Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
Armory Sponsor
5/5/2015 1:28:48 AM EDT


Are they finicky about the burn rate of the powder you use?  My base of experience for this sized auto loader is the M14 and Garand.  Both have reputations for disliking slow burning powders, with some potentially even causing damage to the oprod.  




I don't know much yet about the 308 AR platform, but I'd like to get one and learn.  Some of my best 308 loads are for my bolt gun and use heavies bullets and slow powders (like the 199bthp and 4350).  Can an AR safely digest this kind of diet?






5/5/2015 12:46:11 PM EDT
[#1]
4350 is going to make for some awfully high port pressures on an AR system.....keep that to your bolt guns.  IMR 4064 is as slow as I go.  In fact, with proper load development,  4064 will make about anything sing from 150gr to 175gr pills. If you do pick up a 308AR, just go ahead and pick up either an SLR or Syrac adj. gas block.  You can literally tune it to where you want your empties to land.  Most 308AR(s) out of the box are overgassed, some worse than others.
5/5/2015 1:38:00 PM EDT
[#2]


OK, thanks for the heads up.  If I'm reading the burn rate chart right, Varget is slower than 4064.  So Varget is a no go?
5/5/2015 1:42:19 PM EDT
[#3]
Varget is waaaaaay "go".  It's also made of unobtainium right now.  What i should have said, with regards to slow powders....was 4064'ish.  Varget is fine.  Preferred, in fact.
5/5/2015 2:11:34 PM EDT
[#4]
I ran aliant power pro 2000mr as it metered like water and I used my progressive for plinking loads. it was a little overgassed. ran a slash buffer which helped. was using 168 a-max's 1gr under max if that helps any.(bushmaster ORC mid gas 16")
5/5/2015 3:41:21 PM EDT
[#5]


OK, that's good to know about Varget.  I'm not so worried about a shortage, I've got enough to get by for a while.



garred8787 -- I looked at several burn charts online and don't see power pro 2000mr listed on any of them.  Do you have a link to some references for it?



Something progressive-friendly would be a plus (I own half of a Dillon 650) for blasting ammo...


5/5/2015 4:32:42 PM EDT
[#6]
IMR-4064
IMR-4895
H4895
Varget
RE-15
VihtaVuori N140
and VihtaVuori N150 all work well for me and are great for gas guns.

AA-2460
AA-2520
and WW-748 have worked well for me too and are gas gun friendly.

Pay attention to .308 cases to insure military brass doesn't get co-mingled with commercial .308 brass. The military brass needs 2.0 full grain reduction of powder charges compared to what works in Winchester, Remington, Federal etc.

5/5/2015 4:52:20 PM EDT
[#7]
Varget is where its at. They have a ton of it at my LGS. They've been pretty fortunate with ordering.
5/5/2015 5:16:12 PM EDT
[#8]
power pro 2000mr is a ball powder thats right around the burn speed of cfe223. it falls between reloader 15 and 17 in the alliant powder lineup.

i've heard cfe223 is also a good progressive .308 powder although i've never tried it.
5/5/2015 5:34:29 PM EDT
[#9]
I have been using 8208 XBR in my bushmaster with 165 grain bullets
5/5/2015 5:48:11 PM EDT
[#10]
My 22" 308 AR likes 168 and 175 SMK's with XBR8208 for my "normal" shooting.

with suppressor it REALLY likes 4064 and 175smk.  

im still working out some subsonic loads with trailboss and 175 smks

EDIT:  i do have an adj gas block and for now leave it at the setting as if the suppressor is on.  alittle over gasses when not attached but nothing crazy
5/5/2015 7:42:55 PM EDT
[#11]
I like Reloder 15, great powder.

Quote History
Quoted:
My 22" 308 AR likes 168 and 175 SMK's with XBR8208 for my "normal" shooting.

with suppressor it REALLY likes 4064 and 175smk.  

im still working out some subsonic loads with trailboss and 175 smks

EDIT:  i do have an adj gas block and for now leave it at the setting as if the suppressor is on.  alittle over gasses when not attached but nothing crazy
View Quote


Wouldn't it be under gassed without the can in the suppressor setting?
5/5/2015 7:49:29 PM EDT
[#12]
Either H4895 or IMR4895 will work fine. I am also a fan of RL15.
5/5/2015 9:09:13 PM EDT
[#13]
I've been using H335 with 155 grain Noslers in my RRA LAR8.  Wasn't planning on it, as I had bought it for the .223 stuff, but it works good.  Haven't chrono'd the loads, but they're accurate.
5/5/2015 10:05:40 PM EDT
[#14]
BLC-2 (can't remember how much right now).  Versatile, (can also use with 5.56) and have had no problems using 147 - 165 gr. FMJ.  Just my .02 worth ...
5/5/2015 10:09:33 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote History
Quoted:
I like Reloder 15, great powder.



Wouldn't it be under gassed without the can in the suppressor setting?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
I like Reloder 15, great powder.

Quoted:
My 22" 308 AR likes 168 and 175 SMK's with XBR8208 for my "normal" shooting.

with suppressor it REALLY likes 4064 and 175smk.  

im still working out some subsonic loads with trailboss and 175 smks

EDIT:  i do have an adj gas block and for now leave it at the setting as if the suppressor is on.  alittle over gasses when not attached but nothing crazy


Wouldn't it be under gassed without the can in the suppressor setting?


No, but I'm sure it would "hurt" letting more gas througb.  Where it's at now I barely get any recoil when shooting unsupressed
5/6/2015 12:36:31 AM EDT
[#16]
Although I like H335 in my bolt gun, MY Ar-10 (S&W M&P10) does not like it.  Bolt won't lock back, even at near-max loads.   Occasional FTFs, too. This  is with 150gr. and 168gr. pills.  

