Powder for .308 Winchester

[Bert Man]

I have used

H380, 4064, and 4895 with good results. Have continously obtained best accuracy/velocity combination with Sierra 150gr spitzer over 45.5gr 4064 with Federal 205 Match primer in Federal or Win. brass. That combo routinely gives 3-shot groups just under 1 inch from the bench. Of course different barrels may give varying results. With my 1-12 twist barrel 150gr bullets stabilize somewhat better than heavier weights.

 

[H Richard]

I've used 748, and 4064 . 748 for lighter weight bullets, (125-130) and 4064 for the 168 gr. I have recently been loading Varget with the Sierra 150 gr. Palma. All shoot great. The .308 is a very easy round to load accurately.

 

[BobB257]

Varget. Enough to get the 150 to 155 grain bullet of choice over the chrony at around 2800fps and load development is over.
I have used the Speer spitzer, Hornady a max, Nosler ballistic tip, and a Sierra round nose all with good results. Started with fed match primers but have had to go to winchester since the first are very hard to find in this area.

Good article on 308 reloading for match shooting.
.308 Winchester Cartridge Guide

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have had good performance with 42gr H4895 and the Sierra 168GR MK. This should give you between 2500 and 2600 FPS according to several reloading manuals. My rifle is a Rem 700 Police.

Also I seat the bullet so that it barely touches the rifling. I then turn the seating die down a little to make sure that there is a minimal jump to engage the rifling. Some rifles do better with the bullet just barely engaging the rifling. Keep in mind that I am talking about .01 to .02 ". In either case. The link above mentions "jump or jam".

 

[smith57]

Varget ... more temp insensitive than some other acceptable 308 powders.

 

[BillyWayne]

I like Varget and RL15 for 308. Both have worked well for me.

 

[deanodog]

I used to load 37 grs of 3031 with a 168gr match bullet. It was an accuracy load from an old lyman manual. It is a target load but I am not a hunter and just love to shoot.

 

[Tony C.]

My load for .308 Win are :

42.5 gr. of 4895 for 165 or 168 gr. bullets in auto loaders.

41.5 gr. of 4064 or 39.5 gr. of 3031 in bolt guns with same bullets, all these load consistantly group under 1" in all my .308 rifles.

 

[perrazi]

have used 748, rl-15, but my best was with benchmark. would also look at the new 8208 from imr.

 

[IamLegend]

I have used IMR3031, W748 and IMR4064. I now only use 4064.

 

[.41fan]

late to the thread but my vote goes to imr 4064 also, have had great results with nosler 165 grain ballistic tips. used federal nickeled cases, w-w lge rifle primer, and 43.5 grs. IN MY RIFLE. remember work to your own max.

 

[Mule88]

39.5 gn of 3031 behind the 165 gn of your choice +1

 

[Marksman]

Back when I loaded .308, I used W-748 for 150-165gr. bullets and IMR 4895 and IMR 3031 for 180gr. I now load only for .257 Roberts and .35 Whelen using IMR 4064 and would use it for .308 if I loaded it now. It is a very versatile powder which yields excellent accuracy, I chose it after extensive research and range testing.

 

[Chef]

I especially like the 4064 with Sierra MK168g HPBT bullets. It also loads well with the 175g MK. I tried Varget as well when I was target shooting (Rem model 700 5-R Milspec Rifle) but had the better accuracy with 42.0 gn of 4064 with the 168g Match bullets. I could have loaded much hotter but that load was very accurate and easy on the barrel throat, It showed no erosion after 2000 rounds. Regards, Chef

 

[Bullseye Smith]

w-748 is the best for 223 - 308 - and the 30-06.

 

[longranger]

The powder is IMR 3031, the Charge is 39.5 grains [Thirtynine, and one half grains].

+ 1,Best groups I ever shot with the .308 Win. was with the good ol IMR 3031 and 172 gr Sierra MK's.

 

[Jellybean]

The most accurate powder I found in my Rem 700 with a Sierra 168 gr. match bullet is Benchmark. I was seating them long by the way.

I have a question for all the guys using the 39.5 gr. of IMR 3031 load, what OAL are you using?

 

[Bloodhound]

I was surprised when I read thru this post. I have been reloading the .308 for as long as I have been reloading...it was my 1st cal. I was surprised, because no one mentioned Bal-C2...I tried 748 and it didn't gain me anything...it was very good, but not better, h-414 same thing...so I bought an 8 pound can at discount, and never looked back...its also great in my 30-30...

The other powders are fine too...but I wanted to give a shout for the old factory loaded .308 powder for military and civilian market...Bal-C2

 

[mack1]

Some may argue but blc2 and 748 are supposibly the same powder since hogdon and sells 748 now. If you look through new load manuals the loads are very close. the same is said for h110-296

 

[Linear Thinker]

There are some excellent recommendations in this thread, but I will add my fave: Vihtavuori N140 for 165-168 gr bullets in 308.
I've used AA2550 previously, but switched years ago and never looked back.

My most accurate load: Sierra 168gr MKs over 41.0gr N140.

LT