Dual purpose powders

[moe africa]

Good Day
I currently load with N555 for my 6.5cm and it gives amazing results
I'm in the process of getting a 308 for prs limited class shooting ( takes 4 months to get a rifle down here, commies )
I'm a student and I Don't have the greatest budget so I'm primarily going to be shooting 308 and plan on stocking up components for about 2 000 rounds
Now the 6.5cm is going to be used less ,about 500 rounds for the year
The most available powder here is Varget(cheapest) currently and then N540 ,n150 is not that prevalent and gets taken up by the Ftr folk
What would be my best powder choice for
140s in a 6.5cm
168-178 in a 308

 

[avidflyer]

Varget, since plentiful and cheap.

 

[deep south]

Rl 15.5

 

[avidflyer]

Rl 15.5

RL 15.5 for me in 308 has been extremely slow....like 100-150 fps slow from a varget charge. Plus is this powder available for him. He did mention Varget was plentiful.

 

[jelenko]

plentiful and cheap.

What?

 

[deep south]

RL 15.5 for me in 308 has been extremely slow....like 100-150 fps slow from a varget charge. Plus is this powder available for him. He did mention Varget was plentiful.

Really strange.being slower burning it should put up more velocity? I've heard this elsewhere doesn't make sense?

 

[avidflyer]

What?

His post...says Varget for him is plentiful and cheap he listed what powders he can get

 

[deep south]

RL 15.5 for me in 308 has been extremely slow....like 100-150 fps slow from a varget charge. Plus is this powder available for him. He did mention Varget was plentiful.

Hey did you run a pressure test? The accurate shooter bulletin showed 100fps over varget in 308? But I have heard someone else make a claim at slower but common sense says it should be faster if alliant has burn rate right unless they've put out some inconsistent lots of powder or something?
Just curious got me wondering what the deal is.

 

[avidflyer]

Hey did you run a pressure test? The accurate shooter bulletin showed 100fps over varget in 308? But I have heard someone else make a claim at slower but common sense says it should be faster if alliant has burn rate right unless they've put out some inconsistent lots of powder or something?
Just curious got me wondering what the deal is.

it did, it does, but like myself, no one has seen an increase in velocity. Just a huge decrease, that I spoke with. So I tried it...same results

 

[Laurie]

Really strange.being slower burning it should put up more velocity? I've heard this elsewhere doesn't make sense?

Who tells you that? Optimum pressure and MV come from a powder with a) a suitable bulk density for the cartridge (to get enough in), and b) an optimum burn speed for the application. Optimum burn speed is determined largely by the case volume to bore ratio; secondly by bullet weight. 308 Win has a relatively low volume to bore ratio value and therefore needs fast to medium burn rate powders with all but the heaviest of bullets. Going to a slower burning powder than the optimum produces a compressed load which still fails to achieve full pressures.

QuickLOAD calculates a low 42.2gn Re15.5 TS at 100% case-fill under a 175gn Sierra MK seated to the SAAMI 2.800-inch COAL in a 56gn (water) capacity case (Lapua). The program calculates 47,538 psi PMax with this combination for 2,560 fps MV from a 24-inch barrel with a case-full of powder. The only good thing about the combination is 99.59% calculated charge burn - often a too slow powder as here sees a much lower figure with unburned powder left in the barrel. 45.6gn powder is needed to achieve 308 Win full pressures and 2,745 fps MV (calculated), but that entails a fairly heavily compressed (108% fill-ratio) powder charge.

44.5gn VarGet is calculated to do the same job with this bullet weight (still a compressed charge load at 104% fill-ratio) for 60,000 psi and 2,687 fps, so is better suited to the combination. From the point of view of internal ballistics alone, the yet faster burning H4895 is better still - 43.5gn at 100% fill-ratio, 60,712 psi PMax and 2,723 fps MV.

These are calculations from a computer model with all that that entails - QL's specific energy and burn rate settings are frequently 'out' with its default settings, but in any event with VarGet available (and cheaper) in South Africa for the OP, I know which of the pair I'd prefer in the 308. Bullet weights over 185gn might (or equally might not) give Re15.5 parity.

 

[Mark611]

Just based off my opinion, I don't think there's a powder suited for both the 6.5CM and the 308win, for the best efficiency for both calibers, VARGET maybe good for some 308win loads, but not as good for 6.5CM loads, I like VARGET in my 308, never tried it my 6.5CM, just off of burn rate, RL16 or H4350 are probably best in the 6.5CM or 6.5 STABALL being on the underside of the 6.5CM, JMO

 

[deep south]

Just based off my opinion, I don't think there's a powder suited for both the 6.5CM and the 308win, for the best efficiency for both calibers, VARGET maybe good for some 308win loads, but not as good for 6.5CM loads, I like VARGET in my 308, never tried it my 6.5CM, just off of burn rate, RL16 or H4350 are probably best in the 6.5CM or 6.5 STABALL being on the underside of the 6.5CM, JMO

This is probably best answer no such thing.one will suffer slightly from optimum

 

[deep south]

Looks like I'm glad I haven't bought any rl 15.5
I'll take y'all's word for it.much cheaper way to find out lol thanks
Looks like I'll stick to my rl15, varget,imr4064,h4895,cfe223 for 308 and quit trying to help people.lol a lot easier this way

And 4350 ,4831 in 260
Good luck.

 

[jelenko]

His post...says Varget for him is plentiful and cheap he listed what powders he can get

Have you tried to buy an Varget recently?

 

[avidflyer]

Have you tried to buy an Varget recently?

For me, no only because I have several 8 lbers. If you read HIS POST it says in the country he resides in Varget is cheap and plentiful. (Actually stopped by my local shop last week and they had 8lbers in stock also)

 

[William Vogel]

308 and 6.5 take different powders if you want good results from both calibers. I would never use one powder for each of these just for convenience because I would have to pick a powder that didn’t perform well for one of meet in the middle and suffer both calibers. The 555 is great for the 6.5. 4895 for the 308. 8 lbs of each would be the ticket.

 

[jelenko]

For me, no only because I have several 8 lbers. If you read HIS POST it says in the country he resides in Varget is cheap and plentiful. (Actually stopped by my local shop last week and they had 8lbers in stock also)

Ah, I missed he's no in the United States.

 

[Zero333]

There is NO single powder that can OPTIMIZE both the 6.5 Greedmoor and the 308win.
Unless you're shooting light projectiles in the 6.5 cm.

 

[drop_point]

Varget is great for .308, but not that great for 6.5 Creedmoor.

Triple Nickel is great for 6.5 Creedmoor, but not that great for .308 Winchester. Stock both powders and be happy.

 

[AndrewB]

It’s not cheaper to use just one powder. if you use two different powders, you’re still using 40 ish grains every time you load a case

You’ll have to invest more upfront, but over the course of time it’s the same price