Hodgdon Benchmark powder

[KHOOKS]

Has anyone been using it in .308? Wondering how it stands up beside Varget/RL-15. I'm shoot 178Gr a-max with br-2 primers in Hornady Match brass with 44.5gr of RL-15.

The reason for looking at this powder is I have seen it at three stores over the past month. No varget and only one shop has RL-15.

 

[Texas_Rick]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

I've had excellent results with it in .223 but have not tried it in .308.

5 shots @ 100 yards

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

i had decent performance out of it. I was using i believe 44ish grains,(not sure exactly since i dont have my notebook) but it was turning in .5 inch groups @ 100 but i couldnt ever get the velocity where i wanted it and have since switched to Re15 and H4895. The Benchmark will be stuffing 223 rounds from now on

 

[Strangedays]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

I also use Benchmark for .223, I have always had better groups and velocity with H4895 with my .308 loads.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

I was thinking of using it in my 6mmBR, would love to know if anyone has tried it in this calibre?

 

[pacomdiver]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

texas,
what bullet and charge weight? i use 55 or 60 vmaxs over 24.5 benchmark in my 223 varmint sps 1-12 and have gotten awesome groups including a .236 3 shot with the 60's and a .183 in a beautiful cloverleaf with the 55's

 

[308skinner]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadly0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Benchmark will be stuffing 223 rounds from now on </div></div>

+1 i love benchmark for 223 in my bolt and gas guns.

 

[Enios]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

I love it in the 223 but think it a little on the fast side for the 308. RL-15 is a good if not great powder in the 308, Varget, AA2520 works well for me with heavier bullet, IMR 4064. While you probably can find an accurate load with the benchmark I don't see a good velocity range with it. On the bottle it show with a max load and the 168 max speed 2630. I'm pushing the 175's at 2720 with any of the above powder except the AA2520. I use it with the 190 SMK's just below max and getting 2610 out of it. So no I wouldn't want to try Benchmark in the 308.

 

[lanwickum]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

used it in 223 and 45-70. works great.

 

[Jumper]

Re: Hodgdon Benchmark powder

Been using it in 223 and for .308. In .308, using a 135gr SMK I've been able to get consistent .4" groups at 100yds at an honest 3020fps. The extreme spread on Benchmark is greater than on IMR4064 but it doesn't seem to hurt accuracy any.