OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition > Reloading & Ballistics
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Powder selection?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Powder selection?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Powder selection?
    Posted: April/17/2014 at 19:29
I am looking for a powder that will give good accuracy for a 308, and be a good plinking round powder for my AR. Bullet for the 308 is going to be 178gr amax, for the 223 undecided but cheap! Does IMR 4064 fit?
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
cheaptrick View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar

Joined: September/27/2004
Location: South Carolina
Status: Offline
Points: 20844
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 20:02
Varget. I use both powders for .223 and .308 and it's great for both. 

Now...if you can find it now days.  
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
Back to Top
Bigdaddy0381 View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Georgia peach

Joined: February/27/2007
Location: Georgia
Status: Offline
Points: 13682
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 20:05
Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

Varget. I use both powders for .223 and .308 and it's great for both. 
 
YUP, my got to powder for A lot of rifles.
P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
Back to Top
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 20:07
Ya, no! Varget is vapor ware here.
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
tejas View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: March/08/2010
Location: Lone Star State
Status: Offline
Points: 575
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tejas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 20:55
Try R15, if you can't find it, try Benchmark.
Back to Top
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 21:08
Benchmark is accessible, but no rl15. Does this beat IMR4064?
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
SVT_Tactical View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Chief Sackscratch

Joined: December/17/2009
Location: NorthCackalacky
Status: Offline
Points: 31233
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 21:09
Xbr seems to do good in both from initial testing I've done. But I was using light 308 bullets
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
Back to Top
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2014 at 21:24
I haven't seen xbr. Another choice is H4095
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
Bigdaddy0381 View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Georgia peach

Joined: February/27/2007
Location: Georgia
Status: Offline
Points: 13682
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 04:29
IMR4064 should be fine to use for both. IF the rifle likes them.

P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
Back to Top
cheaptrick View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar

Joined: September/27/2004
Location: South Carolina
Status: Offline
Points: 20844
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 06:05
I use IMR 4895 in both .308 and .223 with decent results. 168gr. MK's shoot quite good and 69gr. MK's in the .223. 
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
Back to Top
cheaptrick View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar

Joined: September/27/2004
Location: South Carolina
Status: Offline
Points: 20844
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 06:05
Originally posted by tejas tejas wrote:

Try R15, if you can't find it, try Benchmark.

Good call on RL 15.  
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
Back to Top
Alan Robertson View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: October/31/2009
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 21:01
All powders mentioned work great for the purpose. H4895 works well in both flavors, but is harder to find than Benchmark. Any of the Western Powders imports between X-Terminator and 2520 speed range work well in both calibers as do Norma N-201 and N-202. Any Vihtavuori in comparable speed range is good stuff.
I think that one reason that we're still seeing powder shortages is that Wal- Mart has re- entered the reloading game in a lot of markets and has sucked up a lot of production, as they can put pressure on wholesalers and the powder companies to get what they want. A buddy just got off the phone from a Wal- Mart telling me the wonderland of powder they had on their shelf @ $24/lb where it's $27 at the cheapest other places around.
"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
Back to Top
pyro6999 View Drop Down
Optics Retard
Optics Retard
Avatar
OT TITAN

Joined: December/22/2006
Location: North Dakota
Status: Offline
Points: 22034
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 21:03
cfe223??
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
Back to Top
Alan Robertson View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: October/31/2009
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 22:17
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

cfe223??
Yeah- forgot about that, it'll be fine in both.  Also H335.  Alliant AR comp would also work well in both calibers.

If by plinking w/.223 you mean economical, you couldn't go wrong with IMR 4198, but it's a little fast  for .308, as would be H322 unless you shoot light stuff, like 125 Sierras.

Did anyone mention BL-C(2)
"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
Back to Top
tejas View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: March/08/2010
Location: Lone Star State
Status: Offline
Points: 575
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tejas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2014 at 22:29
The one powder that's been easy to find locally is RE17. Supposedly, it works great in 308, I haven't tried it though.

http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html

You can google 223 and RE17, apparently, it works fine with heavy bullets. I personally would've thought the burn speed was too slow.

BLC-2 isn't hard to find either, it works ok in both, but not great in either, at least for me. It also seems to burn real dirty. Meters really well though.
Back to Top
Alan Robertson View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: October/31/2009
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/19/2014 at 01:41
billyburl-
In these times of shortage, the trick is to learn the burn rate chart and learn what speed range of powders meets your needs.

Anything from IMR 4198 through H380 and 4007SSC will meet your needs, although powders near the center of that speed range, like TAC or one of the 4895s would be more versatile. If you know your speed range, you can usually find something to buy that will work. I'd have probably never tried Benchmark if it hadn't been the only powder available at one time. I really like it. It flows well through a measure and is economical and just works well. Of course, now it's non-existent, but last shopping trip found Re15 and H4895. See how it goes? It's all good.

There's nothing wrong with having so much to choose from (if only more were available.)

Ps I've let a lot of powder sit on the shelf because I'll not pay a gouger's price. It'd be hard to  convince me that there's not a lot of "marketing" strategy being applied by St. Marks and ATK and Hodgdon and...




"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 1.484 seconds.