Powder for .308 and Nosler 165g Accubond

[Arch Stanton]

I would like to start developing a load for my Rem. Model 700 (tactical) .308 Win using 165g Nosler Accubonds. Has anyone found a reliable powder for this combo?

Thanks ahead of time

 

[MThuntr]

Varget

 

[0uTkAsT]

I'll second Varget and offer some pointers.

I suggest you start at about 42.0gr and work up. The Hornady manual lists 44.0gr as max, but Hodgdon goes up to 46.0gr; I believe that's because anything over 44.0 is compressed, but keep it in mind.

FWIW, I shoot 165 SSTs out of both of my Remington bolt guns with 44.5grs Varget and Federal 210s. It's slightly compressed at 2.750 COAL with no signs of excess pressure. If I do my part it's very accurate and consistent with SDs typically under 5fps... I shoot a 700SPS and a Model 7 Kuiu (both 16" barrels) and get about 2,650/2,630 at the muzzle with these loads out of each rifle, respectively.

 

[Potsie]

Pretty difficult to beat Varget under any bullet in a .308, IMR 4064 is a distant second in my opinion.

 

[Don Fischer]

308! Wow! I used the 308 for a lot of years and it was never picky much about powder. Never tried Varget but with 165gr Hornady SP I've used W748, H335, IMR3031, IMR4064 and probably other's. I was never able to see much differene in the results of any of them. Varget is in about the same burn speed and I'd bet it does really work well also.

 

[BRI]

I get really good accuracy with RL15 out of the two .308's I reload for.

 

[Brian in Montana]

My .308 shoots a 165gn Accubond very accurately with 46gn of Varget and an F210M primer. It's moving around 2740 fps too. I have another load for that bullet using H4895, but I can't remember the charge right off hand. I consistently get good results in .308 with Varget and H4895.

The last couple critters I shot with that rifle (a black bear and a mulie) was with a 165gn Federal Trophy Bonded with 43.3gn of H4895 pushing it. That's probably my favorite .308 load at present. Lots of good stuff you can do with a .308 no matter what the haters will tell you.

 

[Dougfirtree]

165 NBT and Varget in my son's .308 is the most accurate load I've ever cooked up. Legitimate 1/2" groups and I'd guess that the AB would be awfully similar.

 

[justdada]

Varget.... good for short ARs and long target rifles with little adjustments

 

[Firemedic92]

Mine likes R-15 behind an accubond Etip.

 

[sbhooper]

Re15, varget, and a few others. With 150s, cfe 223 is the winner in mine, but don't know how it works with the 165.

 

[p_ham]

I like imr4064 and imr8208xbr.

 

[ShadowFast1]

I ran CFE 223 behind 168 gr. TTSX's on my elk hunt. There are better powders but 2800 fps with a 168 gr. is very impressive.

 

[Millsworks]

Reloader 15 has been a great powder for me in .243, .260, 7-08, and .308 .

 

[Fullquiver]

4064 and re15 have been great powders for me with several different 308 rifles I've owned over the years..

 

[Fullquiver]

Pretty difficult to beat Varget under any bullet in a .308, IMR 4064 is a distant second in my opinion.

I've not had the same result in at least one rifle with Varget..

I own a Savage Model 12 that hates Varget with 150-168 GR bullets.. It loves re-15 and 4064 but couldn't get a group under 1.5 MOA with Varget.

It shot re15 at 1/2 moa and 4064 at 3/4 moa with 168gr and both re15 and 4064 shot 3/4moa with 150gr bullets.. I have 10 shot groups with 150gr Hornady Sst's that are 3/4 MOA with 4064... YMMV Each gun is different... Try a couple powder, primer, bullet, and OAL combos and see what pans out for you and your rifle..

 

[Bigjav]

I’ve had success loading 165s with Varget, RL 15, and BLC2

 

[VikingsGuy]

Varget would be my first choice, H4895 would be second.

 

[wayno945]

Varget is currently what I'm using for my 308 with the 165AB. Best accuracy for my rifle was in the 2600 FPS range.