Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 308 Powders

Varget or TAC are about all you need for the 308.

My first stop for any new 308 is a 165 and 46.0 Varget in Lapua brass with a Fed 210M.

Checked Quickload They said 3 best powders were RL17, W760, And Big Game. That is about what I found with my 7mm-08 I would

add PP2000mr and RL16. The RL16 is great for low temperatures, cold weather does not effect it. It was the same for 150gr Accubonds and 165gr Accubonds.

Some smart-ass gun writer once wrote that the .308 would probably shoot well with double-based horse manure.
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There`s always one in the crowd..

So you've used all these in the 308, or this is just conjecture based on quick load?

When powder quantity meets case capacity those best three will likely be found to be on the slow side.

Big Game has also proven to be very cold-resistant in the several cartridges I use it in, from the 7mm-08 up to the 9.3x62 Mauser.

But the OP asked about the .308, not the 7mm08. Ramshot only lists one load for 165s with Big Game in the .308, and none for 150s. TAC was originally specifically designed for the 5.56x45 and 7.62x51 NATO rounds, the reason it works so well in the .223 Remington and .308 Winchester.

What's your Varget load for 180s? Partitions specifically.

Recently started using TAC for one of my .223's with great results right off. Was not aware of the design/development history. Varget has been my go to powder for .308 loads (150/165). If supply issues force me to switch to a different powder for my .308's, TAC will be the one. Thanks for the information.

Been wanting to try TAC, but never found any around here. Once I started buying powder online, I bought a couple pounds, liked it in my .223s, so just ordered a few more. Always good to have choices on hand.

Ok I do not have a 308 now I,m working up loads for a 7mm-08. If the powders I list will not work I,m sorry I,m wrong.

They all work in my 7mm-08. I have had good results if you us the top loads from Quick load.

It's not just the case capacity, the size of the bore figures in as well.

Have rarely handloaded 180-grain bullets in the .308, primarily because 150s and 165s (or even 130 TTSXs) have proven plenty for big game up to an including elk-size in North America and Africa. But did load some 180 Ballistic Tips for an article on handloading the .308 once. Tried both Varget and Big Game (because 180 are where Big Game really starts to work in the .308), and Varget shot more accurately, and Big Game got a little more velocity. In fact Varget got 3-shot groups right around the legendary half-inch at 100 yards, while Big Game loads averaged around .8 inch.

This was from a Ruger American with a 22-inch barrel, and velocities were in the 2600s with both powders.The charge of Varget was 44.0 grains, and for Big Game 49.0. You might need to drop those slightly when loading 180 Partitions, but maybe not. Might also comment that the present 180 Ballistic Tip is among the heavy-jacketed models, which act similarly to Partitions on big game, particularly at moderate muzzle velocities.

Thanks .... I'm getting a load for a spare rifle for a moose hunt and the 180 NPs are the most appropriate bullet I have on hand other than some 180gr Hornady SPs. Time is too short to order more as this was a last minute deal.

Keep us posted on your findings.

At 308 velocity, those 180gr Hornadys would probably work fine.

The powder capacity to bore ratio, along with the weight/sectional density of the bullets normally used.

After plugging hypotheticals into Quickload and Quicktarget and wanting a long range correction of less than 8moa on a 200 yard zero...

If I build a 250 Savage in September [probably] it will be a 100 gr NBT with CFE223 and kill a mule doe.

If I build a 25-06, 6.5-06, 280AI, or 7mmRM in September [probably] it will be with IMR4166 and kill a mule buck.

I have the barrels, the reamers, the powder, but.... Sept 3 my son is hiring a nanny that will get me out of some Covid 19 grandparenting duties. If that does not work out, I may not be going hunting in 2020.

Clake,

Covid has screwed up quite a few hunting-season schedules this year. Sorry to hear that.

When I couldn't find Varget I happened to read about IMR 8208 XBR as a good temperature stable substitute. Hodgdon mentions it for use with 150 and 165 gr bullets. I switched and have not gone back to the difficult to obtain Varget.

Covid screwed up the chances of getting drawn too. Bugle had an article on the huge increase in big game tag applications for many states.

HAHA! Whenever I am asked what I use in my 308 rifles, I always say any powder will do as long as it's Varget.:>)

Truth be known I haven't had an issue finding a powder the 308 will not shoot , including Trail Boss, ! LOL
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