Best Powder Choice

[mustang7513]

For a Rem 700 ADL in .308. My wife is just getting into this rifle and she loads a lot of 30-06 for her Garand but never for the .308. What is the best powder for accuracy in the .308 shot from the Rem 700?

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[Blitzkrieg]

I get excellent results in .308/7.62 using W748 and + - 150 grain boat tails. Works great in semi and bolt guns

 

[nubus]

Desired bullet weight and barrel length may get you some more specific info.

 

[mustang7513]

Desired bullet weight and barrel length may get you some more specific info.

Good point. It is a 26" barrel with a 1:10 twist and we tend to use 150gr bullets for 100-200 yard shooting and use 168gr for 300+ yard shooting. Oh yeah, it is what they called a medium weight bull barrel.

 

[Spitpatch]

Try 48.0 grains Reloader 15, with a Federal 210 Gold Match Benchrest primer, and a 150g Nosler Ballistic Tip. 2933 fps chronographed out of my Kimber conversion 96 Swede Mauser. This is what allowed that gun to shoot cloverleaf groups. This is a warm high-velocity hunting load, and very accurate. Start lower, work up.

 

[nubus]

No offense Spitpatch, but Mustang make sure you verify any load data with at least one or more data manuals, and he is right on the money there BTW.
With the 26" barrel you can have an advantage of using a medium to slow powder as you'll get the advantage of pushing the bullet all the way down the barrel.
Most test data is for 24" test barrels and that doesn't always translate well to 16" or 18" barrel lengths, where a faster burning powder might be needed.
Just so I got a dog in this fight, and to make it more confusing, I really like the results I've been getting with Hogdon Varget, in other calibers as well.
Funny thing is all three of the powders mentioned fall almost right next to each other on the burn rate chart and should perform similarly.
They all have data for both weights of bullet as well, so you should be able to use the same powder for both of your loads.
On a side note, Speer recommends using Magnum primers on the 748, but not on the other two.
Good luck to your wife punching holes with the new gun!

 

[Wallygator]

I have had very good luck with Varget in my Savage with 168gr's, I load 46gr which is the max puplished load, so work your way up to that, but it shoots extremely well. I also use 43gr of H4895 with 168's in my M1A and they work well also.

wg

 

[Blitzkrieg]

No offense Spitpatch, but Mustang make sure you verify any load data with at least one or more data manuals, and he is right on the money there BTW.
With the 26" barrel you can have an advantage of using a medium to slow powder as you'll get the advantage of pushing the bullet all the way down the barrel.
Most test data is for 24" test barrels and that doesn't always translate well to 16" or 18" barrel lengths, where a faster burning powder might be needed.
Just so I got a dog in this fight, and to make it more confusing, I really like the results I've been getting with Hogdon Varget, in other calibers as well.
Funny thing is all three of the powders mentioned fall almost right next to each other on the burn rate chart and should perform similarly.
They all have data for both weights of bullet as well, so you should be able to use the same powder for both of your loads.
On a side note, Speer recommends using Magnum primers on the 748, but not on the other two.
Good luck to your wife punching holes with the new gun!

This is why I never give charge weights. As far as 748, I have only used standard primers (5.56/7.62 NATO/30-06) and it shoots great..

 

[mustang7513]

Thanks for the input. I use H4895 for the 30-06 in our Garands and just got 16lbs of Varget on a fluke when a fellow shooter bought it and then changed his mind and sold for less than he paid for it. I have never used Varget so think I will work up a few loads in the .308 and see how it does.