Reloading for .308 WIN

[KArthur]

I picked up a .308 Winchester XPR and want to start developing a load for it. I am going to use SST 165 gr in this load. I have several pounds of IMR4831 that I want to try to use. My Nosler book says to load the 165gr bullet with 47 to 51 gr of this powder, but the Hornady book doesn't list this powder for the 165gr SST.
Would it be ok to use CCI 200 primers (Large Rifle) rather than the CCI 250 (Magnum Rifle)? I have plenty of these primers on hand.

My plan is to start at 47 gr of IMR4831 and work my way up and find a velocity node using the CCI 200 primer. Thoughts/Tips on using this powder/primer setup in the .308 WIN?

Thanks

 

[Straightshooter1]

I picked up a .308 Winchester XPR and want to start developing a load for it. I am going to use SST 165 gr in this load. I have several pounds of IMR4831 that I want to try to use. My Nosler book says to load the 165gr bullet with 47 to 51 gr of this powder, but the Hornady book doesn't list this powder for the 165gr SST.
Would it be ok to use CCI 200 primers (Large Rifle) rather than the CCI 250 (Magnum Rifle)? I have plenty of these primers on hand.

My plan is to start at 47 gr of IMR4831 and work my way up and find a velocity node using the CCI 200 primer. Thoughts/Tips on using this powder/primer setup in the .308 WIN?

Thanks

I don't think you'll find that IMR-4831 is going to be a good choice for you. Compared to powders that are known to work well, this 4831 burns quite a bit slower and your case fill will be limited trying to get the velocity you might want. For example, 47.0 grs of it will fill your case (have a COAL of 2.800) to ~110% where you will probably need to lengthen that COAL to make room for 47.0 grs. With 47.0 grs you'll be lucky to get to 2400 fps. And trying to do more than 47.0 grs is going to be a challenge if at all possible. It would help a little if you're using Winchester brass since they have a little more case volume than most other brands of brass.

The popular Varget has been available lately, I'd recommend getting some and using it with your .308. Other good powders, if you don't already know, would be the likes of IMR-4064, AR-Comp, Vihtavuori N-150 or N530, Accurate 4064, Winchester 748 or StaBall Match . . . just to name a few.

With the .308 you don't need to use an magnum primer and CCI-200's work really well in .308 cases.

Hodgdon Varget Smokeless Gun Powder

Small-grained for uniform metering, Hodgdon Varget smokeless powder is popular with reloaders. Get great prices on Hodgdon Varget powder at Powder Valley.

www.powdervalley.com

Hodgdon Varget Smokeless Gun Powder, 1 lb | Midsouth Shooters

Experience optimal performance with Hodgdon Varget Smokeless Powder. This load data improves accuracy for clean kills and is ideal for various calibers.

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Varget, H4895 and IMR8208 are the choices from Hodgdon. Might be worth having a go with Staball Match from Winchester. I use Varget for all bullet weights.

 

[JFrank]

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[Texas Solo]

Imr4895 or IMR4064

 

[William Vogel]

I use IMR4895 with 168ELD and 26 inch barrel. Don’t know what barrel you have but I find 4895 to be the most accurate and highest velocity @ 2.920 COL. I’m .020 off the lands.

 

[MSS]

There’s so many great powders for .308 but 4831 isn’t one of them IMO. Varget (my fav), IMR4064, RL15, N140, N540, Norma 203b (similar to RL 15), IMR 4895 and shooter world precision rifle (similar to varget) to name a few. Powder isn’t as hard to find as it was. I walked into Cabelas last weekend and they had a bunch including W296 which I picked up.
If you live near Scheels you can free ship to store avoiding the hazmat fees. Powder valley also has it.

Hodgdon Varget Powder

Varget is an extruded propellant in the Hodgdon line of Extreme Series of powders.

www.scheels.com

Hodgdon Varget Smokeless Gun Powder

Small-grained for uniform metering, Hodgdon Varget smokeless powder is popular with reloaders. Get great prices on Hodgdon Varget powder at Powder Valley.

www.powdervalley.com

 

[Bill Norris]

Agree the faster burning powders like Varget, IMR-4064, IMR-4895, VV-N135, would be a much better choice than the slower burning IMR-4831.

 

[KArthur]

Thanks to all for the replies. I have some IMR 4895 that I can test with. My Winchester XPR has a 22in barrel (1:12 twist). For my factory rifle, the cartridge length to jam is 3.01in, which is too long to fit in my clip. The longest possible length I can have to fit the clip is 2.964in, which ends up putting it .04 off the lands. That is where I will start and work back from there.

