Good Powder Choice for 308 Winchester in Semi-Auto

[FireBallGuy]

Now that I have determined how I will have to size the cases, need some opinions on powder selection for this 308. Never loaded anything bigger than a 22-250 so I need some help. I have on hand: Varget, Benchmark, RL-15, H4895, BL-C2, IMR-3031. The gun functions the best with 180 grain bullets and it has at least a 22" barrel so what would be a good choice for use as a hunting load? Thanks all for your input.

[Rick in Oregon]

Varget would be my place to start. It is very useful in the .308W with a wide range of bullet weights.

All my CF rifles are bolt or SS, but I know of two others using Varget in their M1A's with excellent results.

[FireBallGuy]

I have heard that of varget as well rick....works VERY well in the 308! Have LOTS of that on hand so maybe that will be option #1.

[Jim White]

In addition, H4895 & RE-15 works well to as does others. Is your gas gun a M1 Garand by any chance? If so, choose powders wisely due to "potential" gas port pressure issues. M1A's have a different gas system set up.

[FireBallGuy]

It kind a resembles an M1 but it is a knockoff of some sort made by norinco, will have to look into that. Thanks for the heads up jim!

[the_right_reverend]

not that you have any on hand, when i loaded for a M1A1 in the mid 80's I used IMR 4064 (45 gr) in LC 81 cases with a CCI 250 using a 150 spire point that kept me around 49000 cup (according tp data taken from a lyman manual #45) so with similar burn rates
Varget sounds like a good place to start

[Jim White]

Ahhh, IMR-4064, good stuff from what I hear (I never tried much of it) for the 308, 30.06, 243 and manu others.

Forgot to mention that one.

[FireBallGuy]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. At least now have a place to start!

[the_right_reverend]

wasn't sure about this one yesterday when I posted until i dug around in the ammo cans and found a old label.... IMR-3031 worked well I used 38 gr with 168 Speer match bt and LC brass....... the lyman manual at the time showed 37 gr min and 42 gr max with 49000 cup at max load. I loaded maybe a little lite at the time after all wasn't to crazy about blowing up a $400,00 M1a1

[FireBallGuy]

Finally got the lowdown on what this gun actually is. Norinco M14S. We have settled on 180 grain nosler ballistic tips and BL-C2, CCI BR-2 primers and various types of brass to be sorted. Due to lack of bullet options, this will be our 1st stab at it.

[Jim White]

Just a FYI, auto loaders are sensitive to port pressure. Also, seeing that its a Norinco I'm presuming its foreign made and the threads are metric.

I bring this up because M14 parts are expensive and have only been cheap once, during the mid 90's when the Clinton administration were chopping them up. In fact some USGI parts are harder than hens teeth to find and when you do, be prepard to pay. For the M14 & M1 Garand, the "most" critical components are the small bolt pieces, extractor, ejector, ejector spring & plunger, firing pin and the bolt stop (M14). M14 bolts have gotten quite steep in the past few years. Op-rods aren't cheap either.

HTH,

[FireBallGuy]

We will be VERY careful with this one! It is old but in very nice shape and I have no intentions of getting up to max loads with this gun. It gets used for deer season once a year and a waster of ammo the rest of the year. If we can get it to shoot fairly well, I will be happy!

[FireBallGuy]

Assembled 10 rounds of ammo for this old girl using 43.0 grains of BL-C2 under a 180 grain nosler ballistic tip. Seating depth by the book. Tried a loaded round in the gun, chambers like it should, going to verify funtionality on the weekend. Then the grizzly chore begins......to size and prep the other 490 cases.....LOL!!

[Rick in Oregon]

FB Guy: From experience "back when" with the M14, you might want to consider using lighter bullets than 180's in that piece. The operating system for that series of weapon was designed for the 172gr & 150gr Ball loads, so the recoil impulse, gas system, ejection, and other functions are predicated on lighter bullets than what you plan to use as a steady diet.

You may unwittingly damage the rifle from excessive battering to the gas system. As it is a Chinese copy of our M14, metalurgy and overall quality of components may come into play with such use. Just something to consider before you go out and blast away......

[FireBallGuy]

Thanks for the heads up rick. He has owned this thing for a long time and has tried ALL bullet weights and the only weight the gun will cycle on time every time are 180's. He even had it to a gunsmith at one time, regarding feeding issues with lighter bullets. Tried it with 180's and problem solved! I am sure it is harder on the gun with heavier bullets but it is not like this thing gets shot on a daily basis or anything....it is kind of a BIG plinker.....LOL! Will let you know how our little experiment plays out.