• Winner! Quick Shot Challenge: What’s the dumbest shooting myth you’ve heard?

    View thread

Powder recommendation for a Direct Impigement 308

kwak

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 13, 2010
541
51
76
MI
What powder would you recommend to use in the DI that would burn clean and not leave such a mess. Some powders I use for pistol are so much cleaner than others and I have no knowledge about the 223 or 308. I am just going to get started.
 
Re: Powder for DI VS Powder for Piston 308

Thanks for the reply. I have heard that Varget is a very good powder for the 308. I was looking for a VERY ClEAN burning powder for the Direct Impigment guns as it is not so critical with the piston guns.
 
Re: Powder for DI VS Powder for Piston 308

Looks like somebody has been drinking the cool-aid.

By far the broadest .mil deployment of these types of rifles is a gas impingement model. Another branch of the .mil tried a piston rifle as their semiautomatic sniper rifle, recently dumped it, and has now ordered the same gas impingement rifle as the other guys.

Both branches have standardized on M118LR for this weapons system. If you really want to know more on the subject, do some searches and read up on M118LR specifications and testing before picking your gas gun load. Also understand that the powder they use may or may not be available in a commercial equivalent, depending on their ((Lake City Arsenal/ATK) latest powder buy and from whom.
 
Re: Powder for DI VS Powder for Piston 308

Benchmark burns clean, is temp insensitive and generally works well with bulets around 150 grains. Its suitable for the 168gr bullets but in my experience you'll get higher velocity with a slightly slower powder for the heavier bullets. IMR 8208 XBR looks like it will work a little better than benchmark for the 150gr bullets. IMR4064 and Varget seem to get the best velocities for the 168gr to 175gr bullets and in my experience aren't dirty powders. IMR 4895 was dirtier than either Varget or IMR 4064 for my testing.
 
Re: Powder for DI VS Powder for Piston 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: _9H</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bullseye burns very clean.</div></div>
2400 ain't too bad either, but I'd stay away from Unique.
 
Re: Powder for DI VS Powder for Piston 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwak</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the reply. I have heard that Varget is a very good powder for the 308. I was looking for a VERY ClEAN burning powder for the Direct Impigment guns as it is not so critical with the piston guns. </div></div>

You heard correctly, either will get you where you want to go. 4895 comes in different flavor's my AR10 prefers the IMR variety.
 
Re: Powder recommendation for a Direct Impigement 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwak</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What powder would you recommend to use in the DI that would burn clean and not leave such a mess. Some powders I use for pistol are so much cleaner than others and I have no knowledge about the 223 or 308. I am just going to get started. </div></div>

Your concern is fouling, right? How many rounds were you planning on shooting before you cleaned? I use Varget in my "boltstop Standard Load" for my gas guns and it give superb accuracy, reliability, and it seems to burn no less cleanly than anything else I've seen.

Unless you're planning on shooting 1000+ rounds before cleaning (which you easily could), this is a question that shouldn't worry your mind. Use a good powder and enjoy your ARs without concern.
 
Re: Powder recommendation for a Direct Impigement 308

boltstop, Thank you for your advice as it was just what I was looking for. If Varget is good for the DI guns I am sure that it will work just fine for the Piston gun as well. I can't imagine not cleaning my gun before a 1000 rounds are shot but it nice to know that I can shoot that much. Thanks again