I'm picking up a new 308 Win. rifle today and plan to install a strain gage to get an idea of potential pressures/velocities. I plan to shoot primarily 150 and 168 gr. bullets (TTSX and Nosler BT). The rifle has a 22" barrel and will be used for hunting. The powders that I plan to test include Varget, R 15, I4064, H4895, AA2520, TAC and if I can find any locally the new 2000 MR. I will also test at least 5 different factory loads. Are there any other powders that I should consider?

Varget!

Varget is great in the 308!

Varget!

H4895!!!

Varget works great in mine.

what everyone else said except that pesky FC363!

Ok, how about IMR4895 and IMR4064!!!

No need. Rl 15 and Varget is really all you need. H4895 is just a bonus to play with in my opinion. IF Varget and or R 15 don't get it done, there's something wrong with the gun.

Now there you go again FC! Just messin' with you. Actually, all the powders you and others have mentioned, will work just fine in the .308. It is a pretty easy cartridge to load for.
[shhh, keep this to yourself; but IMR4895 works damn well! shhh!]

RE 15....

RE 15

WildthouneedestnootherAlaska ��2002-2011

Varget has come to replace RL15 in my 308's...

I almost forgot about W748 and VV N140. There are alot of good powders for the .308.

What about IMR4350 or H4350?

I'm most familiar with Varget and RE 15, but am very interested in trying the new 2000 MR. A recent thread had some interesting results from this powder in the 308 Win.

I don't have a 308 but IMR 4320 has worked well in my 7mm-08 and 358 Win. IIRC, I read in one of my manuals that 4320 was used in 308 factory loads too.

Dale

My 308's don't like varget.

W748,Varget,BM2,H4895 and RL15 all work well in my 308 with 150gn pills.
Range testing and chronographing loads will determine which powder your rifle prefers.

To the question above, I'd stay with a faster burn rate than the 4350's. That is especially true with mid to lighter bullets in a standard hunting barrel.

It's an old powder now, but with IMR-4064 and 165 grain Hornady Interlock bullets I get my best accuracy out of a cantankerous old M88 Winchester levergun.

That's interesting. I've only had one 308 that preferred RL15 over Varget, but they're all individuals!

My next powder to try is 2000MR. Next weekend am going to give it a trial.

My 308 Rem 788 with 22" bbl loves WW748 and IMR4895 pushing 110 to 180 grains of lead and copper.

To all,

Where do you think 2000MR fits into the powder burning rate chart?

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

I agree with Odessa, IMR-4064 has worked great for me.

Brad:

Let us know how the 2000 MR works out.

Thanks,
Logger

Will-do logger.

I would look at IMR8208XBR and AR Comp if Varget didnt work out for you.

2000MR looks really interesting, but I dont know much about the temp sensitivity of that powder.

My .308 rifles used to love RE-12 with 150 gr ballistic tips, but it is no longer available. I could not get Varget to perk with 150's quite like RE-12 did. I'm now using 165's with Varget, but I'm still trying to "regain the magic" I had with the 150's. I'm trying TAC next.

VARGET & Re15

I strongly suggest that you try Varget first, as you may not get any further. You'll find that Varget is favored 2-3 to 1 over the others, though all the usual suspects were mentioned here.

I'd try 8208 or RL-15 next.

I've tested and used Varget, Re-15, TAC, AA2520 and H4895 in both of my .308's
All of them shoot very nice groups. No surprise there.
My favorite is, by a hair, Varget over Re-15 as it seems to get a bit more velocity and it's a bit more temperature insensitive.
TAC and H4895 don't give quite the velocities I like in the heavier Federal cases with the lighter bullets. TAC meters really well and has some anti fouling additives so I'm going to be doing more work with it but using WW cases this time. Both are reported to be pretty temp insensitive.
I found AA2520 to give good velocities and great accuracy but it's dirtier than any of the others.
Frankly, any decent .308 should shoot just about anything well. One of the most practical and useful rounds out there. E

Of the ones you listed, I've tried Varget, R15, IMR-4895 and TAC. My .308 preferred R15 and IMR-4895 to the others.

John

Varget totally sucks in both my 308s, RE15 works pretty well, really well with 47grs and 155 AMAXs, but ive been testing as of late with the new Alliant PP2000MR powder and 178 Hor HPBTs(blems, btw). I found that particular bullet likes to be seated away from the lands and likes to be pushed a bit fast, using 47.5grs Ill get 4 holes in the 4s and 1 flyer, loaded 47.7grs tonight, we'll see if that tightens things up any as far as the flyers go, velocity should be right around 2700.

Id put it right around H380.

This is what i got today using the 178 Hornady Blems and 47.5grs PP2000MR power, Rem brass, CCIBR primers. 2.830" oal to fit magazine. Hole at left has 2 bullets thru it. Measures 9/16"

Varget in all the 308's I had really worked well. Now the Varget is used for 204's and a couple of 375 H&H's. Unfortunately its too slow for the 30-06/180's.