which powder for 308?

[ddhotbot]

looking for some surplus powder too load in my 308.mainly 150gr or 180gr bullets.what would you recommend?thanks don

[waksupi]

Hi Don. I suspect either WC860, or WC872 would fill the bill. Very similar burn rates, and you could most likely use a full case with no problems. Actually, i doubt you could get enough powder in the case, to CAUSE a problem!
I'm sure others will chime in.

[Char-Gar]

I have had excellent result with WC872 in the .308. I use 49 grains and top it off with 1cc of Grex/PSB.

[9.3X62AL]

For those red-coated pretender bullets, WC-846 was the spec ball powder for M-80 Ball ammo with 147-150 FMJ's. For the true projectiles, see the above posts that I agree with wholeheartedly.

[David R]

My best load in my 308 is 46 grains of WC860 behind the Lyman 311644. AV 1785.

You have to clean the gun now and then.

David

[sundog]

I shot some MR8700 last night in a .308 with a HT Ly 311299 and FWFL. Fifty (50.0) grains is a compressed load and shoots pretty good - 1 in 5-shot groups at 50 yds. The powder is at least 20 yrs old, maybe more, gifted to me. It smells and looks brand new. I was using Rem 9 1/2 primers and it was leaving a little trash in the bbl.

Soooo, I'm thinkin'..., mag primer???

I think I might try this load at 100 and 200 this weekend after my military bolt match. sundog

[sundog]

So, I tried mag primers. Too much trash in the bbl. Went back to Rem 9 1/2 and shot another sub 1 inch group at a hunert, 3 just about in one hole and one on each side. I'm sure that was me with the wide shots..., but then again sub 1-inch isn't really all the wide, huh? This load has some good potential, but it leaves a fair amount of trash behind but case necks are clean.

I got to thinking (yea, dangerous). Hmmmm, another slow powder, but faster than 8700, and surplus. Ahhh, DP86. It was getting dark and I only had a chance to get off one round, but at 42.0 it very lightly sooted the neck and was way cleaner in the bore. Also, this charge is near having the boolit sit on it. If I get a chance this weekend I'll do some more and see what comes around. I'm thinking I can bump up the charge in the 45.0 area and still be good. If it groups, I'll run it across the speedometer. sundog

[felix]

You're are doin' good, Corky. When are we going to do the 22's? ... felix

[sundog]

Felix, pm comin' atcha.

I got plenty .308 brass prepped last night. Tonight I'll load a sampler pack of 311299 and 311644 and varying charges of DP86. I'll test tomorrow at 100/200 if all goes well. If I get'er done, I'll post results. sundog

[sundog]

Yesterday, 100 yds, cold bbl, first three rounds were under 1 inch and only two holes, POI was POA. Load was WQ 311299 thru a .312 sizer and FWFL and GB GCs, Win several X fired brass, Rem 9 1/2 primer, and 43.0/DP86. Only minor trash in the bbl. At 44.0 the rounds wandered off to the right and started vertical stringing. I shot the rest of the 43.0 loads (all stayed less than 2") and quit, came home and pulled the boolits on the 44.0 and 45.0 - no reason to go there. I'll test again at 42.0 and 42.5 as soon as I can. Boolit is almost sitting on powder column. sundog

[sundog]

I reloaded the pulled boolits with 42.5/DP86. Just came in from failing light. Shot only one 5-shot group at 50. Impressive. Four went into what could otherwise be catagorized as a single 35 caliber hole. I pulled the other one, and felt it. It was seperated from the booger hole by a shred of paper. Prolly a sub half inch group. More test of this load to follow at 100/200. Bore is clean, necks are partly sooty. sundog

[sundog]

Afte high power yesterday, we shot .22 RF at 100 and 200. The latter is a real trip, but I manged all 10 record shots for both group and score in the scoring rings. In the wind.

After that I used up remaining .308 rounds described above at 200. First three, cold bbl, went in a vertical string about 3 inches. I then shot several 5-shots groups that were relatively round and under 3". The last group was sub 2" and 4 holes for 5 shots. I'm calling this'un a keeper. 42.5/DP86 and 311299. sundog

btw, my Hihg Power load in 50.0/IMR 7383 (another good surp) and a Hdy 168 BTHP in a '06 bolt. Slow fire prone, 200 yds reduced 600, was a 191-4 or 5 X. Rifle and load shoot better than I do.

[catboat]

How fast do you want to go? Maybe low dosages of Unique or Blue Dot may suit your needs. 10+ grains? It may be enough to fill the case more than half full (avoiding double charges). Low dosages mean cost savings, even compared to surplus powder prices. I seem to remember a Gun Digest article by CE Harris about using pistol powders in 308 type of cases. Hope you can find it.

[versifier]

I had some luck today with WC860 in my Remingtom788 today. I tested 44-47gr and got the best accuracy 2-2.125" with 46gr. Groups with 47gr weren't bad, either, around 2.75". I may up it one more grain to see what happens, if it will fit in the cases.

[mike in co]

Felix, pm comin' atcha.

I got plenty .308 brass prepped last night. Tonight I'll load a sampler pack of 311299 and 311644 and varying charges of DP86. I'll test tomorrow at 100/200 if all goes well. If I get'er done, I'll post results. sundog


sundog,
is dp86 still available.....if so where ??
thanks
mike

[sjohnson]

I'm not sundog, but check out http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ for DP86, $62.00/8#