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Posted: 6/3/2023 12:23:09 AM EDT
[#1]
Another one worth mentioning is Vhivatouri N-150, I use it with Berger 155.5 full bore match bullets and Sierra SMK 175's with great success.
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Posted: 6/3/2023 12:30:24 AM EDT
[#2]
You might want to look into Shooter's World as well. It is the one powder that has always been available when I looked.
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Posted: 6/3/2023 12:39:47 AM EDT
[#3]
32 lbs of same lot "Similar to H335" canister powder at American Reloading for ~$21/lb delivered...
I have a bunch of their WC844 Pull-down powder I paid $12.50/lb for in 2016... YMMV https://americanreloading.com/reloading-rifle-powder/4748-mp-418-smokeless-rifle-powder-32-lbs.html |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 1:25:48 AM EDT
[#4]
WW-748, AA-2230, AA-2520, are all easy metering ball powders that can do OK for .308 practice loads.
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Posted: 6/3/2023 2:20:22 AM EDT
[#5]
Any time you change powder or other load spec you change where it hits. If you don’t have an M1a you can load all other .308 guns the same load. Varget, RL 15 and IMR 4064 would be preferred.
https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/rifle/308_Winchester_150.pdf https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/308WinchesterForWeb.pdf |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 8:48:17 AM EDT
[#6]
CCI 200 primers aren't good with ball powders and may not be great with double base extruded powders.
There are plenty of single base extruded powders though. Accurate A2495 is a good 308 powder and very similar to IMR-4895. IMR-3031 is not a bad choice. H4895 is one of the best, but right now, A2495 seems more available. https://www.nosler.com/media/load_data_assets/pdfs/308-Win-150gr-version-9-0.pdf https://www.nosler.com/media/load_data_assets/pdfs/7-62x51-NATO-155gr-version-8-0-archived.pdf |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 10:32:54 AM EDT
[#7]
TAC if loading on Progressive Press.
IMR3031 if you using a single stage operation. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 11:13:07 AM EDT
[#8]
CFE223, TAC, H335 and BLC-2 are ball powders which can and do suffer hangfires with CCI-200 primers.
IMR-3031 and A2495 work well with CCI-200 primers. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 11:51:57 AM EDT
[#9]
748
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Posted: 6/3/2023 12:29:37 PM EDT
[#10]
H380, W748, it also works well in .223 with 69gr BT.
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Posted: 6/3/2023 1:58:11 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted: The problem I am running into is that whenever I look into good powders for this load, I keep seeing ones that are hard to find such as Varget, IMR 4064, RL-15, IMR 4895, and H4895. I know these are all great powders, but I just can't find them consistently. And in the case of Varget and IMR 4064, even if I did find some, I would rather use it for higher quality match grade loads and not cheaper FMJ loads. 4895 is available from several different, reputable suppliers - AmmoSeek LINK to 4895. TAC is similarly available - AmmoSeek LINK to TAC. I mentioned TAC because it is a ball powder and throws charges easily for your general purpose ammo. The key to consistently available is to buy a decent supply when it is available. Only you can can determine how much to buy (consider your rate of use and budget) but 8 pounds or even 16 pounds is not unreasonable. Balance your consumption rate with your purchasing power. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 2:39:27 PM EDT
[#12]
ACCURATE 2520
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Posted: 6/3/2023 4:01:24 PM EDT
[#13]
Thank you everyone for your replies, you have all given me several new powders to look into.
Quote HistoryQuoted: CFE223, TAC, H335 and BLC-2 are ball powders which can and do suffer hangfires with CCI-200 primers. IMR-3031 and A2495 work well with CCI-200 primers. I wanted to use CCI 200's because I have a brick on hand. Would a magnum primer work better with ball powders? I do occasionally find CCI 250's at local shops. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 4:31:49 PM EDT
[#14]
Folks seem to be suggesting a ball powder because it meters well in a progressive setup... how do you load, single stage or progressive? Wouldn't want you leaning to a given powder for the wrong reason.
If your using a single stage and want to meter a stick powder pick up a Lee perfect powder measure. They are cheap and do a good job with extruded powder. I picked one up for H4895 and it performs very well throwing consistent charges. Cost is around $30 |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 4:49:20 PM EDT
[#15]
I load on a single stage. I also have an RCBS Chargemaster, so I don't mind a stick powder.
