Favorite powder for .308?

[fallow me]

Used N140 with 150gr Nosler BTs for a couple of years with good results, But then went to Reloader 15,burns fast and clean in 20" Tikka, get over 2800fps with 44gn

 

[Buggadifino]

Laurie,

Could I ask what your experience is of the practical differences between the types of propellant (type as in extruded single base, double base, ball etc rather individual powders) that you describe. I am aware of the theoretical differences but am interested how they play out in practice.

Regards,

Andy

 

[fallow me]

Practical differences for me changing from N140 TO RL15 ,other than described above is to achieve faster speeds with non compressed loads Nosler load data shows N140 starts at 100% load, RL15 achieves a faster speed at a lower case volume of 88%, and personally i find with my.308 that accuracy comes with speeds above 2800fps, especially at distances of 200 yards plus

 

[Southern]

There are so many good powders for the .308 Win, just find some which you can get, and will be able to get for a long time - RS50, RS60, Norma 203, Norma 204, VV N140 and N150, IMR 4451, CFE 223, RL-15 - and work up loads with at least 2 of them, in case one of them becomes unavailable.

 

[Lateral]

Is yours a Ruger Gunsite as well?

No, Remington SPS stainless cut to 16", trigger unit (think it's a Jewel ?) and a McMillan stock.

 

[zzr600]

Thanks everyone, it looks like there are plenty op options. Most appear to recommend the N140. How easy is it to get accurate and repeatable loads? I'm not keen on always using a beam scale and I have Lee Precision Auto-Drum Powder Measure. I seem to get consistent/accurate loads with Hodgdon 335 (ball type) but the N140 is extruded, hence harder to use withautomatic powder measures?

 

[petesv]

Ive gone over to n150 less velocity than h4895 but very accurate in my howa.

 

[Sako308]

Got a good accurate load for my 16” barrel .308 using RL15 and Sierra PH 150gr, but with plenty of muzzle blast. Has anyone experimented with different powders to try and reduce this effect. Appreciate with a short barrel there’s going to be some.

 

[ChesterP]

Just to buck the trend, I now use RS50 for my .308 loads. I find it a better powder for my needs (higher velocities with none of the pressure spiking that N140 was exhibiting in my hotter target loads although I never have any issues with my milder hunting loads) than N140.

150gr Sierra Gamekings with 44gr RS50 does the trick nicely for me. Also use it for 175gr target loads with equally satisfactory results.

 

[Tremo]

My Tikka CTR loves H4895. 115gr through to 168gr projectiles.

 

[3xspringer]

150Grain Varget.

 

[Steff]

I‘ve always been very happy with Varget. But Varget is on the ban list now and I also have a shorter 20“ barrel now. Bought some Lovex D073.6, but still need to try it out.
QL has given me very promising calculations for this powder both with regard to velocity and burn rate in the barrel.
On top it is a ball powder which meters extremly well - I absolutely hate having to weigh each single load.

 

[Scotty99]

Having worked up my load I have found two accuracy nodes one at 42 grn and one at 45.5 grn of N140.

So I'm going with 42 grn.

 

[Speake]

I use N140 with 168grn & 175grn SMK's and 155grn Scenars. Works well for me, 43.5grns seems to be the magic number for accuracy nodes in a 20" barrel.

 

[Scotty99]

Having worked up my load I have found two accuracy nodes one at 42 grn and one at 45.5 grn of N140.

So I'm going with 42 grn.

That's for a 150 grn Sierra Gameking in a 20 inch barrel with a 1:11 twist. COAL is 2.800 inches.

 

[DJC]

N140 sierra boat tail 150grn top class in my sako85 hunter

 

[Scotty99]

N140 sierra boat tail 150grn top class in my sako85 hunter

Yep my .308 is a Sako 85 Synthetic Stainless with the Sierra 150grn and the 42grn N140 load I get clover leaf groups at 100 yards. I couldn't believe how the groups tightened up with my first reloads over factory ammo. Even the charge weights that were not as accurate as the 42 grns were better than some factory loads I have tried.

 

[Oly]

Laurie,

Could I ask what your experience is of the practical differences between the types of propellant (type as in extruded single base, double base, ball etc rather individual powders) that you describe. I am aware of the theoretical differences but am interested how they play out in practice.

Regards,

Andy

Good question, I'd like this clarified too

 

[EQUADIF68]

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

As far as I understand we do have similar concerns.
I'm looking at the replacement of IMR 8208 and CFE 223 for my 308 110 & 130 TTSX and I must confess I'm not décided yet on which powder to use yet.
The above powders give 3 shots better than 1/2 moa with speeds above 3200fps in A 24" barrel.
Did you make some final preselection from you side ou did you have some interesting results already ?
Kind regards

 

[Alantoo]

As far as I understand we do have similar concerns.
I'm looking at the replacement of IMR 8208 and CFE 223 for my 308 110 & 130 TTSX and I must confess I'm not décided yet on which powder to use yet.
The above powders give 3 shots better than 1/2 moa with speeds above 3200fps in A 24" barrel.
Did you make some final preselection from you side ou did you have some interesting results already ?
Kind regards

I tried Vihtavuori N133 but found it a bit spiky pressure-wise at the top end accuracy node with the 110gr TTSX. I am now using N135 for both 110 and 130gr TTSX, and 110gr V_MAX.

The average group size for all three bullets with N135 is around 0.800" over some 70 odd 5-shot groups...some below 1/2 MOA and some just over 1MOA.

My favourite best group was 5 of the 110gr TTSX into 0.308" for obvious reasons!

Alan