Revisiting the .308, slower powders

[waco]

I have had some limited success in the last few months with the Lee C312-155-2R
Mainly with 2400 and SR4759. One hole groups at 50 yards for ten shots. Keeping all things the same, LC '74 brass, WLR primers 15BHN alloy sized to .311" and lubed with BAC, tonight I loaded up my last 17 boolits that were sized and lubed, and weighed right at 163.4gr over 40.0gr of IMR4350. 100 yards will be the distance, and maybe the slower powder will be a little easier on the boolit. 1900-2000fps perhaps? I'll take the Chrony with and report back when I get a chance to get out. Still dealing with multiple eye surgeries with the wife. Graves disease is no joke. Anyway, I'm hoping for 1 1/2 MOA or better at close to 2K. Not sure if 40gr will get me there or not, but I'll find out.
Too many .30cal rifle threads lately! Got me wanting to play with the Rem.700 again.

Oh yeah. The T/C Contender will be here in a week or less also!

.45 Colt and .30-30 barrels

30-30 loads with SR4759 and the 311041 already worked up, and the RCBS 45-270-SAA and 2400 need testing too!

Like I said, it may be a bit, but I'll get back and report the good, bad, and the ugly.....
Waco

[MBTcustom]

I like the medium powders for 308. Not very exciting and a little expensive but they work too good not to use.
IMR3031, and 4895 are my favorites.
Sorry to hear about the wife.
Congrats on the Tender!

[waco]

I like the medium powders for 308. Not very exciting and a little expensive but they work too good not to use.
IMR3031, and 4895 are my favorites.
Sorry to hear about the wife.
Congrats on the Tender!

Thanks Tim. I have 3031 and 4895 as well. 3lbs of 4350 has been collecting dust for some years now. I don't shoot the '06 that much! I'll have to try the others as well. I do have about 12lbs of IMR4064 also. My go to powder with 175gr SMK.

[runfiverun]

29-30 or so grains of the 4064 should do well.
if the boolit takes the speed your load should do okay.
I have been using H-4831sc in my 308 recently, but that's at 2400 fps.

if you notice verticle stringing from your 4350 load a little filler will help settle that down.

[waco]

29-30 or so grains of the 4064 should do well.
if the boolit takes the speed your load should do okay.
I have been using H-4831sc in my 308 recently, but that's at 2400 fps.

if you notice verticle stringing from your 4350 load a little filler will help settle that down.

Man. The powder is almost all the way up to the base of the shoulder as it is. I'm not sure I could put much Dacron in there. I'll pay attention to the groups though. Thanks Run.

[303Guy]

I use Dacron with loads that full. But then I'm using exposed lead bases (although it's been a while since I last fired a shot!) I'm betting on good results. :mrgreen:

[runfiverun]

if it's that full you 'probably' won't need the filler :lol:
but you'll want to watch for unburnt powder anyway, as that can cause stringing too.
a primer change can help that and a little puff of filler or buffer can help clean things up plus help protect the boolit too.

[BruceB]

The very best accuracy I obtained with the M1A, out of thousands of experimental rounds, was delivered with H4831 and Lyman's 311467.

That was TEN rounds in 0.60" at fifty yards with the rifle's issue iron sights.

H4831 proved impractical IN THAT RIFLE due to unburned powder fouling the action.... but the accuracy was superb.

[243winxb]

IMR 4895 or H4895 for 30-30 or 308

[waco]

I'll keep an eye out for unburnt powder and the stringing. I'll give the Dacron a try next time around.
Ill give the 4895 a shot as well. It's always worked good with J words.

[whisler]

Good luck with the 308 and prayers for the wife.

[waco]

Good luck with the 308 and prayers for the wife.

Thank you very much.

[runfiverun]

if you find a better load than 28.5 grs of 4895 and a filler I want to know about it.
bruce's comments on the 4895 are quite valid I got up past 2300 fps before it started cleaning up without a filler for help.
once it cleaned up I knew I was getting close to the 50-k psi mark.

[littlejack]

Hey WACO, glad to see you are still upright and taking nourishment.
How's things in Springtown?
Jack

[winelover]

Don't be shy, towards using magnum primers with 4350-----tightened my 308W groups up a bit. You don't mention which 4350----I was using Accurate's.

Winelover

[waco]

if you find a better load than 28.5 grs of 4895 and a filler I want to know about it.
bruce's comments on the 4895 are quite valid I got up past 2300 fps before it started cleaning up without a filler for help.
once it cleaned up I knew I was getting close to the 50-k psi mark.

Ill try h4895 next and report back.

[waco]

Hey WACO, glad to see you are still upright and taking nourishment.
How's things in Springtown?
Jack

Nothing different ! :) I'm still working lots of overtime. Makes it hard to get in much trigger time.

[waco]

Don't be shy, towards using magnum primers with 4350-----tightened my 308W groups up a bit. You don't mention which 4350----I was using Accurate's.

Winelover

Ill try the mag. Primers. It is IMR 4350.

[cbrick]

How's the wife doing? What treatment are they suggesting/using? Your right, Graves disease is anything but a joke, almost killed me back in the 90's.

Rick

[waco]

How's the wife doing? What treatment are they suggesting/using? Your right, Graves disease is anything but a joke, almost killed me back in the 90's.

Rick

Thanks for your concern Rick. She has TED ( thyroid eye disease) she had orbital decompression surgery on both eyes back in January. She just had reconstructive eyelid surgery two weeks ago. She goes back in on the 30th of October to have her thyroid removed. I'm hoping things will get better after all this takes place and heals up.

[Char-Gar]

I think you are heading in the right direction with the very slow powder for the right reasons. I have had great luck with WC872 in the 308 Win. I used 50 grains trickled in through a long drop tube. The bullet lightly compresses the powder charge.

With the very slow powders, there is always some unburned powder, but that is a small price to pay for the great accuracy.

[waco]

Char-Gar. 40gr of imr4350 leaves just a little room between the boolit base and the powder. Some Dacron might be I order, or depending on what the speed is, more powder.
I just hope to find time soon to go shoot before the rain sets in here in the great Pacific Northwest.

[Char-Gar]

Lots of luck. I have fired lots of IMR 4350 through 30-06 rifles over the years, but none with cast bullets. Years ago an old gunsmith and mentor of mine told me that if a 30-06 would not shoot a load of 52/4350 under a good 180 grain bullet (jacketed) it just would not shoot with anything. He was right.

Of course, least somebody remind me, do not shoot 4350 in a Garand.