I will start at 39gr of 4895 and work my way up to 43gr.

 

[JFrank]

I ran 44.2 gr H4895 under a 155 Lapua Scenar, through a 1/11 twist.
Extremely accurate.
Currently using 44.4 Imr 4064 165 gr btsp

 

[Straightshooter1]

Thanks to all for the replies. I have some IMR 4895 that I can test with. My Winchester XPR has a 22in barrel (1:12 twist). For my factory rifle, the cartridge length to jam is 3.01in, which is too long to fit in my clip. The longest possible length I can have to fit the clip is 2.964in, which ends up putting it .04 off the lands. That is where I will start and work back from there.

I will start at 39gr of 4895 and work my way up to 43gr.

Just to give you some idea what you're dealing with (note the long COAL and numbers will be different base on how your particular lot of powder performs):

 

[dryhumor]

Was using H4895 a week or two ago. I’d probably favor that a hair more than Varget. Although Varget is far easier to find right now.

43.4 with 150SST and 43 with 165SSt shot nearly to the same point of impact out of my 20” 12 twist. Both at recommended COAL. Peterson SRP

 

[lotech]

I wouldn't waste time using any 4831 powder in the .308; just too slow. I have tried H4350 (on the edge of being too slow) and got very good accuracy and decent velocity with heavily compressed loads.

The very best .308 handloading article I've read in the last sixty years was in HANDLOADER magazine a number of years ago. The author did extensive testing with many bullets, but used only CCI-250 primers and Varget powder. I won't go in to great detail, but the article is worth reading for anyone with serious interest in handloding the .308 cartridge. Others on this forum will be familiar with the article and can easily locate it.

I've used Varget powder in the .308; it's a good powder but generally, I've seen slightly better accuracy with H4895 with bullet weights from 150 -180 grains, the only weights I can see as really worthwhile for the .308. While I've never tried any magnum primer in the .308, they will likely work fine if you begin your load develpment with them. CCI-200 standard primers have always worked so well for me, I've never seen a need to change.

 

[William Vogel]

Thanks to all for the replies. I have some IMR 4895 that I can test with. My Winchester XPR has a 22in barrel (1:12 twist). For my factory rifle, the cartridge length to jam is 3.01in, which is too long to fit in my clip. The longest possible length I can have to fit the clip is 2.964in, which ends up putting it .04 off the lands. That is where I will start and work back from there.

I will start at 39gr of 4895 and work my way up to 43gr.

You can start really low like that if you want but my accuracy load is 45.3 grains IMR4895 with 168ELD hornady. My rifle is 26 inches. I’m getting 2820fps. My COL is 2.92. This load is almost compressed but just shy if I funnel in the powder correctly in Lapua brass.

 

[CharlieNC]

Don't waste time banking on a velocity node, believe the target where the point of impact exhibits a flat spot as the node.

 

[S3silver]

Don't waste time banking on a velocity node, believe the target where the point of impact exhibits a flat spot as the node.

hmmm...interesting! During load workup I've always noticed where 2-4 consecutive loads will have the same POI and then the next 1 or 2 will shift to a different POI. Never really thought about using that "flat spot" as the node if you don't have a chrono handy.

 

[CharlieNC]

hmmm...interesting! During load workup I've always noticed where 2-4 consecutive loads will have the same POI and then the next 1 or 2 will shift to a different POI. Never really thought about using that "flat spot" as the node if you don't have a chrono handy.

This was originally proposed and called the Audette Ladder Test and is widely used . A version utilizing the same principal is Optimal Charge Weight (OCW). The target is more dependable than a chrono, check both and then decide which you believe.

 

[Rsadams]

I use 168gr sierra match king with IMR-4064 for .308 with excellent results... Actually never seen a .308 that didn't shoot the combination well.... Your going to find out that books rarely are the same... Reloading manuals are a safety reference really.... No matter what you do follow published data only and start low and work up.... There's a lot more to it than that but it's some good advice to start with...

 

[D-4297]

From mu own experience with it ; I would recommend NOT using VV N530 , unless you are a experienced reloader . Though it is viable , it can get you into trouble with a over-pressured load quickly . Especially if loading to a Magazine length . My testing over a month showed it could give SD's down in the "4" range , but it was rather hard on the Lead , due to developed heat . And I was using a 2013 F-TR chamber , loading .005 off , 185gr Berger , Rem 7-1/2 Primer & Lapua SRP Brass .

 

[KYStgtshooter]

IMR-4064