question about powder

[redneckdan]

any body recommend a commerical powder that would work for full power loads n an 8x57 and would also work okay in a 30/30? I'm lookin at 150 grain boolits in the 30/30 and 200 grain boolits in the 8mm

[felix]

Commercial powder? Retail purchase? 35K-50K pressure? The answer: VARGET ... felix

[KCSO]

Winchester Western 748 works well in both of those for me. 30-30 to 2000 fps and 8x57 to 2100.

[Junior1942]

I second Felix's motion on Varget. I use it in 30-30, 7x57, 8x57, 7mmTCU, and 222 Rem.

[StarMetal]

Varget is a good choice, but so is 4895...and guess what...you can buy it as surplus powder cheaper...and it's basically the same stuff. Any powder may vary from lot to lot.

Joe

[felix]

Junior, 748 would perfectly fit too, provided reduced loads were not contemplated. ... felix

[redneckdan]

why no reduced loads with 748?

[felix]

Heavy deterent formulation for smoothing out pressure peak. Can cause weak and/or inconsistent burn characteristics when pressure not up to snuff. ... felix

[felix]

Nothing wrong with Joe's choice either. The surplus version might be a tad dirtier than the newer formulations of 4895, but the burn speed would still be in the range desired. If I had to have 8 pounds, I would get that older version to save bucks. Want a new formulation that is clean, works good with lower pressures? Varget is still the one. Want something extra clean? N135, but open up the bank vault for a purchase. ... felix

[Maineboy]

any body recommend a commerical powder that would work for full power loads n an 8x57 and would also work okay in a 30/30? I'm lookin at 150 grain boolits in the 30/30 and 200 grain boolits in the 8mm

Dan, what 200 grain boolits are you using in the 8mm?

[Scrounger]

why no reduced loads with 748?

I haven't found any ball powder that works well in reduced loads. Extruded works well in that application. I'm still not sure about flake powder, but I'm inclined to think it is very much like ball powder in that respect...

[Junior1942]

With CCI 200 primers & R P cases in my Turk 38 8x57, 45.5 grs Varget and the Rem 185 gave me 2334 fps.

[versifier]

Try IMR3031, I've had great results with both cases. RE-7 isn't too shabby either.

[redneckdan]

Dan, what 200 grain boolits are you using in the 8mm?


I was gonna try the oldfeller heavy boolit, its actually 225gr. I'm thinkin varget is sounding pretty good. I helped a fellow R.O. load some .223 up for his tikka using varget, he was loading safely, but lets just say his quality control was a little lacking...he took them out and shot a 3/4" group at 100yds.

[Maineboy]

I was gonna try the oldfeller heavy boolit, its actually 225gr. I'm thinkin varget is sounding pretty good. I helped a fellow R.O. load some .223 up for his tikka using varget, he was loading safely, but lets just say his quality control was a little lacking...he took them out and shot a 3/4" group at 100yds.

I think those OF's I sent you are more like 245 grains and the Buckshot boolits are 241 grains. There's not much published data for those heavy boolits in the 8mm Mauser, but there should be plenty of experience with them in this group of cast boolit shooters. Those moulds came from a couple of group buys. I had worked up to 50 grains of R-22 in 3 of my Mausers with both boolits and no excessive pressure signs. I've never chronographed those loads, but recoil was substantial. Accuracy was good in 2 guns and real poor in the third
A very accurate load with those boolits at reduced velocity in all 3 rifles was with 15 grains of SR4759.

[redneckdan]

I've never chronographed those loads, but recoil was substantial. Accuracy was good in 2 guns and real poor in the third
A very accurate load with those boolits at reduced velocity in all 3 rifles was with 15 grains of SR4759.

I'm not the sadistic type that enjoys recoil so I might just stick to the reduced loads. I see if the local shop has any 4759 handy. I have not yet had a chance to load these boolits yet.

I beagled my .323 mold today and got the boolits out to .327 with out flashing, these fit the bore just right, tight seal but not excessive. I can see two approaches to loading these, 1) get a lee sizer and gas checks or 2)the lee version of an M-die and flare the case mouths. What would be the best direction to go? I figure if I go with the sizer I will have to get the .329 sizer.

