Alliant Reloder 15

[melanie]

Hi guys,

A friend is taking me through some reloading basics and has been kind enough to give me (haven't done it yet but he will) some things he isn't really using.

One of the above is Alliant Reloder 15 which he's offered to me to reload for .308.

I hadn't heard of this before, I see ADI powders are the most popular one. Is Alliant still a good powder? You can't argue with free but would I be better off spending $40 and getting a little tub of ADI powder suitable for a .308?

[Baldrick314]

Alliant make good powders but they can be hard to get a hold of sometimes, although powder in general is hard to get at the moment

As you said free is free so I wouldn't let availability of the powder scare you off using it. You'll be able to get suggested loads off Alliant's website.

[deye243]

where do you get powder fo $40

[melanie]

Well, $44 is we're being fussy.

[Farmjer]

Alliant is a well-reputed powder.

ADI is just a bigger player here, more presence.

[Baldrick314]

Well, $44 is we're being fussy.

Still, where's that? It's $53 round here

[AusC]

You're getting boned, $53....

I get most of my stuff at Abelas in Melbourne and its $45 a 500g tub.

They have a Sydney store too somewhere? Try there?

[Korkt]

You can't argue with free but would I be better off spending $40 and getting a little tub of ADI powder suitable for a .308?

There is no reason not to use the Alliant while you're getting given it.

Going forward though it won't be as easy to get as ADI.

Working up your regular load you'd be best to do it with ADI just so you're not struggling to get powder constantly.

[Baronvonrort]

If he has offered it you might offend him by refusing it, better to take it IMO.

You will probably have to start again with load development when you change powders.

[chacka]

Free powder?!

What's to discuss???

[inventurkey]

Free powder?!

What's to discuss???

I reckon. Get shooting, not talking about it

[Oldbloke]

Just paid $49 for 500grams here. Lucky I dont get out much.

[Jack V]

Yes you would be better off buying a new tin of ADI , AR2208 right from the start .

Reloader 15 is slow for 308 and what is the point of working up loads and spending a lot of time testing them for one tin of a type of powder you may never buy again and then have to start over again , false economy . Also if the powder has been opened and used how do you know it's actually Reloader 15 ? This is also a safety issue .

[melanie]

I don't really mind the 'testing' at the moment as it's all new and interesting to me at this stage.

As for the safety comment he's just used some out of the tub, there is no confusion over what it is. It's Reloder 15.

[scrolllock]

Just paid $49 for 500grams here. Lucky I dont get out much.

$46 is the cheapest going out of my local 3 dealers.

[Jack V]

I don't really mind the 'testing' at the moment as it's all new and interesting to me at this stage.

As for the safety comment he's just used some out of the tub, there is no confusion over what it is. It's Reloder 15.

In that case then go for it but it's still not the best speed powder for 308 being closer to AR2209 . I just don't see any advantage to starting with the wrong powder.

[Warrigul]

I don't really mind the 'testing' at the moment as it's all new and interesting to me at this stage.

As for the safety comment he's just used some out of the tub, there is no confusion over what it is. It's Reloder 15.

It's a good powder, a 500 gram bottle is about 170 odd shots depending on the load, these slower powders go better behind heavier projectiles like 168 grain plus so stick to a load chart and have some fun.

Projectiles such as 150 or 155's and lighter go better with AR2208 or AR2206H etc

If humans didn't experiment we would all still be sitting in caves.

[bluerob]

How's Benchmark as a .308 powder?

[Jack V]

It's not necessary in a 308 you can push all the bullet weights with AR2208 and you will loose velocity using AR2209 when encountering compressed loads and lack of case capacity . AR 2209 was never designed for the 308W .
Benchmark 2 works but it's a bit on the fast side . AR 2206H and AR2208 are in the sweet spot .

[melanie]

I just don't see any advantage to starting with the wrong powder.

Only that it's free

[Hercl]

How's Benchmark as a .308 powder?

Guys are posting good results, but I think all but the most serious shooters CBF working their loads up again when the already popular stuff like 2208 works so well.

[Jack V]

Some competition shooters use the slightly faster powders to get extra velocity in a higher pressure than normal load and don't worry about case life . Especially 1000 yard shooters who want the most velocity they can get but this kind of reloading is not that practical for the average shooter / hunter who is trying to save a quid .

[Grated]

How's Benchmark as a .308 powder?

Not for .308 but this was posted by Sporting Shooters mag.

Burn rate - suitability. Benchmark 8208 has a burn rate that falls between ADI's Benchmark 2 and AR 2206H, placing it square in the ballpark of competitive and sporting .223 and .308 users shooting light to medium weight bullets. Benchrest competitors using chamberings like 6mmBR and 6mmXC and sporting shooters loading .22-250 with light bullets, 6.8 SPC and .204 Ruger are well-catered for with this versatile propellent.

Shooting results. Hodgdon's testing until now has revealed that with minimal load development, sub-MoA five shot groups are the norm in good sporting rifles and better in specific target rifles across a wide range of projectile styles and weights in each chambering. One quoted example by Lane Pearce shooting a CZ 527 American yielded .81-inch group average with 50gn Hornady V-Max's and .61-inches for Sierra 52gn HPBT Match bullets, both delivering over 3,000fps MVs with mild loads.

3/4 moa average there roughly with the .223 on the tested CZ, so there is promise.