Powder for Berger VLD Target 168 grain?

[alamo308]

Newbie here, just getting into serious mid-range shooting/reloading. I'll be shooting F-Class T/R at 500 yards in .308. I have two boxes, 100 ct each, of Berger VLD Target 168 grain, to stuff into fully prepped Lapua fire-formed brass. On my powder shelves, I have the following listed powders available. Is any one of these better than or best of the rest?

• IMR4064 (MUCHO, mucho!)
• Hodgdon H4350 (a whole bunch!)
• Varget (big jug)
• RL22 (4x1lb.)
• VV N140 (1LB)

 

[HTSmith]

Varget is very popular, but I think 4064 is hard to beat. You are good either way!

 

[alamo308]

Varget is very popular, but I think 4064 is hard to beat. You are good either way!

Thanks, Tim. I believe I'll go with the 4064, starting with 40.5 for load development (down 1 gr, since these are Lapua cases and I understand Lapua is a thicker brass?). The rifle shot this 100-yard target with Creedmoor commercial match ammo. That's five rounds.

 

[barefooter56]

Newbie here, just getting into serious mid-range shooting/reloading. I'll be shooting F-Class T/R at 500 yards in .308. I have two boxes, 100 ct each, of Berger VLD Target 168 grain, to stuff into fully prepped Lapua fire-formed brass. On my powder shelves, I have the following listed powders available. Is any one of these better than or best of the rest?

• IMR4064 (MUCHO, mucho!)
• Hodgdon H4350 (a whole bunch!)
• Varget (big jug)
• RL22 (4x1lb.)
• VV N140 (1LB)

Please contact us at 660-460-2802 from 8am to 4:30pm EASTERN OR send us an email to support@capstonepg.com and we can help with the load data AND how to tune your load . Looking forward to hear from you!

 

[STOMP442]

4064 has always given me very good results in the .308.

 

[HTSmith]

Thanks, Tim. I believe I'll go with the 4064, starting with 40.5 for load development (down 1 gr, since these are Lapua cases and I understand Lapua is a thicker brass?). The rifle shot this 100-yard target with Creedmoor commercial match ammo. That's five rounds.

Going to be hard to beat that! Tell us about your rifle

 

[284winner]

Tough to beat starting with Varget. I'm pushing the 168 TMKs with Varget and getting outstanding groups waaaay out there. Also up close and in between.

 

[joed49]

It's hard to beat Varget and 4064 in the .308. If I didn't have Varget I'd be using 4064. I shoot the VLD 185 using 43.5 gr of Varget.

 

[kyreloader]

My nephew’s Savage shoots dots with Berger 168 hunting Vlds and AR-Comp.

 

[kram]

It would help to know the twist rate and length of your barrel. Can you get ADI powder over there? Varget is ADI 2208, there is a good chance the 4064 is also but I'm not sure. IMR 8208 is ADI Benchmark 8208. Don't be afraid to give this stuff a go as well, especially if your barrel is on the shorter side of 28 inches.

 

[alamo308]

Going to be hard to beat that! Tell us about your rifle

Winchester (action) custom Palma rifle .308, 29" barrel, 1:12 twist. See photo, but she's wearing a Harrel's Precision barrel tuner now (and was so configured for that target pictured above).

 

[alamo308]

It would help to know the twist rate and length of your barrel. Can you get ADI powder over there? Varget is ADI 2208, there is a good chance the 4064 is also but I'm not sure. IMR 8208 is ADI Benchmark 8208. Don't be afraid to give this stuff a go as well, especially if your barrel is on the shorter side of 28 inches.

The rifle is Winchester (action) custom Palma rifle .308, 29" barrel, 1:12 twist.

 

[barefooter56]

The rifle is Winchester (action) custom Palma rifle .308, 29" barrel, 1:12 twist.

Phil,
Email sent to your email address. Please disregard first email sent unless you would like to talk more on the phone. Thanks for using our bullets !

 

[kram]

I'd be tempted to pack a bit more powder in. I would go with 42.5 of Varget and see what happens.

 

[hogpatrol]

Reloder 15. Good for .223 and .308

 

[Loudenboomer]

You will do well with both 4064 and Varget with the 168. I'm in a solid node at the Max side of Varget with my Sako TRG. Another powder that could surprise you is AA2460 @ 42.5gr.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I'd suggest H4895 if you can find it. It's an amazing powder for .30 cal bullets in that weight range. From your list, I'd probably go with Varget first, followed by N140.

 

[Martin52]

I recently tested Berger 168 hybrids in a 12T 30 inch barrel, Palma srp brass. Tested for seating depth at 100 yards initially and found 0.012 jump grouped the tightest. Them moved to powder loads, settled on 43.5 gr Varget, (COAL is 2.91 for pressure considerations).

I have shot this load out to 800 yards and it holds up, velocity is around 2800fps, it could be faster I suppose. Upper node reportedly is around 2900fps.

Testing seating depth first before moving to powder load worked well for me.

 

[Down South]

I'd suggest H4895 if you can find it. It's an amazing powder for .30 cal bullets in that weight range. From your list, I'd probably go with Varget first, followed by N140.

^^^^^ This ^^^^^

 

[D-4297]

Lean towards 4064 in the cooler weather , below about 75 degrees , and the Varget will take care of you anywhere above that . The 4064 was originally designed for Military .308 use in all climates , though the formula has probably been adjusted more recently .
4895 is a excellent powder for .308 use ,, as Ned Ludd said . I have half a dozen different loads I use it for . When I can get it , which is not lately . I tried a couple of loads with the 4350 , and they didn't work out very good . Just starting to experiment with N-150 , so no opinion on it yet . And I do shoot TR , so I've learned a little about this .