Best dual purpose powder 243 & 308

[TheCornishman]

Hi everyone

I am still a novice to reloading but have recently added a new rifle to the stable. I am wondering if there is a powder that works particularly well with both 243 & 308?

I’ve been using RL19 to propel 95gn Hornady SSTs in my 22” 243 to pretty good effect with any inaccuracy down to my shooting or being inconsistent at the RL bench…all in all though have started to get somewhere with it

I have now acquired a Bergara 308 B14 HMR with 20” barrel. The M.O.A proof test sheet that Bergara included with the gun shows sub MOA being achieved with Geco 170gn SPs…great!…of course the local shop doesn’t sell them though

So I am after suggestions of a good powder that would tick off making solid hunting rounds in both calibers please

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi everyone

I am still a novice to reloading but have recently added a new rifle to the stable. I am wondering if there is a powder that works particularly well with both 243 & 308?

I’ve been using RL19 to propel 95gn Hornady SSTs in my 22” 243 to pretty good effect with any inaccuracy down to my shooting or being inconsistent at the RL bench…all in all though have started to get somewhere with it

I have now acquired a Bergara 308 B14 HMR with 20” barrel. The M.O.A proof test sheet that Bergara included with the gun shows sub MOA being achieved with Geco 170gn SPs…great!…of course the local shop doesn’t sell them though

So I am after suggestions of a good powder that would tick off making solid hunting rounds in both calibers please

You will still use the same amount of powder forgetbit . 95 grain in 243 requires n160 and 140 grain in 308 needs n140 there asnt a lot of cross over

 

[Zio65]

I agree with what is written above, 140 and 160 will do for the two calibers.
even my bergara in 308 digests well only the factory 170 Geko TL, despite having experimented with various alchemies with home recharging, the only results worthy of true accuracy I had with the Geko

 

[Zio65]

I forgot to ask if anyone is aware of what powder is used in the Geko TL 170

 

[palmer_mike]

N540 will do both.

 

[Steff]

I forgot to ask if anyone is aware of what powder is used in the Geko TL 170

I suppose you mean Geco Teilmantel (Softpoint) 170 gr.
RWS, and for that matter Geco, use their own blends of powder. Nothing you can buy for reloading. So don't ponder over it.

 

[Rory]

I agree that the two calibres would be best served by different powders. If you like Reloder 19 for the .243, try Reloder 15 for the .308. Or, old faithful, Vhit N140 for the .308 works just about every time with middle of the road bullet weights.

 

[Zio65]

Good morning,
yes I know that they have their factory alchemy on the use of powders, maybe in the wide audience of this forum someone was aware of them for some reason.
It bothers me a little to buy factory ammunition when I can load them myself, however the combination Bergara308 / Tellmantel 170 is indisputable

 

[Foxyboy43]

I agree with what is written above, 140 and 160 will do for the two calibers.
even my bergara in 308 digests well only the factory 170 Geko TL, despite having experimented with various alchemies with home recharging, the only results worthy of true accuracy I had with the Geko

Hmmm. I don’t quite understand why you are only getting good results with the heavy Geko ammunition and not your own reloads my friend - also it seems a rather heavy bullet too - unless of course you are only shooting boar?
So unless it is an odd rifle twist rate you should be able to get excellent results with N140 and the .308 which really is an excellent round to reload. I suggest you perhaps experiment with lighter bullets first - 125 gns Sierra Prohunters are particularly good in both my ..308s or perhaps 150 gns Prohunters?
Good luck.

 

[Zio65]

I apologize if I am stealing the 3 D from my OP friend, yes, the use of the 308 is only for the wild boar in NV, now it seems to have found a good combination with the N140 and 165 KS of the RWS but never as accurate as the Geko of factory in 22” barrel 1/12

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hi everyone

I am still a novice to reloading but have recently added a new rifle to the stable. I am wondering if there is a powder that works particularly well with both 243 & 308?

I’ve been using RL19 to propel 95gn Hornady SSTs in my 22” 243 to pretty good effect with any inaccuracy down to my shooting or being inconsistent at the RL bench…all in all though have started to get somewhere with it

I have now acquired a Bergara 308 B14 HMR with 20” barrel. The M.O.A proof test sheet that Bergara included with the gun shows sub MOA being achieved with Geco 170gn SPs…great!…of course the local shop doesn’t sell them though

So I am after suggestions of a good powder that would tick off making solid hunting rounds in both calibers please

As above N140 is an excellent powder for the .308. If you wish to also use it for the .243 then according to the Viht guide it is only listed up to 87gns.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I apologize if I am stealing the 3 D from my OP friend, yes, the use of the 308 is only for the wild boar in NV, now it seems to have found a good combination with the N140 and 165 KS of the RWS but never as accurate as the Geko of factory

No worries - try different seating seating depths perhaps?

 

[308tikka]

Its a 1-10 barrel, therefore should be able to load an accurate round with ease.

suggest a sierra 150gn SGK, over 43.5gn N140. Cci primer. A soft load which if loaded to 2.8 oal should be in the ball park.

 

[Zio65]

1/12 Lenght 22”

 

[Foxyboy43]

1/12 Lenght 22”

If it is a 1:12 twist then that is the same as my Remington and it shoots 1/2 moa with 125 and 150 Sierras all day long - usually if someone else is shooting it!! My CZ 550 is also 1:12 and shoots not only these but heavier bullets really well too though I have not shot heavier than 168s.

 

[308tikka]

1/12 Lenght 22”

Will make no difference to 150gn SGKs