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Posted: 6/3/2023 5:07:25 PM EDT
[#16]
My go to mix after 4895 disappeared has been Accurate 2495. (.308) 150gr FMJ 44.5grs - 168gr BTHP 42.5grs
For me, in my Rem 700 26" HB Varmint and AR10 18" HB there is no noticeable difference in accuracy out to 200yrds. I also use it in my 30-06 loads for my Garand's, 03's and 1917 Eddystone. eta: I use a LEE single stage for all my .308 and 30-06 and check the powder weights of each round |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 5:59:00 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thank you everyone for your replies, you have all given me several new powders to look into. I wanted to use CCI 200's because I have a brick on hand. Would a magnum primer work better with ball powders? I do occasionally find CCI 250's at local shops. Quote HistoryQuoted: Thank you everyone for your replies, you have all given me several new powders to look into. Quoted: CFE223, TAC, H335 and BLC-2 are ball powders which can and do suffer hangfires with CCI-200 primers. IMR-3031 and A2495 work well with CCI-200 primers. I wanted to use CCI 200's because I have a brick on hand. Would a magnum primer work better with ball powders? I do occasionally find CCI 250's at local shops. Yes, the CCI magnum primers are made for ball powders. The Federal magnum primers are made for large belted magnum cartridges. CCI-200 is a very mild primer. A friend had hangfires with them and ball powder in 30-30 and then switched to IMR-3031 and had no problems with the CCI-200 primers. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 6:19:33 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Folks seem to be suggesting a ball powder because it meters well in a progressive setup... Ball powders throw well in all measures, except the LEE Perfect Powder Measure. They are a way to get consistent charge weights without all the fuss. Ensure you have some safety margin and you can throw all your charges with confidence. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 7:37:19 PM EDT
[#19]
I’m terribly pleased with TAC. It loads 5.56 and .308 very well.
The other day I loaded an old recipe, 165gr 308s. Different lot# of powder, at least two years and a move between loadings. 25fps difference. CFE223 did much better in 308 than 223 for me. I don’t want to load it in .223. Very accurate in 308. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 10:25:33 PM EDT
[#20]
I used 40.6 grains of AA-2460 in Lake City brass, Winchester lrp and 168 grain SMK's seated at 2.800".
This 168 load was 2500 fps from a 22" M1-A. Very low sd/es. You could probably add 1.5 to 2.0 more grains of powder with 150's. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 11:08:42 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I used 40.6 grains of AA-2460 in Lake City brass, Winchester lrp and 168 grain SMK's seated at 2.800". This 168 load was 2500 fps from a 22" M1-A. Very low sd/es. You could probably add 1.5 to 2.0 more grains of powder with 150's. How far is that 40.6gr aa-2460 from max? Is that barrel slow? Is the load meant to be easy-going? Just thinking I can comfortably fling 165s at 2600ish with a reasonable charge of TAC from a 20” barrel. It is a bolt gun though. 150s push around 2700, from the same barrel. I could go up a decent ways before they’re too spicy. The same 165 load does avg 2375 from a 12.5” gas gun. Not that such metrics are the only means to evaluate a powder, by any means. |
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Posted: 6/3/2023 11:28:50 PM EDT
[#22]
I didn't know about cci 200 being sensitive with ball powders but there's lots of cci 34 nato spec primers out there right now, I think they're pumping them out to fill the market then will start running the normal and mags more if I had to guess
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Posted: 6/4/2023 4:21:16 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Ball powders throw well in all measures, except the LEE Perfect Powder Measure. They are a way to get consistent charge weights without all the fuss. Ensure you have some safety margin and you can throw all your charges with confidence. OP has CCI200 primers so a ball powder wouldn't be the best choice unless he bought different primers. Seems his chargemaster can handle extruded so metering isn't an issue for him. ot 
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Posted: 6/4/2023 6:13:18 AM EDT
[#24]
4895
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Posted: 6/4/2023 9:09:09 AM EDT
[#25]
Of the powders you have listed, and using the primers/bullets you have, I would work up a load with 3031 and call it good.
