Another newbie question here. I've gotten my press and getting my bench set up. What is the "go to" powder for .308. I've been looking and I know there is a shortage of about everything right now but I'd like to know what I should jump on if it come available.

Thanks guys

Varget. It's what I use based on recommendations from shooters on this forum.

What bullet will you be shooting?

IMR 4064 and IMR 3031 for 150 grain.
Same two for 168 grain, along with Varget and H335.

My main go-to powder is IMR 4064. I've had VERY good luck with it.

rl 15

Varget from 155's to 178's it's darn hard to beat especially in Texas since it is less temperature sensitive.

YUP, Varget, Rl15 and IMR 4064 are the best powders for a 308.

X2

The bullet will have the same trajectory to 500 yards 20 degrees to 100 degrees. And shots on paper at 100 yards should be touching.

I recently tried the new AR Comp powder in my .308 and it is quite impressive. Very clean burning good consistent velocities and meters better than Varget. I just tried it in the 6.5 Creedmore as well and got good results too. FWIW

The .308 with AR Comp


The Creedmore just verifyng zero for a cull deer hunt.


Results of said hunt.

RL15, Varget, IMR4064, H4895, IMR4895. The last two for M1A .308.

My 2 cents: IMR 4895 on 147grn or 150's both fmj, and any Noslers bullets. Thats 41.5 grains, on digital scale, i weigh each round, This is on mil spec LC brass its all i use, in both Bushy ORC, and Remy varmint 26" hunting rig.
Every rig is different, The remington bolt gun, likes the bullets, .08 from the lands on barrel, I gun sub-moa results for my useage!
Remember start off smaller quantities, watch for excessive pressures and flattening primers!
gud luck.....

+1 Another vote for Varget.

Varget would be my no 1 choice..42.5 grains on a 150 Barnes TTSX
and start around there on 130's. I have used 4895, 4064 ect, the
308 is not a very particular cartiridge usually..I have a TRG that shoots 175 gr Sierr BT Factory Custom Federals in the same hole almost..so you shouldn't have any problem..except finding Varget Powder at this time..DD

Thanks fellas. I'm not dead set on bullet. I like the Hornady BTSP for hunting but I had really good success with their SST bullet too. I've also punched paper with Partitions and Barnes TTX so I still a bit in the air as to what I'm going to us.

Guess I'll have to do a lot of shooting to see what works best for me.

BTW I'm shooting a HOWA 1500 with a 20 inch barrel with a 1:10 twist rate. I've gotten MOA groups with factory ammo and I'm hoping to improve that some with hand loading and a new lighter trigger.

The 1:10 twist will prefer the,longer/heavier bullets the best.

So I should look at 165gr weight range?

Your best results will mostly be around the 165-208 weight range, the 150 class is about as low as I would go and even then they may or may not fair well. Bullet design is the key some are much longer which the 1:10 will work better with.

1:10 twist = 165gr Sierra Game Kings and/or 178 Hornady A-maxes.

If you're scared of the A-maxes for hunting (myself and many others hut with em) use the Game Kings.

178 A-maxes under 44 to 45 gr of Varget will be supersonic beyond 1000 yards. 3.0 Mil +/- .2 at 500 yards, 9.6 to 10.2 Mil at 1000 yards.

Got the t-shirt(s)!

I have been thinking about a 308Win so this is good info. Looking at the Rem 700 Police model long bull barrel and HS stock from the factory.

+1 on 165gr gamekings with 4895 behind it. All the Hornady bullets are great, AMax or SST. Usually premadness you could afford and find Gamekings for about 25 bucks a hundred at Natchez shooters supply. I used to load a lot of differnt stuff for my .308s but got tired of keeping track of different recipes and zeros. Get a good load and stick with it. It will save you money on inventory and easier to keep up with. The gameking is accurate way out there and will kill anything you'd hunt with a .308. Same for SST or Amax.

Varget all the way.

44.0 Varget pushing a 178 AMax right at 2600. Varget is also good for 223.

2600 fps, WTH? How long is your barrel? Is that just chrono data or verified at distance?

My 24" barrel made 2720 fps with 44.8 gr. of Varget is why I'm asking.

20in 1 in 10 barrel chrono data.

Varget in a bolt action. For an M1A you really should stick to the slightly faster powders,IMR 4064 and IMR 3031, or you risk damage to the Op rods. Never played with the AR 308 platforms though.

Ah ha! The old rule of thumb is 20 fps per 1" of .308 barrel. That's pretty close.