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Short barrel .308 powder

StandardVel

New to the forum, have lurked for a while. Looks to be a good source with lots of knowledgeable folks.

I’m getting back into handloading and am hoping for some guidance regarding powder. I use quite a few different cartridges but am starting with .308 Win in two different rifles. An 18.5” bolt action and a 20” bolt action. I like the Nosler 165gr Partition and would like to reach sane velocities with an appropriate pressure curve, not be temperature sensitive, and have the flexibility to be used in some of my other rifles.

If it’s possible to find a powder that is most suitable for .308 that can be used for other cartridges the following are the cartridges I’m most interested in:

30-06
7mm Rem Mag
243 Win
375 H&H
7mm-08
223/5.56

Pretty tall order to find a single powder for all of those, but if it’s ideal for .308 and is a good choice for at least something else, I think it it is a winner.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to lend.
 
IMR 4895 / H4895 is one of the most versatile and will cover most of those listed except for the magnum calibers with heavy bullets. Check the Lyman and Lee loading manuals for more information.
 
Thank you both for the input. Varget is on the list as is Ramshot TAC.

I know that temperature changes will not affect hunting accuracy at the ranges I hunt, but our deer season starts in August and ends in January; opening day is hot as heck, and by the end of the season it can be below freezing. Is IMR 4895 very tolerant of temperature fluctuations? If so, it looks like a very good choice.
 
StandardVel said:
Thank you both for the input. Varget is on the list as is Ramshot TAC.

I know that temperature changes will not affect hunting accuracy at the ranges I hunt, but our deer season starts in August and ends in January; opening day is hot as heck, and by the end of the season it can be below freezing. Is IMR 4895 very tolerant of temperature fluctuations? If so, it looks like a very good choice.
Click to expand...
It’s not known to be a temp sensitive powder.
 
I had a 20” factory barrel 308 bolt gun for a general plinker and had a compressed load of Varget that would get 168s to 2680- 2700 fps. It would shoot about 5/8”, I thought that was pretty good for a factory barrel.
I finally burned it out and replaced it with a new Benchmark.
 
JMO, I tried some different powders here lately in my 25'' tube 308win, running 175gn SMK's, some of the new to me powders are A2460, A2495, I chose these powders because I can easily find them and their still reasonably priced, I also don't want to use up my remaining supply of H4895 or my Varget, what I have discovered is the 2 Accurate powders seem to be good alternatives, I have not done extensive load development with these 2 powders as of yet, the H powders and IMR4064 I can easily shoot groups you can cover with your thumb nail @200m, first time out with the A2460 I loaded 41gns under the 175gn SMK's and my velocity's were running 2680fps range, that's more then I want!!! second time out I ran 39.5gns and my velocity's were running 2550 to 2580fps range right where I want to be! accuracy @200m 1.5'' not great yet but it's a good starting point, for me, same day using the A2495 I got about the exact same results using 41gns of the 2495, the ES and SD and velocity's were almost identical, the accuracy was a tic tighter, IMO the 2460 can provide more velocity with less powder, which IMO would work well in a short barrel, all the loads I have ran so far have been safe from my rifle, using LAPUA brass, no pressure signs, I'm also running a custom built rifle, not a factory built gun,
 
Ramshot TAC works well in both .308, 30.06 and .223 in my experience. I suspect it will work well in .243 and 7-08 as well and there is good reloading data for those calibers in this powder. The other calibers you mention will require a lot slower powder for accurate loads in my experience.
 
I run H335 in my 18 inch AR-10 with a 150 SST. The rifle is suppressed and is my main hog rifle. It chronos at 2700 with no pressure signs. Kills pig, deer and yotes equally well. Start around 41.0 and work up. Don't know how this will work in other cartridges. I had a friend do a Quick Load work up for me on this powder.
 
Well, most say barrel length doesn't matter but in shorter barrels faster powders burn out sooner, either before bullet exit or with less unburned powder. This can affect accuracy and sd (maybe) to some extent. That said I use IMR 4064 in a 20" 308.

One powder that I think works well is N135 in 308. It also works well in 223 down to 52 gr bullets. I have uses 4064 (308) and 8208 (223 and 308) for the last 13 years but with availability issues and adding a Garand to the stable I picked of N135 as a catchall for the 223 and 308 to free up the 4064 for the Garand.
 
You can add VV N-150 to that list . Have tried nearly every powder mentioned for .308 , and currently running the N 150 .
 
Thank you all for the suggestions. You have either helped me narrow it down, or have presented me with more choices than I can wrap my little mind around. Lots of reading to do now.

Happy 4th!
 
StandardVel said:
New to the forum, have lurked for a while. Looks to be a good source with lots of knowledgeable folks.

I’m getting back into handloading and am hoping for some guidance regarding powder. I use quite a few different cartridges but am starting with .308 Win in two different rifles. An 18.5” bolt action and a 20” bolt action. I like the Nosler 165gr Partition and would like to reach sane velocities with an appropriate pressure curve, not be temperature sensitive, and have the flexibility to be used in some of my other rifles.

If it’s possible to find a powder that is most suitable for .308 that can be used for other cartridges the following are the cartridges I’m most interested in:

30-06
7mm Rem Mag
243 Win
375 H&H
7mm-08
223/5.56

Pretty tall order to find a single powder for all of those, but if it’s ideal for .308 and is a good choice for at least something else, I think it it is a winner.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to lend.
Click to expand...
Accurate Reloader 15 will do all of these. Granted- you will be shooting slightly heavy .223’s and relatively light magnum bullets. But you are going to run into that with any of the powders
 
The 4895 would be a option, problem is if your asking this, that ain't likely going to be an available option.

I don't believe in magic powders that cove cartridges like you mentioned. But xbr8208 is killer for me with the 308 win, in all barrel lengths, and great in 223 with moderately heave to heavy bullets.

I would think 7mm08 and maybe 243 as well. I would never even consider it the other three cartridges. To fast for such large capacity cases to suite me and my performance wants.
 
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