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Posted: 6/4/2023 2:00:18 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: OP has CCI200 primers so a ball powder wouldn't be the best choice unless he bought different primers. Seems his chargemaster can handle extruded so metering isn't an issue for him. ot I've never had trouble igniting ball powders with regular primers (many, such as TAC, W760, even Ramshot MAGNUM). For context, I never shoot below about 32 F, if temperature is the issue. Have you had such trouble Blowout? How did the trouble manifest itself? It seems to me the OP has been given LOTS of options, including buying different powders and primers. AmmoSeek link to CCI #34 Primers |
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Posted: 6/4/2023 2:10:28 PM EDT
[#27]
I’m a big fan of blc2. It’s cheap and plentiful right now. I use it in 223, 308 and 30-06
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Posted: 6/4/2023 2:27:39 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'm a big fan of blc2. It's cheap and plentiful right now. I use it in 223, 308 and 30-06 Haven't tried in 30-06. Loading for a Garand though. I use standard primers in 30-30 and 308. 223 use SRM Wolf. |
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Posted: 6/4/2023 2:43:22 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've never had trouble igniting ball powders with regular primers (many, such as TAC, W760, even Ramshot MAGNUM). For context, I never shoot below about 32 F, if temperature is the issue. Have you had such trouble Blowout? How did the trouble manifest itself? It seems to me the OP has been given LOTS of options, including buying different powders and primers. AmmoSeek link to CCI #34 Primers I only only have CCI250, Rem 9 1/2 and Win LRP in inventory. An old friend of mine that was an excellent rifleman and avid reloader would only use CCI250 w/308 and never the 200... even with extruded powders. I learned a ton about shooting/loading from him and followed his lead on this. I bought all his components when he stopped reloading many years ago and there was no CCI200 anywhere to be found but there was some CCI250. For reference here's a target from when he was schooling me on technique @ 100yds. This was a Rem 700 sendero 308 I'd recently bought. He had a PSS in 308. Good times...  Attached File |
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Posted: 6/4/2023 4:16:34 PM EDT
[#30]
That's a keeper!
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Posted: 6/4/2023 9:47:26 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How far is that 40.6gr aa-2460 from max? Is that barrel slow? Is the load meant to be easy-going? Just thinking I can comfortably fling 165s at 2600ish with a reasonable charge of TAC from a 20” barrel. It is a bolt gun though. 150s push around 2700, from the same barrel. I could go up a decent ways before they’re too spicy. The same 165 load does avg 2375 from a 12.5” gas gun. Not that such metrics are the only means to evaluate a powder, by any means. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I used 40.6 grains of AA-2460 in Lake City brass, Winchester lrp and 168 grain SMK's seated at 2.800". This 168 load was 2500 fps from a 22" M1-A. Very low sd/es. You could probably add 1.5 to 2.0 more grains of powder with 150's. How far is that 40.6gr aa-2460 from max? Is that barrel slow? Is the load meant to be easy-going? Just thinking I can comfortably fling 165s at 2600ish with a reasonable charge of TAC from a 20” barrel. It is a bolt gun though. 150s push around 2700, from the same barrel. I could go up a decent ways before they’re too spicy. The same 165 load does avg 2375 from a 12.5” gas gun. Not that such metrics are the only means to evaluate a powder, by any means. I consider 40.6 grains of AA-2460 to be close to maximum when using LC brass. The velocities are identical to 43.0 grains of WW-748 in LC brass, which is a maximum load. LC brass (7.62x51mm) reaches peak pressures around 2.0 full grains below Winchester commercial .308 brass. 2500 fps from a 22" is equal to 2560 fps from a 24". Is there any room to go hotter? Maybe. Maybe not. I never use ball powders nowadays, personal preference. RE-15 Varget Vihtavuori N140 Vihtavuori N150 IMR-8208-XBR H4895 IMR-4895 IMR-4064 IMR-3031 <will all give excellent results with loads tuned to your rifle. |
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Posted: 6/10/2023 2:52:10 PM EDT
[#32]
I picked up 2 LBS of Accurate 2495. I hope to get out by the end of the month to shoot some test loads.
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Posted: 6/10/2023 11:43:22 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I picked up 2 LBS of Accurate 2495. I hope to get out by the end of the month to shoot some test loads. That's some good powder. It is very much like IMR-4895, which is made in the same plant in Canada. |
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Posted: 6/18/2023 6:07:23 AM EDT
[#34]
When I couldn't find my beloved IMR 4064 for 7.62x51 loads in M1A, I tried IMR 4166.
Wow! Performance was awesome! With Hornady 150gr fmj, CCI 200, resting rifle on top of an ammo can, open iron sights at 50yds, got a 5 shot 0.85" group. And I'm not that good a marksman. |
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Posted: 6/18/2023 8:37:26 AM EDT
[#35]
Never had an issue with cci200 and blc2...
I load 150 FMJs with 45.5gr blc2. |
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