Powder advice needed

[backcountryguide]

Guys I am looking for some advice on a powder that will work for my .308 Win running 175gr Bergers and my 6.5 Creedmore running 142gr SMK. The Creedmore is new for me but the .308 has a proven load of 45.5gr of varget in Win brass. Im just looking for something that does well in both rifles if anyone has some info to offer.

 

[emn83]

the Varget should do well in both, or maybe 8208XBR

 

[Speck]

Varget will work for sure in both but I think H4350 will be better in the 6.5 with those heavy bullets. Alliant Power Pro 2000MR will do very well in both also. As previously mentioned 8208 would work also but might be a tad fast burning for the heavier bullets as its faster than Varget. 2000MR is slower than Varget but faster than H4350.

 

[backwoods83]

If I were you I would use 2 different powders, Varget for the 308 and H4350 or RE17 for the creedmore. You could use RE17 in both, but you would likely have to use 48+grns in the 308 with the vlds jammed in the lands to get the pressure up. I do this with my 6br, everyones go to load for the br is about 30grns of varget under a 105vld touching the lands, mine is 34.5grns of RE17 with the 105s .030" in the lands, they get about 2775fps from 28-30" barrels, I get 3030fps from a 29" tube. You just gotta experiment.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I'd be looking at 4064, 2700, and 2520 for the 175 grain loads. Of them I kinda like the idea of 2700 being a denser load. (47.0 grains)
gary

 

[Trnelson]

I'd look at Varget, 748 and 8208 for the 308 and either R-17 or H4350 for your creedmore. Those cartridges really need different burn rates to work well. R-17 or H4350 would be a compromise, or even 4064. I would spend my time looking at what each is best with rather that pretty good for both. YMMV.

 

[backcountryguide]

Thanks for the advice guys Ive been looking into the R-17 option for both rifles but doing it while stepping up in bullet wieght fo the .308, say maybe 185HVLD or maybe even a 208 AMAX. What say you?

 

[Trnelson]

Thanks for the advice guys Ive been looking into the R-17 option for both rifles but doing it while stepping up in bullet wieght fo the .308, say maybe 185HVLD or maybe even a 208 AMAX. What say you?

If your looking at that route I'd personally take a really long look at the Berger 185 juggernaut. The 208 AMAX is a good choice as well FWIW if your rig is a 1-10 twist , though may end up as a single feed as those 200g and up .308's are pretty darn long and get into the powder space if you load to magazine length. I'd look for best accuracy consistently then and only then velocity. R-17 is a viable choice for either bullet IMHO in your 308. YMMV

 

[Speck]

Thanks for the advice guys Ive been looking into the R-17 option for both rifles but doing it while stepping up in bullet wieght fo the .308, say maybe 185HVLD or maybe even a 208 AMAX. What say you?

RL 17 will work with the 185s but Power Pro 2000MR is better with that bullet weight if you don't wanna go the Varget route. 2000MR gives me 100 to 150 ftps more velocity than Varget with the 185s. Once you get over 200gr then RL 17 is the route I would take. A friend of mine that I shoot FTR matches with does really well with RL 17 and 208 Amaxes. 2000MR is like rocket fuel for a 185gr bullet in 308, especially if the barrel is fairly long. Its extremely accurate in my gun also.

 

[8andbait]

H4350 is very good in my 6.5 creedmoor with every bullet I have tried between 120 and 140 gr. I have been wanting to try RL17 as well but the H4350 has been too good

gary

 

[backcountryguide]

Would the power pro work in the Creedmore as good as does in the .308 Spec. Does any know were to safely start with the RL17 in the Creedmore.

 

[backwoods83]

Yeah start with 35.5grns of RE17 under 140s 38grns under 120s. I use RE17 in 6br and 260 with light bullets, and I've noticed what a lot of others have as well, if you aren't using 17 in a round that you can use a compressed load you get great velocity but often the ES and SD numbers are horrible, with compressed loads ES stays in the low teens, 17 is better for some of the low capacity cartridges that can benefit from an H4350 burn rate but do not have the space for the 4350s, 17 gives a denser charge. As for shot to shot consistency you're going to be hard pressed to beat the consistency of H or Imr 4350 even though your velocity will be lower. But if your chasing speed VV N550 would be another good one the try as well as Ramshot Hunter.

 

[8andbait]

These are the first three shots toady with Factory Hornady 140 Gr Ammo (H4350) through a cold clean barrel, this includes the fouler.

This is three shots of a 120 gr NBT over H4350 with CCI200 primer. I had 4 loads made up to test the NBT's and this was the best of the 4 but the others were not terrible.

 

[Speck]

Would the power pro work in the Creedmore as good as does in the .308 Spec. Does any know were to safely start with the RL17 in the Creedmore.

I don't have a Creedmore but i would tend to believe it would work very well in that caliber. 2000MR was designed for heavy bullets in 308 and 223 but it works well in multiple calibers. Only one way to find out.

H4350 is a great, proven powder and works extremely well in the Creedmore, 260, and 6.5 X 47 for accuracy and velocity. VERY temp stable also.