OzFclass

Hi all,
We have a new shooter at our club who is using a Parkerhale 308, target stock, 1/4 by 1/4 sight. It has the original barrel and has done little work (700 rounds since new, but unused since the 80's,when his father stopped shooting). It looks to have a 26" barrel. I was wondering if 2208 powder would be suitable for reloading in a short barrel. Can you still get 2206? He has been using 93 ADI factory (144gr) the last few weeks, and it appears to shoot ok. Their seems to be a long throat in his barrel, so the old factroy army ammo would have a long jump. I seem to remember the 144gr adi projectile needed a long jump to group well anyway.
Bill

http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/rifle.asp

This has the answers. go to rifle powders and look up 308W

2208 -06 are both fine. The length of the barrel has no real bearing on the type of powder used, especially in a 308. It would even work fine in a 25 incher. 08 is just a bit slower burning.

Cheers Haemish

haemish762 wrote:2208 -06 are both fine. The length of the barrel has no real bearing on the type of powder used, especially in a 308. It would even work fine in a 25 incher. 08 is just a bit slower burning.

Cheers Haemish

I would have to disagree. The idea being to use slightly slower powder in a longer barrel to produce slightly more velocity - no other reason to use a 30 inch barrel (sight radius can be had cheaper by using an extension). If the powder is too slow, or the barrel too short (ultimately a similar thing), the powder will burn outside the barrel doing nothing but adding flash and noise.

The compromise being to use the powder that burns up inside the barrel, fits into your case with no room, but not compressed, and performs well....much like 2208 in the 308W with a 30 inch barrel.

25 inch barrel is not much use at 1000y, why? Not enough velocity when using 2208 or 2206 with 155 SMk for example. If this is wrong, please let me know.