IMR4895 or Varget for .308

[minnesotamulisha]

If you can pick up an 8lb jug of Varget, that's my vote. I agree with the differences from lot to lot. I told myself I wouldn't bother with the 1lb cans anymore and happened to be in the right place at the right time and found an 8 pounder.

With my Model 12, I shot a few groups at .25" at 100 with the 185 Match VLDs. Then I ran out of that lot of Varget.

[darkker]

IMR 4895 will get the best velocity, but if your rifle will remain supersonic with Varget, it is usually the most accurate. H4895 is a good compromise, since it is temp-stable, and gets better velocity than Varget. It is real consistent in my experience. IMR 4064 is very temp-stable, like Varget. Win 748 is not temp-stable, but can be very accurate.

Temperature stability is designed around a very specific set of conditions, and is NOT a universal thing. Varget was designed around ball ammo in the 308, so 145-155gr bullets.


Lot's of good powders for the .308...Varget and 4895 being two of them. For what it's worth, when the military decided to select a powder for their new issue of M118LR ammunition they chose IMR 4064. The existing load for that ammunition utilized a Sierra 175gr HPBT over Reloader 15. But RL-15 had some real pressure issues in the heat of the middle east. I read the "official" armorers report on the selection process and 4064 was selected as the best choice for the desired results. With the 175gr Sierra, 4064 has a big fan base among 308 shooters. There is a good reason for that.
4064 is a canister grade powder, and is not used in M118LR. As a point of clarification, there is not "A" powder used in that ammo. There are several approved for use in M118LR, one of which is a ball powder from General Dynamics, which tested more stable across a VERY wide range of temps, than the Extruded alternative; which is also produced by General Dynamics. "IMR" does not own a powder manufacturing facility any longer, like Winchester they are simply a name that the waste market (the handloader) knows.

[wbm]

If you can pick up an 8lb jug of Varget, that's my vote

+1




there is not "A" powder used in that ammo.

You are right.
The initial M118 loads used either 44 grains of WC 846 powder or 42 grains of IMR 4895.The LC M118LR cartridge developed in 1997, when Olin had the Lake City concession used WC750, a ball powder produced by Winchester. ATK took over the running of Lake City in 1999 or 2000, the switch was made to RL15 powder.
Crane NSWC made up a new load of M118LR called Mk316 Mod 0 which uses a Fed GMM Primer, 175 SMK and 4064 for SOCOM issue. Anyway, one of the members at cmp.org and one at m14forum pulled some issue M118LR....the powder was definitely not ball or RL-15....conclusion? "An extruded smokeless powder.":cool:

[acj7382]

I use Varget and 4064 depending on the bullet size with good luck. The IMR 4451 does me just as good and I gain about 100 more fps. That's a lot of help in a 20 inch barrel.

[wbm]

So many new powders so little time! What bullet weights are you using the 4451 with?


http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2015/02/rick-jensen-temp-tests-new-imr-4451/

[BillyTee]

Varget , I usually get the 4 kg jug.

[foxx]

Before I got my .308 I tried Varget for a lot of different calibers/ cartridges. Never liked it.

Then I tried in for .308 and several other .308's, they all preferred it.

[BillyTee]

I stopped using 4064 a long time ago. Mind you back in those days you could get IMR powders in Australia.
I worked up a sweet shooting load (near max) in my 22-250 with the old Nosler 55gr spbt the winter time.
When I took a shot at a crow in the summer time in the 110 degree heat of the Ozzie summer the rifle recoiled heavily
and belted me in the chops, smoke came out of the action of my MK1 Ruger sporter and I could not lift the bolt, it
had to be hammered open. The base of the shell and the primer expanded and it had to be knocked out with a cleaning rod.
I had a gunsmith check the rifle and it was ok.
That is when I decided to use ADI ( Hogdon to you) powders only as they are not temperature sensitive.
The description of pressure excursion came home to me.