krieger barrel at 68°F. That was my best load for this powder where I got a .456 MOA group with an SD of 4.2 and ES of 6 fps. I was hoping for a tighter group with that and going into a AZ summer, I'll not be using this powder given that it's very temperature sensitive. Maybe I'll revisit it again when the mild climate of AZ returns this winter.

 

[Uglybird]

Thanks - yes, I love my RL17 load, but @ 940 yds, I get inches of vertical dispersion from cool morning to hot mid-day sun. Hopeful of the RL16 load, but granules may just be too big for the little 308 case - and I thought URP was temp insensitive, but Alliant says not so above. Worst case I just need to do a temp ladder for the RL17 load...

Have a great load for 178 eld-m's with N540, but the BC on the 208 is so superior that it kills it anywhere over 500 yds, so I'd like to stick with that projectile.

 

[SPQR70AD]

do not know why nobody ever mentions accurate 2520 powder. there is not a 308 I ever loaded with it that did not give excellent results. before it was widely known it was called the camp perry powder it had won so many matches there