I have a Savage 99C in 308 Win I am going to load for. Ill be trying Sierra 150 grain Game Kings. Id like good accuracy and velocity without loading up MAX loads on this old rifle. Wondering what anyone has had luck with for powders. Looks like Varget, 4064, 4895, and RL15 are possible options. Again, Id like an accurate load that won't be at MAX, hopefully saving undue wear and tear on the 99. Thank you for any suggestions,

Rich

When I started handloading in the early 1970's it was for a .308, I found IMR 4895 to be a good choice. Since that time IMR 4064 has been my go to powder, I have also tried Varget and RL-15 though I haven't yet settled on a load using these two powders. I load for .257 Roberts. .30-06 and .35 Whelen and have found loads for these rifles that yield really good accuracy using IMR 4064. I will be hunting this fall with cartridges loaded with IMR 4064.

46.5grs of Varget is my go to load with 150gr bullets in my 308.It runs 2900fps and shoots fairly flat too.45.5 grs of TAC runs about the same speed,but the Varget was just a little more accurate for my rifle.

Another vote for 4064.

44.5gr (below max) IMR-4064 under any 150gr bullet has worked very well in three different .308 Win rifles.

Ed

Thank you for the input folks, I was leaning towards 4064, I will definitely be trying that now.

Rich

IMR4064 has a couple of advantages in this application. It is bulkier than ball powders and small kernel extruded powders like Varget and RL15, so the case will still be relatively full even if you're backing off the throttle a bit for your 99. It's ignition and burning characteristics are also better suited to lower pressure operation than some newer powders, so this may aid consistency in the development of your 99 loads.

I'm using 41 gr of Benchmark & 150 Game Kings to get a mild-recoiling load in my River American. Works.

Just a thought, Most all of the Palma shooters shoot a 155+/- gr. bullet and Varget. That's where I would go.

Tag

Varget

I have yet to find a .308 that didn't turn into a "be all you can be" rifle with Varget and Barnes 130 TTSXs. They just go together so well. I don't know as I'd push that load up to 3150 or so which is where almost all the rifles I have solved with Varget and 130 Barnes' have landed. I do know that down at 300 Savage velocity a Barnes 130 will kill deer just fine and will shoot sub-MOA out of a 99. That 130 grain Barnes will outperform any larger cup and core out of a 30 cal rifle with the possible exception of the 300 mags shooting heavies, and I wouldn't bet much on them.

H4895 shot so well with Hornady 150 SSTs that I just stopped experimenting. That said, Varget is no slouch.

Bet you're gonna shoot those pills in a Remmy with a Leupy aren't ya?