reloading 308 win
- Thread starter 4006
- Start date
scooter123
Member
You should probably plan on having to hand weigh each charge, many rifle powders are long cut extruded with very poor metering qualities. If you are going to be shooting that M1A in volume you should probably plan on spending the bucks for one of those electronic Trickler/Scale setups. Since my 308 is a bolt action I don't shoot more than 20 or 30 in a range session so hand weighing each charge isn't a big deal because I'll only load up 30-50 at a time.
One of these powders that I've had good results with is IMR 4064 and according to me Lee manual it's a near optimum choice with a 168 grain bullet. Another powder I've found to work well is Accurate 2520, another long cut extruded. Finally the third powder that's highly recommended in my area is IMR 4895, which I suspect is yet another long cut extruded but I haven't used this particular powder at this point.
I'll also point out that your powder choice will likely be determined by what you can actually find. One aspect of the Lee Manual that I really like is that the various powders are listed in order of velocity so it's easy to pick out powders that are most efficient for a specific bullet by simply making note of what is highest on the list. Then you keep that list handy when you're shopping for powder.
Final note, bullets can also be problematic at times to find. So, you'll be wise to purchase in quantity when you find one that works well and build a list of alternates. Along that particular line of thought I've found that Lapua builds some exceptionally accurate match bullets. As for Hunting bullets, my preference is the Nosler Accubonds, they are nearly as accurate as the Lapua match while being tuned for hunting purposes.
One of these powders that I've had good results with is IMR 4064 and according to me Lee manual it's a near optimum choice with a 168 grain bullet. Another powder I've found to work well is Accurate 2520, another long cut extruded. Finally the third powder that's highly recommended in my area is IMR 4895, which I suspect is yet another long cut extruded but I haven't used this particular powder at this point.
I'll also point out that your powder choice will likely be determined by what you can actually find. One aspect of the Lee Manual that I really like is that the various powders are listed in order of velocity so it's easy to pick out powders that are most efficient for a specific bullet by simply making note of what is highest on the list. Then you keep that list handy when you're shopping for powder.
Final note, bullets can also be problematic at times to find. So, you'll be wise to purchase in quantity when you find one that works well and build a list of alternates. Along that particular line of thought I've found that Lapua builds some exceptionally accurate match bullets. As for Hunting bullets, my preference is the Nosler Accubonds, they are nearly as accurate as the Lapua match while being tuned for hunting purposes.
4895 is still the king for the M1A....I have used many 8lb. kegs of it when I shot NRA High Power Service rifle. 41.5-42.0 grns of 4895 and a 168 Sierra MatchKing replicates Lake City M852 to a T.
If your rifle will not shoot well with this load , your rifle isn't going to shoot...
Randy
If your rifle will not shoot well with this load , your rifle isn't going to shoot...
Randy
Seriously????
The 308 is one of the least fussy calibers to load for. What do your manuals call for??
The 308 is one of the least fussy calibers to load for. What do your manuals call for??
boatbum101
Member
Ball powders that'll work : BL-C2 , Win 748 ,RS Tac , AA2520 . Stick powders that'll work : IMR 4064 , H/IMR 4895 , RL 15 . Once you find a load try Rem primers instead of Win . Cut my group size noticeably .
ACP230
Member
I loaded match ammo, and hunting ammo, for the .308 with
H4895 and IMR 4895. Used 147 grain FMJ Winchester pull down or overrun bullets for the target loads rather than 168s but if I was to load them today I'd start with H4895. (Got some a while before the latest panic).
Put the same loads under a 150 grain Remington Core-Lokt for my son to use in his deer rifle.
H4895 and IMR 4895. Used 147 grain FMJ Winchester pull down or overrun bullets for the target loads rather than 168s but if I was to load them today I'd start with H4895. (Got some a while before the latest panic).
Put the same loads under a 150 grain Remington Core-Lokt for my son to use in his deer rifle.
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snowman.45
Member
My load for my FN PBR sniper rifle is 39.5 gr. of 3031 in Federal match grade brass, Winchester primer, and Sierra 169 gr. BTHP. In my rifle (and the rest of the rifle on my element) this round hits to same POI as the Federal Gold Match.
mkk41
US Veteran
Seriously????