With 4064, it functions fine.
5/6/2015 5:35:15 PM EDT
[#17]
I've tried IMR3031, 4064 and 4895, and while they shoot decent with the 147gr FMJ, they don't meter well in my progressive. Varget works really well, as does H335 (best metering I've tried, it's a spherical\ball powder). I recently picked up some BLC-2 to try as well. I shoot 147gr and 168gr, occasionally a 175gr with all these powders.

This is out of a 16" DPMS Recon and a 20" Remington 700.
5/6/2015 6:47:26 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote History
Quoted:
I have been using 8208 XBR in my bushmaster with 165 grain bullets
View Quote

I use it for my "hitting steel rounds" in 16" barrels under 150 Hornady FMJs.  I LOVE how it meters from my LNL AP drop in the progressive.  AWESOME powder.
5/8/2015 2:50:50 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:

OK, thanks for the heads up.  If I'm reading the burn rate chart right, Varget is slower than 4064.  So Varget is a no go?
View Quote


Looked at 3 different burn rate charts.  One puts Varget at the same speed as H4895, one puts it between 4895 and 4064, and one puts is slower than 4064.

Varget, Reloader 15, or H4895 or IMR4895 would be my first choices for an accuracy load in a 308 caliber AR-15.
5/8/2015 1:34:34 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Quoted:
Although I like H335 in my bolt gun, MY Ar-10 (S&W M&P10) does not like it.  Bolt won't lock back, even at near-max loads.   Occasional FTFs, too. This  is with 150gr. and 168gr. pills.  

With 4064, it functions fine.
View Quote


Anyone know if 748 will work in an AR-10 Armalite?  (it has the 20 inch barrel).  Im using LV brass and some M-80 bullets (147 grn FMJ).

Thanks
5/8/2015 4:33:18 PM EDT
[#21]
I have used every 308 powder out there, and AR 308 will work fine in them all ....
Varget.Reloader,4064 ,4895  etc good to go.
Later
John
5/13/2015 4:24:05 PM EDT
[#22]
Just came back from the range testing out some loads for AR-Comp pushing 168 AMAX.
 Rifle is a Ruger SR 762. 16.125" barrel, chrome lined 1-10" twist.
    COAL 2.805 Lapua Brass.    Rem 9 1/2 Primers  Hornady sizer and seating die  Light crimp on Redding Taper crimp.
40.4 gn      2515 fps AVG. 1.5" 5 shot
40.8gn       2521 fps avg    1.25"  
41.2gn       2545 fps           .75"
41.6gn       2585fps             BUGHOLE!!!
42.0gn    BLOWN PRIMER---OVER PRESSURE!!

No pressure signs until 42.0. didn't finish group...obviously... Speeds taken with Magnetospeed. Group sizes approx

temp 60F wind 9-3 5mph elevation 1000ASL
5/13/2015 7:42:25 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote History
Quoted:
Just came back from the range testing out some loads for AR-Comp pushing 168 AMAX.
 Rifle is a Ruger SR 762. 16.125" barrel, chrome lined 1-10" twist.
    COAL 2.805 Lapua Brass.    Rem 9 1/2 Primers  Hornady sizer and seating die  Light crimp on Redding Taper crimp.
40.4 gn      2515 fps AVG. 1.5" 5 shot
40.8gn       2521 fps avg    1.25"  
41.2gn       2545 fps           .75"
41.6gn       2585fps             BUGHOLE!!!
42.0gn    BLOWN PRIMER---OVER PRESSURE!!

No pressure signs until 42.0. didn't finish group...obviously... Speeds taken with Magnetospeed. Group sizes approx

temp 60F wind 9-3 5mph elevation 1000ASL
View Quote


Could have just been a loose pocket. If you didnt see any pressure signs than that i would have done a few more myself. Where is that compaired to max in a book?
5/13/2015 8:13:07 PM EDT
[#24]
IMO,  IMR4895 or H4895 are ideal.
I did burn up a bunch of IMR 8208 XBR and it's pretty similar.
Sold the LR 308, now my XBR supply will last longer for the Grendel.
5/13/2015 8:52:24 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote History
Quoted:


Could have just been a loose pocket. If you didnt see any pressure signs than that i would have done a few more myself. Where is that compaired to max in a book?
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just came back from the range testing out some loads for AR-Comp pushing 168 AMAX.
 Rifle is a Ruger SR 762. 16.125" barrel, chrome lined 1-10" twist.
    COAL 2.805 Lapua Brass.    Rem 9 1/2 Primers  Hornady sizer and seating die  Light crimp on Redding Taper crimp.
40.4 gn      2515 fps AVG. 1.5" 5 shot
40.8gn       2521 fps avg    1.25"  
41.2gn       2545 fps           .75"
41.6gn       2585fps             BUGHOLE!!!
42.0gn    BLOWN PRIMER---OVER PRESSURE!!

No pressure signs until 42.0. didn't finish group...obviously... Speeds taken with Magnetospeed. Group sizes approx

temp 60F wind 9-3 5mph elevation 1000ASL


Could have just been a loose pocket. If you didnt see any pressure signs than that i would have done a few more myself. Where is that compaired to max in a book?


I doubt it. His velocities from a 16" barrel is what I consider maximum from a 24".
5/14/2015 1:27:49 AM EDT
[#26]
I've had excellent results with IMR 8208 XBR, and IMR 4064 is my everyday go-to powder.
Armory Sponsor