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Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

B

boomfab

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
Oct 29, 2007
280
8
44
Missouri, USA
#1
I've tried a few powders: TAC, Varget, RE-15.

TAC has high velocities but crap accuracy for me.

Varget and RE-15 are very accurate but the the velocity isn't too terribly high.

I'm getting around 2280 FPS with 175 SMKs with 42.0 gr of RE-15. It's super accurate but SLOOOOW. I've tried up to 43.5 of RE-15 and the accuracy goes to hell.

Anyone have powder recommendations for 18" barreled guns? I need more velocity.
 
#4
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

Just worked up a new .308 load using:
175gr Nosler HPBT
Varget 44grs
Lapua brass
Wolf primers

OAL ~2.780, trying to keep them from jamming. They should be 40 thousandths away at that length.
It shoots very well, and I'm getting 2590-2600 fps at 400 ASL, 70 degrees. No pressure signs.
Gun is 700 w/ Bartlein 19'' barrel.
 
#5
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

In a 20 inch brl, Im usin a new load I worked up and continue to work on :
Brass: Lapua
Primer: FM 210
Bult: 175 SMK BTHP
Powder: BLC-2 46.0 grns.
OAL 2.860 OAL

this load is producing 2580 average velocity and good accuracy,no pressure signs yet? Im gonna try 46.2, and 46.4 to see if I can get her to 2600 without pressure signs. Ill let you know how it goes?

Already tried 46.5 and 46.8 in load development tests, (velocity jumped to 2680 ish) but saw some signs of pressure and accuracy wasnt good at all..
 
#6
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

I highly recommend you try IMR 8208 XBR. Im getting above 2850 fps in out of my AI AW 20" 155 scenars in Nosler comp brass with cci250s with no pressure signs.If you cant find it,then go with H4895,it seems faster than Varget too.good luck.work up gradually and check for pressure.
 
#7
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

With the shorter barrel, you need to go to a faster burning powder and/or heavier bullet to get a more complete burn.

I would try a 190 SMK with one of the 4895s
 
#8
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

My barrel is 22" so I dont know how much this will help but...

Varget, I run 45 grains. Most accurate and no cold bore deviation

RE-15, 43 grains but slow and have run up to 45 grains. 43 grains is a 1 holer @ 100yards.

TAC, 44.1 grains and has been shot out to 1000 yards.

I use WIN brass and have used CCI, CCI br2, & Wolf primers.

All loads above use 175 SMK.
 
#9
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

I just used Litz's software that came with his book.

I'm going to try to push one of the high BC 155gr bullets to 2800. It looks to be my best bet. They'll still be almost 1200 FPS at 1K yards.

At the velocities I'd be able to push them, the 190 SMKs are far behind the 155's. 175's are even worse.

I ordered some H4895, IMR4895, IMR8208 XBR, IMR4064, and W748 to try out.
 
#10
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

If I were you I'd try some of the staple varget loads like 44, 44.6 and 45 w/a 175 bullet. If you can get any one of those to shoot accurately it should be enough for what you are doing but the only true way to tell is to take it out to a range.

FWIW I have shot 42.5 varget + 178 amax out of an 18" to 850 and it was not keyholing. Just something to consider.

18" 308 =/= 26" 300 win mag...
 
#12
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

I am using Berger 155's from a 16" POF and getting 2515 + or - with 45gr of Varget. I could get some more because I have no pressure issues yet but the load is just damn accurate. I have shot to 780yds with them and they have done well. Lapua case,Fed 210M primers. Dope is dope so if it is fast enough and very accurate I quit.
 
#13
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boomfab</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just used Litz's software that came with his book.

I'm going to try to push one of the high BC 155gr bullets to 2800. It looks to be my best bet. They'll still be almost 1200 FPS at 1K yards.

At the velocities I'd be able to push them, the 190 SMKs are far behind the 155's. 175's are even worse.

I ordered some H4895, IMR4895, IMR8208 XBR, IMR4064, and W748 to try out. </div></div>
Good luck with that. My 22-inch barrel tops out about 2830 fps before QuickLOAD says I'm over spec pressure.

That's calibrating powder burn rates and having accurate case capacity and all other inputs as accurate as I can measure.

My experience says that you'll lose a minimum of 15 fps per inch of barrel, most of the time closer to 25.

Of course, if you just go to stiff bolt lift and then back off a half grain or full grain of powder like many "suggest" that you do, then I suppose your comfortable using up some of your rifle's safety margin and don't mind pressing the limits of the brass case...
 
#14
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boomfab</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just used Litz's software that came with his book.

I'm going to try to push one of the high BC 155gr bullets to 2800. It looks to be my best bet. They'll still be almost 1200 FPS at 1K yards.

At the velocities I'd be able to push them, the 190 SMKs are far behind the 155's. 175's are even worse.

I ordered some H4895, IMR4895, IMR8208 XBR, IMR4064, and W748 to try out. </div></div>

I just want to say that maybe it will be easier to get the 175s to perform closer to their velocity than getting the 155s to where they need to be.Remeber you have a 18" barrel and as long as your getting good accuracy id forget about velocities,again because of the short barrel.
But also Try out 155scenars,45.3 gns of H4895,lapua brass,cci250 its from the Hodgdon book,and in my Trg22 20" factory barrel im seeing 2850 fps with no pressures.The e.s. and s.d. are single digits too!
 
#15
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ggmanning</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am using Berger 155's from a 16" POF and getting 2515 + or - with 45gr of Varget. I could get some more because I have no pressure issues yet but the load is just damn accurate. I have shot to 780yds with them and they have done well. Lapua case,Fed 210M primers. Dope is dope so if it is fast enough and very accurate I quit. </div></div>

Do you have any problem with cycling?
 
#19
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

I tried a bunch of powders today. Varget, RE-15, H4895, IMR 4896, IMR 4060, IMR 8208 XBR.


IMR 8208 XBR is THE SHIT!

I got 2828 avg FPS with great accuracy out of my 18" using Berger 155.5 Fullbores.

I'm loading 47.0 gr at 2.87" OAL.
 
#20
Re: Powder choices for .308 18" barrel, shooting 800+

+1 on H4895 with the heavies. You could try the next faster Hodgdon powder "Benchmark" with the lighter bullets. I've tried it with the 208's but I'm not comfortable with not having it fill the case. It 's pretty fine and easy to meter though.

DPMS 308 18" 1:10 twist
38.0gr H4895 pushing 208AMAX
MV 2320fps(still sonic @1100)
DA 5000
 
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