The 308 is one of the least fussy calibers to load for. What do your manuals call for??
Maybe in a bolt rifle , but the M-14/M-1A calls for powders that fall within a specific burn rate and loads within certain pressure curves/limits. Also the max. pressure for 7.62x51 NATO it lower than SAAMI limits for.308 Win.
Many loading manuals have 7.62 NATO load data specifically for Service Rifle.
This is why 4895 is still the king in an M1A...
S&W HE
SWCA Member
Anyone using Winchester 748 under a Sierra 150 gr Match King BTHP or Remington 150 gr Core Lock SP?
I'm getting promising results with 748 in my Sako bolt gun, my ArmaLite AR-10 and my Galil AR.
I'd forgotten how much fun the IMR extruded powders are through a RCBS powder thrower. The ball powders including 748 throw with 98%+ accuracy.
I'm getting promising results with 748 in my Sako bolt gun, my ArmaLite AR-10 and my Galil AR.
I'd forgotten how much fun the IMR extruded powders are through a RCBS powder thrower. The ball powders including 748 throw with 98%+ accuracy.
4895
4895 is not really stick-like. I find that a hand dipper after checked out on a scale is fast and accurate for loading those. Maybe for match you'd want to weigh charges though. 4895 is a great general purpose powder, but I think some of the new formulations (each manufacturer has a line) are more optimized for the .308. If that's all you could find I'd certainly pick it up. Several manufacturers even have formulas especially for match .308 bullet/loads.
I don't have big requirements for pistol powders so my list of possible powders for that use has 30 powders in it. Any of those I see on the shelf will be mine. I haven't yet needed to make a list for rifle powder. This shortage is really making us diversify, which is good, but a person is constantly tuning loads.
4895 is not really stick-like. I find that a hand dipper after checked out on a scale is fast and accurate for loading those. Maybe for match you'd want to weigh charges though. 4895 is a great general purpose powder, but I think some of the new formulations (each manufacturer has a line) are more optimized for the .308. If that's all you could find I'd certainly pick it up. Several manufacturers even have formulas especially for match .308 bullet/loads.
I don't have big requirements for pistol powders so my list of possible powders for that use has 30 powders in it. Any of those I see on the shelf will be mine. I haven't yet needed to make a list for rifle powder. This shortage is really making us diversify, which is good, but a person is constantly tuning loads.
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Am using 748 for 125-168 grainers in bolts, lever and semi's. Mostly Noslers and Sierra 168 bthp. Using the cci 34 primer, which is hotter than the fed 215 in comparisons tried in 308.
boatbum101
Member
For 200yd ammo thrown charges work just fine . For 600yd weighed charges are more accurate . For longer ranges benchrest loading techniques + weighed charges are the way to go . This applies to M1 & M1A service rifle . If you're shooting NRA Highpower it gets a lot more serious .
Squarebutt
Member
4006 - I live in the Springfield area, too. There's a group of high-power shooters every Sunday at the Chicopee Sportsmen's Club in Granby, and they could give you a rundown on M1 and M1A reloads. When I had a Garand, I had to be careful not to overload, as it would bend the op road and maybe other things. Friends of mine who are serious M1A shooters have settled on Accurate Arms 2520 for their match loads. The shop in West Side that used to be AAA had a pretty good assortment of powder last week.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I use IMR 4895 gun powder in all my semi-auto military rifles. It's the correct burn rate for the cycling. I also use the CCI #34 NATO primers. There for the military semi-autos with the floating firing pins. We also must remember the #34 NATO primers a about 1 1/2 Times hotter than regular primers so we need to load less gun powder. In most military semi-autos were not suppose to go higher than 168gr bullets. These guns weren't designed for the heavier bullets with the higher gun powder charges.
Be safe, do it right.......bb
I just loaded over 5k of 308win each powder charge is exactly the same. I trickled each round myself. I used the 145gr FMJBT BULLETS.
Be safe, do it right.......bb
I just loaded over 5k of 308win each powder charge is exactly the same. I trickled each round myself. I used the 145gr FMJBT BULLETS.
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