110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

Has anyone tried a 110gr. V-Max using Benchmark powder for the .308?
What other combinations have you tried for this configuration?

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

I used either RELODER-7 OR IMR-4198 in my 30-06..

The velocity was slower,around 2850 to 3100..I found
the little bullets to be more accurate at this velocity..
I suppose you can use the same powder in your 308..
Not sure without looking,so you better check it out..

Never played with this bullet much so can't tell you
alot..Good luck..

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

Johnny, you better check your notes again. 4198 is WAY too fast a powder for any decent 30/06 load. In fact, checking my Speer and Sierra books they don't even list Reloader-7 for the /06.

TC, I haven't used Benchmark but some good powders for 110gr bullet in .308 are 748 and Reloader-11. You can crank it up to 3,200+. I love 748 in my .308...probably the best .308 powder available.

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

Pavo--there right...I JUST looked in a new LEE book and a starting load for R-7
IS 43.1 GR...AND for IMR-4198 it is 36.0 110 grain jacket bullet..
I really wasn't sure of the load when I posted but I knew it was with the two
listed powders..You had be worried for a min there..Hate to post and have
somone try without looking on thier own..[8D][8D]

Just checked and both powders are listed for the 08 as well....Unless the book is wrong

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

Pavomesa-Is that just your opinion or actual experience? I've loaded it for years with lighter bullets in the .308. All the coyotes thought it worked just fine. Brett

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

Johnny, I don't have and have never used a Lee loading manual. I think I bought one a few years ago and decided some of it's loads were a bit more "risky" than I wanted to play and tossed it in the trash. If your experiences with it are different and you trust it,great.

None of us can dip any deeper than our experience. I'm surely not anti-4198. I've used it with great effect in 222 222 Rem Mag and the 223. And I've had some good cast bullet loads for it in my .458 American. It's a good powder but certainly too fast for many uses.

I got out all my reloading manuals, Speer, Lyman, Nosler and Sierra. NONE of them have any loads for 4198 in .308 or 30/06.

Here is a quote from my latest Speer Manual about 4198 and my experience with it certainly backs it up.

"A single-base cylindrical rifle powder for 223 Remington class cartridges. It is useful also in large diameter straight cases like the 444 Marlin, 45/70 etc. 4198 can be used for reduced loads in other cartridges where noted."

Sure it can be used in mid-sized cases, but with most of them you'll peak out on pressure way before you reach optimum velocity. But why use it when there are other powders better for the job...at least in the cartridges we are discussing?

Hunter, I guess you could say this is just my opinion...and apparently the opinion of the vast majority of loading manuals as well. To my knowledge I've never used 4198 in 308 or /06. I have used MOST of the other traditional powders in both cartridges and with virtually every bullet weight there is. None of which should ever be construed to imply that I know everything. I'll be the first to tell you I don't.

If you guys are having wonderful results with 4198 in .308s, I'm happy for you. It just would not be my advice.

Good hunting!

RE: 110Gr. V-Max with Benchmark
 

OK, I checked one last source I have...my Hogden Reloading Manual...and it does list some H4198 loads for the .308. I never think of this book and frankly never use it as the closest I've ever come to seeing a gun blown up was a friend of mine using Hogdon data.

Personally, I still consider the 4198 versions a little fast burning for .308 and up bottleneck cases. The other major data providers seem to feel the same way.