The title pretty much says it all, I can't find Reloader 15 locally and I'm trying to avoid the hazmat fee and support my local shop. What say thee as to a powder that can provide accuracy in both .223 and .308. I can vouch for it's accuracy in the .223. I'm new to the .308 and buying one powder the performs well for both would simplify matters (and inventory). Thanks guys!
- Thread starter 870pilot
- Start date
If you want powder you have to get what is available even if it requires a hazmat fee. Its cheaper if you buy in bulk even with the Hazmat. None of my local store have had anything, and what they do have is about 5 bucks more a pound than what I paid even with the Hazmat.
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Had the same problem, so I did some deciphering and bought some IMR4007ssc.
I think 3rd Gen has this in stock.
I switched from RL 15 to Varget for my .233 and .308, I could not be happier.
Yeah,,,but who has Varget, it's just as bad as Reloder 15.
PowerPro 2000MR is amazing stuff if you want to push heavies really, really fast. 185s to 2750 easily. It's not meant for the lighter bullets, but I've shot 155 scenars to 3010 fps with it and had excellent results. Not an everyday load, but I found a stable load at 2950 that shoots like a laser with 155s. A lot of guys use it with the Berger 185s and 208 A-Max.
I believe it also works great with heavies in .223...not sure about 55gr bullets, although I'm sure you could make it work...probably best for 69-77gr range. It isn't temp stable like Varget, but the velocity change, in my experience, has been consistent and predictable.
I believe it also works great with heavies in .223...not sure about 55gr bullets, although I'm sure you could make it work...probably best for 69-77gr range. It isn't temp stable like Varget, but the velocity change, in my experience, has been consistent and predictable.
If it helps....Cabelas has IMR 4064 right now.
and so does Natchezss.
Bass pro in KC had rel 15 last week
Just picked up 3 lbs for $29.75 each at my local shop. They have a fair amount of it actually.
That. Or Alliant AR Comp. I've used AR comp exclusively on 68-80grain 224s and 168-180 .308s and its awesome. Picked up few lbs of 2000MR to try it out. I've heard great things about it.
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what weight bullets are you going to use? Ive been seeing cfe223 and IMR 8208xbr. On the hogdon burn rate chart xbr is right by TAC and cfe223 is slower near blc2. I just scored 8lbs of benchmark for $168+tax. If I could have afforded it I would have also picked up the xbr it was a few bucks cheaper.
8208 xbr. Shoots any bullet accurately in my .223 and shoots the light weight .308 really well.
Varget was my first thought, but it can also be difficult to find. You could try H4895, I think it will work well in both .308 and 5.56. I have loaded both 5.56 mm (77 SMK's) and 7.7x 58mm (174 gr FMJ) with H4895 and got good results with both, H4895 is a versatile powder. I have started to use IMR4064 for 175's in .308 and like it (still like Rl 15 for the 168's), but I don't know if 4064 is suitable for 5.56.
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I played hell for almost a year trying to find Varget, RL-15, 3031, and others. In the meantime i had a good bit of W748 that works, it's not the best for the .308, but i'll work admirably and i've had much less of a problem getting ahold of it.
Where does AR Comp and 2000-MR fall on the burn rate chart. Im looking at Hogdons and Accurates but I cant seem to find it. Is 2000-LR the same as 2000-MR? Or do I need to drink my coffee and wake up.
Here's the current Alliant line up: Alliant Powder - Rifle
No 2000-LR on the list. There is 4000- MR, a Magnum Rifle powder.
AR Comp is about has a burn speed between IMR 3031 and IMR 4895. 2000-MR is slower and is a bit slower than Varget. I use AR comp in 308 Winchester and 223 Remington. It's one of my favorite powders. Some day, I want to try 2000-MR in the 308 with 175 grain bullets. I have tried CFE 223 in the 308 with 175 grain bullets and got good accuracy with good velocity, 2750 FPS.
Thats what I've been doing for my 223 and 308. AR comp is the only powder I've used. I got some 2000mr last week to try it out in the next few weeks. But the more I think about it the more I wonder about using 2000mr over AR comp. What exactly would I gain? Reloading data shows that with 175SMK the FPS is identical and for 168 SMK AR comp pushes it faster by few FPS.
