What powder would it be? I know one powder is not always the absolute best, but a good all around powder for general shooting of these calibers. No super long distance or benchrest competition. Both bolt and semi auto (AR)Leaning more to use in the 223/556

Probably 55 gr bullets in 223/556 and 150-168 gr in the 308. Anything other than VARGET as it is impossible to find.

Sorta like Unique or HP 38 will work well in most handguns.

I posted this on another forum so trying to get a broader result.

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Still Running Against the Wind

4895. It allows me to run reduced or standard loads in either caliber. Very versatile.

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Dave

Hodgdon BLC-2
Measures good and it's thrifty. It's been my staple for those two calibers for years.
It is the original military powder for the 7.62x51 ala .308 Winchester.
It's well regarded for the .223 as well.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

I know it's a bit different caliber but I load 150gr. Sierras in my 3006 and 55gr fmjs for the AR with BLC2. Works great for both. Don't know about the heaver bullets for the 30 cal. FYI

Shoot, Shoot, Shoot and Shoot some more.
We must all be proficient.

A couple of Accurate branded powders that would do the job are A 2460 and A 2520. 2460 is just a little faster than 2520 but both will do the job. I've actually shot 2460 in my AR and it shot very well. I don't own a 308 rifle, but Accurate shows quite a few loads with it from 110 grain to 210 grain bullets in 308.

The recently released copper fouling controlling IMR powders are great for accuracy. IMR4166 in the .223 and IMR4451 in the .308 should be winners for you - 4166 might even do well in both according to IMR's description of that powder. Every cartridge in which I've tried them have shot with small muzzle velocity deviation numbers and corresponding good accuracy. They won't give you the highest velocities but if accuracy is your main objective, that doesn't matter.

I can't recall my exact results without going to my records on my loading bench and I'm too lazy to go down there now and have never used them in the .308 (don't own one) but I have used 4451 in the .260 REM, which is a necked-down .308. Muzzle velocity with the same bullet, the 120-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, was down about 100 feet per second but my 100-yard groups shrunk to 4/10ths of an inch from a standard Model 700BDL.

Ed

By the way, Varget is worth seeking out as it might be a perfect powder for your uses. It's been readily available around here for some time and should be everywhere now. I don't think a more flexible powder exists but those new IMR powders come darned close!

Ed

These two tables may help you make a choice. There are a number of candidates and your needs/wants/use may lead you to choices different than others. BLC2 certainly is a decent choice. Hope this helps.

Reloading the .223 | Hodgdon Reloading

Reloading the .308 Winchester | Hodgdon Reloading

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

Winchester 748 without a doubt. Since it isn't new anymore it seems
to be overlooked by many handloaders. Winchester developed the 308
and 748 powder, and from what I have read 748 ball powder was the
powder that would develop near 30-06 ballistics in the compact 308
case. With 150 and 165 gr bullets 748 will give velocities in the 308
that will likely exceed factory 30-06 velocities in the same barrel
length. 47.0 grs, 1/2 gr under Lyman's max, Win brass and primer,
165 gr Hornady = 2765 fps out of my 22" Ruger 77MKII 308. In the
5.56. 748 reaches near top velocity with 55 gr bullets at modest
pressure levels. Great powder in the 30-30, 300 Savage, 303 British
and 8mm, available and cheaper than many others, long lived ball
powder, what more could you want?

I've used AA 2520 for 5.56 and like it; but can't get any. So I've gone to H335 as it's readily available.

I have lots of pulldown 4895 for .30 calibers, so really must try it in 5.56. I suspect that proper charges of it won't give me the same velocities, but I guess only the chronograph will tell me that for sure...

You will find that 4895 really shines in both casings. Have shot many 8lb jugs of it in NRA Service Rifle Matches with high levels of success. Try it you'll like.....

Randy

I would pick H4895. Its been very accurate in .223 & .308 & pretty good for 30-30.