[Larry Gibson]

any body recommend a commerical powder that would work for full power loads n an 8x57 and would also work okay in a 30/30? I'm lookin at 150 grain boolits in the 30/30 and 200 grain boolits in the 8mm

Assuming by "full power loads" you are refering to jacketed bullets (?). Varget is a good choice as felix pointed out. I use quite a bit of it though not in either case you've mentioned. H4895 gives a little better performance velocity wise and accuracy wise in several 30-30s with the 150s that I've tried it in. However, with the heavier bullets in 8mm Varget has a slight edge with IMR4350 being the prefered choice. Although with H4895 I use 45 gr under the Hornady 220 gr bullet for 2365 fps (This is a MAX load in my hunting M98 - I suggest working up very carefully!!!!). I have also found 4895 to be the prefered choice in 8mm for bullets of 125 through 185 gr.

You didn't mention reduced loads but in those H4895 also performs better than Varget in my experience. Also if you try cast bullets most here know I favor 4895 as "the" powder for medium to heavy cast bullets in most rifle cartridges. These are just suggestions based on my experience. Varget will work well also as felix said. I guess it boils down to which I'd shoot more; the 150s in the 30-30 or 200 gr bullets in the 8mm. If it was the 30-30 I'd use H4895, if the 8mm I'd go with Varget. How's that for a non-answer?

Larry Gibson

[redneckdan]

thats exactly what I wanted, backround information. I loaded up some midlevel loads for 250gr cast boolits last night with some varget, I don't care to experience that again, no sign of pressure but damn did that kick. Ill stick to reduced loads fer now.

[Maineboy]

thats exactly what I wanted, backround information. I loaded up some midlevel loads for 250gr cast boolits last night with some varget, I don't care to experience that again, no sign of pressure but damn did that kick. Ill stick to reduced loads fer now.

Dan, besides kickin, how did they shoot?

[Maven]

redneckdan, There are several powders that work well in .308Win. - 8 x 57mm sized cases with [heavy] CB's. My first choice is AA 5744, which is formulated for reduced loads in large capacity cases. Next would be H/IMR 4198 followed by IMR 3031. If you want to try a milsurp powder, WC 820 (burning rate between AA #9 & H 110) works very well (low extreme spreads & standard deviations) and is much cheaper than cannister powders. If you have a pistol powder measure, once you establish the volume of its drums, you can use it to safely charge your cases, but you must take great pains not to double charge them, given the small amount of WC 820 used: 18.5 - 22.5gr. works very well with 195gr. and 235gr. CB's for me and recoil is barely noticeable.

[redneckdan]

Dan, besides kickin, how did they shoot?


I shot a 5 shot group that could be covered with a half dollar, not bad for considering the military trigger sucks and I was in a hurry to get done before my range duties started.

[Maineboy]

I shot a 5 shot group that could be covered with a half dollar, not bad for considering the military trigger sucks and I was in a hurry to get done before my range duties started.


Good shootin!

[DX250]

accurate 2520 has been a great powder for 8X57 good velocity and accuracy. my bruno likes 51.9gr and makes 2950fps with a 150gr hornady my father loves this powder for 30-30 H4895 would be good also

[spurrit]

Assuming by "full power loads" you are refering to jacketed bullets (?). Varget is a good choice as felix pointed out. I use quite a bit of it though not in either case you've mentioned. H4895 gives a little better performance velocity wise and accuracy wise in several 30-30s with the 150s that I've tried it in. However, with the heavier bullets in 8mm Varget has a slight edge with IMR4350 being the prefered choice. Although with H4895 I use 45 gr under the Hornady 220 gr bullet for 2365 fps (This is a MAX load in my hunting M98 - I suggest working up very carefully!!!!). I have also found 4895 to be the prefered choice in 8mm for bullets of 125 through 185 gr.

You didn't mention reduced loads but in those H4895 also performs better than Varget in my experience. Also if you try cast bullets most here know I favor 4895 as "the" powder for medium to heavy cast bullets in most rifle cartridges. These are just suggestions based on my experience. Varget will work well also as felix said. I guess it boils down to which I'd shoot more; the 150s in the 30-30 or 200 gr bullets in the 8mm. If it was the 30-30 I'd use H4895, if the 8mm I'd go with Varget. How's that for a non-answer?

Larry Gibson

What loads do you recommend for use with IMR 4895 and 155-160 gr. gas checked boolits in .30-30 and .30-06? Thanks in advance.:coffee: