Favorite powder for .308?

[zzr600]

Having just worked up a nice load with Hodgdon H-335, it promptly makes it onto the banned list of imports!

Any experience of using alternatives? Mine's a shorter barrel (16") and so far I've only used 168gn HPBT. 1:10 barrel twist

 

[Ray7756]

Viht N140 is popular for .308 loads
cheers
Ray

 

[paul o']

mine used to be H4895 and N140 Both behind 150 pro-hunters

 

[Laurie]

Your problem with 308 is that your choice of propellants isn't limited, instead the complete reverse as it is such a flexible and undemanding cartridge.

Here are a few:

extruded single-based:

Viht N135
Viht N140
Viht N150
Reload Swiss RS50
Lovex SO62


Double-based extruded, low levels of nitroglycerin content:

IMR-4166
Alliant Re15 / Norma 203-B (same thing, different labels)
Reload Swiss RS52
Norma 202


Double-based 'hot' high-energy

Viht N540


Ball type powders:

Ramshot Tac
Ramshot Wild Boar
Hodgdon CFE223
Lovex DO-73.5
Lovex DO-73.6

......... and there are others that will work but may not provide full velocities within allowed pressures.

As Ray says, Viht N140 is an evergreen 308 powder and has the big plus of widespread availability in gunshops across the land and rarely being on back order. If you have a Reload Swiss stockist near you, Reload Swiss RS50 does exactly the same job and is an excellent choice.

If you wish to stick with a ball type, Ramshot Tac is a very popular choice among 308 Win users.

Lovex isn't as well known as some of the others, nor as widely distributed, but if you see any, SO62 is an excellent choice for the cartridge with 168s.

............. and Alliant Reloder 15 has been used by 308 shooters for a long, long time now for good reasons and is now available under the Norma label too (203-B) at a lower price from what I hear. Norma's slightly faster burning N202 is a good 308 choice especially for lighter bullets such as 150s.

 

[Alantoo]

Having just worked up a nice load with Hodgdon H-335, it promptly makes it onto the banned list of imports!

Any experience of using alternatives? Mine's a shorter barrel (16") and so far I've only used 168gn HPBT. 1:10 barrel twist

I was in the same boat with H335. Though I was using it for lighter bullets @ 110gr and 130gr in a 22.5 inch barrel with a 1:11 twist.

I tried N133 but was not happy with it and have now settled on N135 which seems to be giving similar results to the H335.

Alan

 

[zzr600]

Thanks for this. With the range of options, it's a shame I can't purchase a 'variety pack' of ~500 grains of four or five different powders to experiment with! At ~£40 per lb., experimenting can be a bit expensive

 

[Alantoo]

Thanks for this. With the range of options, it's a shame I can't purchase a 'variety pack' of ~500 grains of four or five different powders to experiment with! At ~£40 per lb., experimenting can be a bit expensive

I do have a part used tub of N133 if you happen to be coming past here some time!

Alan

 

[pete evans]

mine used to be H4895 and N140 Both behind 150 pro-hunters

same. i also use nobel #2 but have limited supply and it hasnt been made recently.

 

[Scotty99]

Vit N140 is a popular choice for .308. I've just made up my first batch using N140 under Sierra Gameking 150 grn using new Lapua cases and Remington primers. Going to the range on Sunday to work up a load between 41.5 grn and 46 grn to see where the accuracy nodes are on my rifle.

 

[Lateral]

Having just worked up a nice load with Hodgdon H-335, it promptly makes it onto the banned list of imports!

Any experience of using alternatives? Mine's a shorter barrel (16") and so far I've only used 168gn HPBT. 1:10 barrel twist

I found the following worked well in my 308 16" barrel.


150gn RS60

180gn N540

 

[Mitscavitch]

Hi

Vhit N140 (43 - 44grns) with Seirra 150grn Pro Hunter shoots and performs well for me.

 

[Colonel]

I use 43.5gr N140 with 155 bullets in my 308 for target shooting out to 600yds and it’s very accurate.

 

[Malxwal]

Been running RS52 under Nosler 125 BTs and Hornady 168 ELD-M, very happy. It also does a grand job in my 22-250, and showed potential in 6.5x47.

 

[BigPat]

Like Dave says, anything between 41gn to 44gn of N140 behind a 150/155 bullet and it’s deadly accurate, easy on the shoulder and not too shouty

 

[SikaSolutions]

For years, all I've loaded in .308 for my RPA Woodland Stalker is 45.5 grains of N140 with CCI primers and 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Very accurate
in all weathers, great in close woodland stalking and even dropped reds on the spot in Scotland out to 260m and 280m. I wouldn't bother with anything else!

 

[Southern]

What powders can you obtain easily?
From that, lots of people here at SDUK can give you lots of recipes for those powders with a variety of bullets.

 

[zzr600]

I found the following worked well in my 308 16" barrel.


150gn RS60

180gn N540

Is yours a Ruger Gunsite as well?

 

[purdeydog]

Two loads for my 308. One for hunting and the other for plinking. 43.4g N140 with a 165g SST and 44.2g of varget with 185g Berger both very accurate, Berger is stupid accurate. However looking to switch to one bullet.

 

[TreeWorks]

.308, 18" tube, 1:10 twist, 165gr Sierra (2145) Game Kings I use 41.5gr of RS40. With slower burning powders I find that I can't get the velocity I require or 100% burn in the barrel with my bullet choice.

 

[petesv]

155gr sierra viht n150 24 inch barrel