I've had good results using Hodgdon Benchmark in both calibers.

Winchester 748.

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Dave
SWCA #2465

I have loaded both in 748, Benchmark, Varget, and IMR-3031. So it depends How you are loading the rounds, and what purpose you are loading the rounds for. My Bolt Action, Long Range guns, currently get a diet of only Varget and Match projectiles loaded on a turret press and each charge weighed by hand! My Semi-autos get a diet of 748 loaded on a progressive. Don't think the Bolt Guns/Varget shoot better than the Semi-auto/740, they don't! Both combos shoot 1/10" group @ 100 yards. The problem is for accuracy, the Semi-autos I have require bullets that run out of steam around 500 yards. I shoot the both bolt guns to 1000 yards regularly and the 308 to 1100+ on occasion. (IMR-3031 is so accurate/consistent, that for over 4 decades, the custom shop at Remington only used 3031 for load development to prove each rifle's accuracy! It also used to be the least expensive, when bought in large kegs.)

The old adage of, you can only have one type of powder for pistol (that would be Unique) one for rifle (that would be 30-31 1st choice, 748 second choice) and for shot gun (hardest choice when you shot 4 gauges, Green Dot and The Unique, I already have) And If I could only have one powder at all; it would be Black Powder FFFg!

Hope this helps.

Ivan

Another fanboy of 748, as it flows consistently through measure and provides ex accuracy in bolt/semi 223/308. Lots of good powders, but am not interested in weighing individual charges and it is usually very easy/cheap to find. However it has been reported to be temp sensitive, which am not worried about up here. It also prefers (not requires) mag primers for accuracy in the over dozen rifles am using it for, except 30-30.

Another BL-C(2) user here. It's working fine in .223, .308 & .30-06. There may be better powders but I'm getting decent velocities, safe pressures, and accuracy with it.

BL-C(2).... Meters much better than H4895.

The 3 medium burn rate of the IMR series,3031 4895 4064. IMR 4064 seems to be a favorite of the 308 crowd,IMR 4895 seemed popular in previous posts in this thread. I use IMR 3031 for 17Rem,223/5.56,243Win,308Win, & 30-06.

Thanks for all the replies!

OK now I am more confused Did I mention I would prefer ball or really short extruded powder?

I have a little bit of a lot of rifle powders

H335, H322, IMR 4064, IMR 8208, IMR 4320 and AA 2230

So I would like to use these up and just have one or two powders. H335 or AA2230 works fine for me in the 223/556.

I do not shoot the 308 as much so I really do not know good from great in that caliber, I need to simplify my life!

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Still Running Against the Wind

"prefer ball or really short extruded powder".

that rules out IMR 3031,4895,4064.

1. IMR-4895
2. WW-748
3. BL_C (2)

Have used Varget but got away from it, use IMR-8208 instead

Canister mil pull down WC-844, WC-846 when it was "cheap"

-Snoopz

Looking at Hodgdon on line and either the site is messed up or they do not list start loads for 748 in 223/556 or 308 Win.

They do not list a 168 grain bullet in 308 with 748??

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Still Running Against the Wind

Check out CFE223 - surprisingly good results from 223 up to 308 particularly in the weight range you mentioned.

Have you tried your H335 in 30-06? After using 20-something gr in various 223 loads, I was noobie nervous about 40-something gr in 308. Probably better as you go with lighter 30-06 bullets, probably not as good as CFE223 here, but may preserve your H335 223 loads.

As you have mentioned, Varget has been hard to find for the past 9-10 years for me. I lucked into two pounds about 2 years ago.

For my current match loads in 223 and 308, I have been using Varget.
I have used AA2520 in 308 in my M1MkII, M1A, and my Remington 700. About 42.0 gr and either the Sierra 168gr or 175gr MatchKings make a great load. I am now developing a 223 load for my 77s. This is a necessity, since I found the mother load in my shop from before my accident.

