reloading 308

7.62 · 09-22-2004, 10:41 AM

I have a Savage Striker chambered in 308. I want to reload for hunting deer. I want to use 165 gr. SST, but I am unsure on what the best powder is to use in this round. Being that the gun only has a 12 or 14 inch barrel is that going to effect anything. Some friend of mine told me to use either IMR4064 or IMR4895. just wondering what you guys think. Thank.

09-22-2004, 10:48 AM

4064 or Varget is great. I have been interested in BL-C. Now your asking a good quesiton that I don't have the answer for. That is with the barrel length what would be best. I would pick the faster of the three powders. Maybe Benchmark. Faster powder would have less barrel whip.

7.62 · 09-22-2004, 11:13 AM

I just measured the barrel. Its 10 inches long from the receiver to the begining of the brake. It's 12.5 inches to the end of the brake. I thought it was 12 to 14 inch. Bigcountry thanks for replying so fast. Some forum you have to wait all day to get an answer from someone.

09-22-2004, 12:48 PM

I tell ya a place that will jump on a question like this. Go to www.accuratereloading.com and go to the reloading section. Ask the best powder for a 10" barrel. I bet ya, you will get a bunch of replys pretty quick.

Mark whiz · 09-22-2004, 05:39 PM

4895 is a perienniel favorite for .308 rifles and is on the faster end on the powder range spectrum for 308.

I have to agree with bigcountry on the fact that the faster powders ought to give you better results as this has typically been true when I loaded rounds for snub-nosed pistols. 4895 is a good place to start and I might also suggest Benchmark or IMR3031. BL-C(2) or Win 748 are ball powders and are on the slow end of the spectrum for .308 - they work great with 150gr FMJs in my M1A, but I'm questionable if they'll respond well in a 10" barrel.

HighDesertWolf · 09-23-2004, 04:35 PM

according to some load data I have in the 2004 hodgdon annual reloding manual H414, BL-C(2), and varget produce the best velocity in shorter barrels the test barrel listed is a 15 inch barrel but I would imagine those 3 powders would still have the higher velocities even in a 10 inch barrel. You may look at Alliant powders like Reloader 7 and reloader 12. good luck

Huntsalotey · 09-24-2004, 10:39 AM

I am shooting an 18inch barrell in the .308 and my rifle is eating up the IMR 4064. I tried blc-2, H4350, RL-15, W-760, and RL-19. The 4064 is shooting great in it as compared to the other powders that I have tried. Good luck.