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In my mind the advantage is you have the powder in hand. I havent seen RL15 or AR Comp in 8 months of looking.
2000-MR does push the heavier bullets in the 308 Win. more than a few FPS faster. 100-150 FPS faster than other powders.
You've seen this personally? Im just going off of data in Alliants website. I hope you're right.
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Accurates chart must be out of date? Right by H380 they have listed "PWR Pro 2000-LR". Either way if 2000-MR does fall between 4895 and 3031 that a nice in betwen range kind of like TAC.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/burn_rates.pdf
Alliant 2000 MR DOES NOT fall between 3031 and 4895. AR Comp falls between them. 2000 MR is slightly slower burning than VARGET.
You can read a few threads here:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ng/196854-ocw-mr-pro-2000-185-juggernaut.html
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/111897-alliant-2000-mr.html
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/116094-alliant-power-pro-2000-mr.html
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-reloading/157940-power-pro-2000mr-308-win.html
There's a lot more info. Alliant 2000 MR does send heavy weight bullets in the 308 Winchester, faster than most other powders, such as the highly regarded Varget.
Like I said, I haven't tried 2000 MR, but I did try CFE 223 and got 2750 FPS with 46.5 of it using a 175 Nosler CC. About 100 FPS faster than other powders I have tried.
+1 on using CFE223
I run it under 175 smks in my KMW .308 - 2,800 fps from a 27" Kreiger tube. Mr brother's 24" Bartlein tube spits out the 175 smks at 2,750fps w/ CFE223. (his prior go-to load was RL-15 and 2,640 fps)
Jeffvn
I run it under 175 smks in my KMW .308 - 2,800 fps from a 27" Kreiger tube. Mr brother's 24" Bartlein tube spits out the 175 smks at 2,750fps w/ CFE223. (his prior go-to load was RL-15 and 2,640 fps)
Jeffvn
When I first started loadin again a few years ago, it was my first time loading 223 and 308, all previous loading had been magnum loads in my dads rifles. All of my research said one of the best all around powders was Varget. I was in the process of stocking up when the run happened, and had to start searching for less popular or little known alternatives. IMR 4007 SSC has worked quite well in that niche. It seems less popular or known, usually in stock when I go to my local shop. For 223/5.56 you have to do some load developing for the lighter bullets, none from the manufacturer that I found before I developed my own. I dont have a chronograph, so my velocities are unknown, but then I still have other powders for my 223 so Im not stressed, especially since the final set I loaded with in .223 worked just fine in my last 3 gun, and I didnt have to change my reflex zero to accomplish it.
YMMV though, of course.
YMMV though, of course.
Varget, TAC, AR Comp
I have, chronod 178HPBTs at 2723 thru 24" bbl loaded with 47.4grs, Rem brass, WLR primers. It's awesome!
AR comp and 2000mr in at powder valley... better hurry!
H4895-lights out in the 223 and 308. In loading for my 4 .223's (3 AR's and a bolt) and 1 .308 (bolt) and my buddys 2 .223's and 1 AR10, they'll shoot .5 M.O.A. with 55 gr Berger match,55 gr Blitzking, 69 gr Sierra Matchking and 168 gr Sierra Matchking.
Meters great and wouldn't think of using anything else regardless what's available-there's no reason to...
Meters great and wouldn't think of using anything else regardless what's available-there's no reason to...
It's all I use now. Got 8 lbs. of Varget in the closet I bought in 2012 that hasn't been touched.....
On a different note, the original poster was looking for RL15 substitutes. Norma 203b is supposedly the same as RL15, from some reading I've done over on 6mmbr.com.
Ive loaded 203b up with 155 Scenars in a TRG-22 308. 3000 fps, 1/2" accuracy. Good powder until the popular names are back in stock.
Ive loaded 203b up with 155 Scenars in a TRG-22 308. 3000 fps, 1/2" accuracy. Good powder until the popular names are back in stock.
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