Good Powder for .308 cast

[Boolseye]

I meant powder lol

Hey Folks,
I'll be shooting a 160 grain bullet (Lee's C312-160 2R) sized down to .309 out of my TC Encore. 5744 looks great, and I have some Varget. What do you folks use for this type of set-up? I'll be shooting primarily target rounds, keeping the velocity down around 2000 +/-.
-jp

[JDL]

2000 fps isn't needed for targets but, you can sure kill targets at that velocity. I would start with 16 grains of 2400 or 10 grains of Unique and work up to a nice, accurate load but, that's just me.
JDL

[atr]

as JDL said
also, IMR 4895 works well with reduced loads in this case

[45r]

I get good groups with BRP boolits with H-4895 and at pretty fast velocity also.

[Doc Highwall]

For my 308 load I use 20.5 grs of AA5744 with a SAECO #315 175gr TCGC bullet.

[oldhickory]

IMR4227 has been mated with cast boolit rifle loads for many, many years.

[Fire_stick]

For the 308 Marlin Express, I used BLC-2 this past season. Worked good. Killed the only 2 deer I had a chance to shoot this past season. One at 120 yards, and the other at 35 yards.

Ranch Dog TLC311-165FN, WQ CO WW, sized to .309", tumble lubed and gas checked.
37.5 grains BLC-2

[Boolseye]

Excellent! Thanks for the suggestions,
jp

[CWME]

What Doc and Hickory said. I tried their loads in my 308 win testing with good results.

I will add 7-9 gr of 700X or Bullseye.

[1Shirt]

For me, 2400 and Varget!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[WILCO]

IMR4227 has been mated with cast boolit rifle loads for many, many years.

Yep. Very true. :popcorn:

[acemedic13]

Not rying to hijack the post here but, I have been mulling over this same question lately. I want to start shooting cast out of my M1-A, and I have been wondering about what powder to use in order to get good accuracy as well as still cycle the action. I have pretty much most of the powders listed here, except AA and 4227. Thanks for the posts and I welcome any other suggestions.

[BruceB]

Not rying to hijack the post here but, I have been mulling over this same question lately. I want to start shooting cast out of my M1-A, and I have been wondering about what powder to use in order to get good accuracy as well as still cycle the action. I have pretty much most of the powders listed here, except AA and 4227. Thanks for the posts and I welcome any other suggestions.

Go to the "CB Loads/ Military Rifles" forum.

There's a VERY long 'stickied' thread about shooting cast bullets in the M1A.

[Irascible]

4759 would work well at the velocities your seeking

[toddx]

A powder not mentioned here is IMR 3031.
I am shooting a 177gr +or- with a Lee mould 28 grain of 3031 gave me a really nice group out of my Rem 700. 1843 fps ave. Still am proving this load to myself as I have only shot it a few times but it is looking real nice.

[acemedic13]

Thanks again Bruce. That is a great thread! I was sent there before a long time ago when I could not figure out how to get MG fired brass to cycle in that rifle.....thats when I learned about the magical tool called a SB die.

I will now be casting and shooting my M1-A this week....I love this place........

[Kraschenbirn]

I've obtained good performance with boolits in the 150-180 gr range using H4895 but my McGowan-barreled M700 really likes the 200 gr. Lee and IMR4198.

Bill

[acemedic13]

I use 4198 in my pre 64 winchester 94 30-30. It's great with my lyman 30 cal boolit

[stubshaft]

+1 on using 4759.

[rays308]

Boolseye,

Using varget, 29gr to 31gr gives me best goups in my rifles with the Lee 160gr.

29 to 31 with 4064 and 748 also.

This is with 11.5 and 10 inch twists

Ray

[Rafe Covington]

4759 and 5744 is what I use in my 308 barrel.

Rafe:redneck:

[ofreen]

A powder not mentioned here is IMR 3031.
I am shooting a 177gr +or- with a Lee mould 28 grain of 3031 gave me a really nice group out of my Rem 700. 1843 fps ave. Still am proving this load to myself as I have only shot it a few times but it is looking real nice.

+1. I use 30gr 3031 with an NEI 180gr. It does MOA out to 300 yards in my old Savage M110-S.

[mpmarty]

+1 on BLC-2 that is one fine powder. Around 37gr in my Savage 308 and 177gr boolits work well for me. Measures like water.

[Boolseye]

Ray,
thanks for that. sounds like a good load,
-jp

[Doble Troble]

+ 3 for 4198. 22.5 gr with the Lee 180 is uber accurate out of a short barreled FR-8.