I am not certain what powder I would choose for both cartridges if I didn't have Varget or the 2520.

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Judge control not gun control!

Some powders are not compatible with all bullet weighs in certain calibers due to the pressure generated being too low or high. And sometimes, omissions happen. I was loading some test recipes for my .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag yesterday and wanted to try the new IMR Enduron powders in it. Even though the bottle labels list the powder as being especially suited for cartridges with the same capacity (even the WIN 300 Short Magnum), none of those powders are listed for the REM .300 SAUM.

Many times, a call to the powder manufacturer will yield data they didn't publish yet or loads they didn't publish because they didn't anticipate much interest in them. Hodgdon's is closed Fridays or I would have called with my question and will do so on Monday.

Ed

It is not a necessity, my powders measures will dump it just fine, just easier to work with ball powders with the 223/556.

For 308 I would hand charge/measure those anyway.

Looking like I need to get two powders, no big deal, but thought I would try. In theory the H335 would work fine in the 308. It is not a real fussy caliber and I am no benchrest precision shooter!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Look in Sierra data
168 gr HPBT
41.9 grains for 2500 fps to 44.8 grains for 2700 fps

or

Lymans 49th ed
168 gr jacketed HPBT
40 grains for 2371 fps to 45.7 grains for 2714 fps

or

Hornady Manual - Service Rifle
38 grains for 2100 fps to 43.1 grains for 2500 fps

hope that clears up your confusion

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I'd like to agree with you BUT

49th edition of Lyman's reloading manual has listings in both calibers for 748, including 168 grain bullets in the Win. 308.

748 is a Winchester Ball powder and should be a good compromise between the two calibers.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

If it matters, H4895 is far less temperature sensitive than many of the powders mentioned. It's also capable of providing excellent accuracy in both cartridges. In fact, I've found it be more versatile and slightly more accurate in the .308 than the very popular Varget. Granted, H4895 doesn't go through a measure as well as some other powders, but if you're not loading in the millions, that should be of little concern.

Win 748 gets my vote.

I wish I had a barrel of it.

Ya know, in today's climate, you've got a pretty good selection right here and in stock Go ahead, spoil yourself. I have !!!!!!!

Hodgdon CFE223 Smokeless Powder 1 Lb by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
IMR 4064 Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Hodgdon Benchmark Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Hodgdon BLC2 Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Hodgdon H322 Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
Hodgdon H335 Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...s-Powder-8-Lbs
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...s-Powder-8-Lbs

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

I hope it doesn't end up on the 'discontinued' list. The stuff is awesome as what it can do.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

RL 15, 8208xbr, Varget, any of these work very well in both calibers. Another would be 2000MR.

Just to add something else to the pot, I use H 223 (which I think is now called CFE 223) in both - 55 grain bullets in the .223/5.56 NATO and 150 grain bullets in the .308/7.62 NATO. Works well for me.

When looking at Hodgen's data for 748, they appear to have just reprinted from the old Win basic manual. In that manual, when you look at the pressures listed, 748 is downloaded significantly for some loads in 223 .

Most other manuals list 748 for 125, 150, 168 grainers in 308. It's burn rate is on the very slightly slower side for semi, very slightly faster side for bolts (opinion).

Thanks for replies. I decided on a "8 pack" of assorted powders they all can be used for one or the other. These added to my current stash of rifle powders should hold me for some time. I am more of pistol shooter anyway.

It was kind of a search for the "Unique" of rifle powders.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use Varget for both. It is a small extruded.

Win 748. Found some outstanding loads in both 5.56 gas gun and .308 bolt. Meters like a dream through any type of powder dispenser.

I use IMR 3031 for 5.56 and .308. Found that it works very well in trying to duplicate the Federal Gold Match 168 gr. BTHP we used in our sniper rifles with match grade brass. It has worked equally well for me with the 5.56.

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Dave Frost

AA2520, W748, CFE223, H335, then spme old timets like BL-C2.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO