16" 308 powder?

[tacks]

As my Tikka is coming together and I am looking for powder recommendations? The barrel is 16.5" fluted and threaded. Waiting on a Scythe TI for it and a Blacktooth stock.

Not wanting to blow up the TI, planning 150 grain max bullets, 125 or so on the lite end. Not looking for max speeds, just good powder burn.

Thanks

 

[rcook10]

if you aren't chasing speed then varget is the obvious answer.

 

[RockAndSage]

Benchmark, or Varget?

 

[sdupontjr]

Varget. In my 20" ctr, I use 8208xbr and it woke it up. I get faster velo in my 20" when compared to my T3 lite, and it's not compressed like varget.

 

[tacks]

Varget. In my 20" ctr, I use 8208xbr and it woke it up. I get faster velo in my 20" when compared to my T3 lite, and it's not compressed like varget.

So Varget?

So 3 for Varget and 1 Benchmark?

 

[FLS]

I don’t know if there is a best. 308s are easy to load for.
Benchmark is great for 125s and one of the cleanest powders I’ve ever shot.
H4895 and 8208 would be tied for a very close second. Both are available now.
Varget is the easy button usually works for about everything in a 308.
N140 has been available locally and is very good also. VV powder used to be the most expensive. Not so anymore. Great 223 Powder as well.

 

[AZ Gator]

I used Benchmark last season for a 138gn bullet and was pleased with the performance out of am 18” barrel.

 

[tacks]

I usually load 4895 for my 308. I ask because of the shorter barrel (16") and I plan to shoot only with a can. It has the 10" twist and my goal is 300 yard max. Maybe the 124 Hammers. What will get burned up and not in the can? So slower or faster powder?

 

[sdupontjr]

If your using hammers or mono's, velo is your best friend. 8208xbr ran them faster than Varget. But yes I use both. Prob is getting enough varget in the case.

 

[Castle Rock]

You are already using the best choice

 

[ezwy]

I was getting 2680 out of a 17” barrel 308 with 165s and varget.

 

[tacks]

Trying to understand this...... Burn rates fast to slow. Benchmark, 8208xbr, H4895 then Varget

So with 16" of barrel and suppressor would not Benchmark be the best or are the speeds close enough to not matter?

I am not looking for the fast muzzle velocity. I am looking for less recoil. Hoping to shoot this with my grand kids.

 

[RockAndSage]

I'm not a reloading expert by any means, but here's my best shot at explaining my understanding of this:

Any of those powders with a light bullet is better than any of those powders with a heavy bullet, in terms of recoil and kids. Without getting into the details, heavier bullets just cause more recoil.

Benchmark and something in the 150gr range for bullets is essentially going to be the most efficient at getting you up to acceptable velocities, with the least amount of muzzle blast, as the powder will burn more completely in a shorter barrel. The slower the burn of a given powder with a light bullet, the more fuel will still be burning when the bullet exits, especially in a shorter barrel. Heavier bullets have a slightly higher dwell time in a bore, and that gives slower burning powders a bit more time to transfer their energy to the bullet and combust more fully - especially in a longer barrel. But you can't just chase efficient burn by putting faster and faster powders behind a given bullet, because you'll hit a tipping point of the pressures spiking too high. You're looking to find the sweet spot in balancing out the intent of the round, with the preferred bullet, velocity, and available powders.

The thing is though, just about any of the powders you mentioned will do fine, especially with a suppressor on the barrel. It's not necessary to chase perfection. Go with the powder that makes the most sense, in terms of availability, cost, and what you want to get out of the load. In truth, ensuring your grandkids have the stock firmly against their shoulders, with their bodies aligned to not collapse from that recoil, will do more to "mitigate recoil" and their perception of it than the difference between a 150gr bullet over Benchmark vs a 165gr bullet over Varget.

 

[sniper20]

I would suggest H4895, A2520 or IMR 4895. I have used all of those (currently use A2520 with excellent accuracy out of my CZ 308, M1A and M1 Garand (CMP Converted 308)).

 

[KingGus]

If you want to go old school I was getting 2700fps using WIN748 pushing a Barnes 168gn TTSX out of a 16.5" Ruger Scout

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

For 150's, Varget has worked great in every 308 I've ever owned. I semi-joke that if a 308 won't shoot 150 Accubonds over 46 grains of Varget, that 308 flat won't shoot, LOL.

For 125's, I was going to try Varget for it once, but I could not get anywhere near enough Varget in there to get above about 40/45kpsi (per QuickLoad) - probably would be accurate, but at that pressure, not much faster than I run 150's at. So I used AR-Comp for 125s (and would try H322 today, since AR-Comp is now stupid expensive, if I can even find it). Benchmark would probably also go good for 125s, but I've never tried it.

 

[Cjackson51591]

I’m fixing to start on 308 loads using Barnes ttsx 165gr what is your recommendation on powder?

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

For 150's, Varget has worked great in every 308 I've ever owned. I semi-joke that if a 308 won't shoot 150 Accubonds over 46 grains of Varget, that 308 flat won't shoot, LOL.

For 125's, I was going to try Varget for it once, but I could not get anywhere near enough Varget in there to get above about 40/45kpsi (per QuickLoad) - probably would be accurate, but at that pressure, not much faster than I run 150's at. So I used AR-Comp for 125s (and would try H322 today, since AR-Comp is now stupid expensive, if I can even find it). Benchmark would probably also go good for 125s, but I've never tried it.

Follow up on my 125 Accubond powder choice notes - since I had some H4895 on the shelf already, I gave that a test run with the 125 Accubond's, and that worked out much better than I had expected - it pushes them just north of 3000 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel, with good accuracy and no pressure signs at all. AR-Comp can push them just a touch faster, but is another 30 or 40 FPS worth an extra $30 per lb of powder? Not to me, LOL.

 

[giannid]

I was always a fan of H4895 for a 308. Just been hard to get after covid. Still can't get it in kegs.

 

[49ereric]

Been using W748 for decades