just getting started reloading...

[cleardatum]

...and man, are the choices overwhelming. i got a rock crusher supreme, and i'll be procuring ingredients shortly. i'll start with .308 for my savage 10pc. any recommendations on powder? that's the thing that's really throwing me for a loop. accuracy will be the goal. thanks all for your advice.

 

[tdshepard]

I am still a novice at reloading but I like Varget for my bolt rifle and I use Hodgen 4895 and WW748 in my gas operated M1A. Just have fun and read some topics on different ways to approach load development. In my case, I am never really done ..................

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

What do you have for manuals right now? Hopefully you've got a couple of the hardbound ones--Hornady, Lyman, Sierra, Speer and Lee among others publish them regularly--supplemented with up to the minute data from the powder companies on their websites.

From there, you're going to run into a bit of a bump in the road: a LOT of powders will work in the .308, but WHAT powder you can get a hold of right now is going to limit you in today's market. So find a load with a powder you can get, and if you can find a couple of different powders, even better!

Then work it up slowly from a "starting" load (either the one given in the book, or, if none is given, 10% less than max (by weight) and see if there's a "best" combo for you. As I'm sure you've seen said uncounted times already, each gun is a rule unto itself and what works best in "my" gun might not be the same as what "your" gun is most pleased with.

Folks have different ideas on "working" up: some use a starting load, then up it in half grain increments. Some work it up in smaller steps, like maybe every 0.2 or 0.3 grain. If I'm really serious about a load, I'll do the half grain thing, then look for the best in that range. From there I'll work up and down in increments of 0.2 gr to see if there's an even "sweeter" spot. With some recipes, there is a rather small "perfect" range for "your" gun, others are pretty forgiving and the "window" is much larger. There's only one way to find out!

Rick C

 

[SweetWilliam]

I use Varget for my 308. And I like Speer's & Nosler's manual.

 

[sourdough44]

Varget, 4895, TAC, and others in that range is what I'd look at.

 

[Srb08]

Varget is my powder of choice for my .308 PSS.
In my M1A, H4895 works well.

 

[powder smoke]

I also use Varget in the past I have used IMR 3031. Varget is good where weather extremes are common
-20 to 100 lets say. ps

 

[DGW1949]

Varget, IMR4895, H4895 all work real-good in a .308 .
Most all .308's have a 1-10 barrel, which realy likes a 165-168 grn bullet.
Buying good bullets matters. I'm a big Sierra and Nosler fan but both are a bit pricely.
I can prove on a target that primers matter too, and especialy so when the target starts getting out past 200 yds. Given a choice, I'll take Ferderal Match primers every time.

Working up an accuracy load aint all that hard;
Begin with the "starting load" that is shown in the manual for the bullet you are using and increase the charge a couple of 10ths at a time as you head towards the "max load". As you go along, you'll find that accuracy gets a bit better, then falls off. When it falls off, go back to where it didn't.

If the above don't get you to where you want to go, ya might want to check your rifle's bedding 'cause it won't be the ammo's fault......just sayin'.

DGW