Best Hodgdon/IMR Powder for 308 & 30-06?

[pleopard]

If you could have just one powder for both 308 and 30-06 what would it be and why? I've got an opportunity to score a free 8 lb bottle of my choice due to fantastic customer service at Hodgdon (long story).

So far I'm thinking IMR4895, IMR4064, or H4350

Only issue I've seen with 4350 is it may be too slow for lower weight bullets. I shoot 150g TTSX in my 308 and 165g SST in my 30-06

 

[Nature Boy]

H4895 is really working for me. I've heard it referred to as the "Crescent Wrench of Powders"

 

[anothernewb]

Used to use 4064. However, RL15 has better accuracy in my particular rifle. Not that 4064 was bad at all, it's one of the classics.

 

[Walkalong]

If I could have only one of the three, IMR-4895.

 

[pleopard]

Have you used it in 308 and 30-06?

 

[Sunray]

IMR4064 is your friend.
Work up a 165 grain load for your .308 too. Both of those cartridges love 165's with IMR4064. Difference will be about 100 FPS.
IMR4350 would be fine for a 150(runs 2700ish with Min. loads. 2900ish at Max.), but the 4064 will give more consistent accuracy with either cartridge.

 

[mdi]

I have been using IMR 4064 in both my .308 Winchester bolt gun and my 30-06 Springfield Garand. So far comparing to Varget, IMR 3031, and Win 748, there seems to be better consistency with 4064 and 150-155 and 168 gr bullets...

 

[GooseGestapo]

For '06 and bullets 165gr or heavier, H4350,;
For .308 with 150-165gr bullets, IMR4064.
For both, single powder, definitely 4064.

I really like H4895 for some applications, but '06 or .308; it's 4064.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Im pretty happy with IMR4895 in both. But my '06 is a garand load only. Ive honestly never loaded any specifically for a bolt action.

 

[USSR]

Either IMR4895 or IMR4064. I would give the nod to IMR4895 since it meters better than IMR4064.

Don

 

[BigBore45]

I would get the new IMR 4166. sell it and buy 16 lbs of H-380

 

[FLIGHT762]

Varget for both.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Varget or IMR4064. Either one. Neither is top performer velocity wise in either of those cartridges, but they're both towards the top velocity wise. Both powders are also very consistent stick powders. I think the only trouble you might have out of either on is whether or not YOU can get your powder measure to meter them consistently. If you think that may be a problem for you, BL-C2 may be a better option.

 

[2ndtimer]

For one powder to load both, IMR-4064 would be my first choice, especially for bullets less than 180 grains. It is super in .308 Win with 168, 175 and 178 gr bullets, and excellent in the 30-06 with 150 gr bullets and under. I went for slower powders for heavier bullets in the '06 when I was loading for one.

 

[jmr40]

If I had to only use 1 powder it would be 4064, but why would I want to handicap myself. Varget is my preferred 308 powder and H4350 is my preferred 30-06 powder. Two containers of 4064 cost the same as one container of Varget and one container of H4350 and I'll get the exact same number of loads either way. And get better performance out of both 308 and 30-06 by using cartridge specific powder.

 

[pleopard]

Ok folks, thanks for all the information

Regards,
Paul

 

[X-Rap]

I have to say that I use a lot of 4350 in 30-06, 280 and 7mag

 

[ZGunner]

I use Target for just about everything. I've also used H4895 in 308 with very good results, I had a few loads with 110 gr and 155s.

 

[gwpercle]

IMR4895
Varget is good also but wasn't on your list.
Back in the day 4895 was the powder for match loads in the 30-06 and 308, still not a bad choice at all. Get it.
Gary

 

[Richard Head]

I've had great results with IMR 3031 and 168 grain bullets in my 18" barreled Savage 10 .308 with a 1 in 10 twist, but you're are going to have to experiment to find the best powder for your particular setup. What works great for me might be awful for you. I don't have a 30-06, but IMR 3031 is also my preferred powder for 45-70 so it kills two birds with one stone.

 

[Bart B.]

When the .30-06 and later the .308 ruled the roost in high power competition, IMR4064 in both gave best accuracy with bullets from 168 to 180 grain bullets. IMR4064 with 190's in the .308 or IMR4350 with 190's in the .30-06 prevailed over all others as with 200's in the .308.

Frankfort Arsenal got best accuracy with weighed charges of IMR4064 in .30-06 M72 match ammo, but it didn't meter uniformly enough in high speed measures so IMR4895 was the choice for expediency and cost.

 

[Lj1941]

Imr 4895

IMR 4895 would be my choice followed closely by IMR 4064. Either one would work good but IMR 4064 is too "CRUNCHY" for lack of a better word for me. IMR 4895 has been my constant friend since the 80s

 

[Scooter22]

H4895/Imr4895. They are not interchangable load for load but will do everything safely you want in most mid rounds like you mentioned.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I would chose IMR4895 first and IMR4064 second. I tend to favor the 308 over the 30/06 though. Were it the opposite, I would switch the order.

 

[loadedround]

As others have said, either H4895 or Varget. Use whatever you can find.