So I've had a lee press kit & dies for 3 different calibers for about over a year now. I got some brass and primers from Chuck for several months now. I have 100 bullets for several months as well. Now I just need to get some powder, but I want to get one powder for my rifle loads. Varget is one but it's apparently always sold out. Is there a good alternative for use in both .223 and .308? According to the books I've read, pistol powder is different, but I do have a .45 as well.

  Thanks! 

I've heard good things about IMR 8208 XBR powder for .223 and .308 (with 155 grain bullets).  This is a very new powder and there is not much data on it as of yet, but I have been getting very good results with it in 6MMBR.

Besides Varget for .308 RL-15 has a following, as well as 4895. 
Don't know much about .223 reloading as I never did that caliber, but I think 4895 can be used in both.

Maybe some service rifle folks can chime in.

Pistol powder is very fast burning and energetic.  It cannot be used in rifle loads.
I use Bullseye for my .45acp, but it burns dirty.  I use it because I got a deal on a 8lb keg a while ago.

Aaah awesome. Thanks!! 4895 it is!

I use RL15 for my heavy loads in .223 and 168s in 30.
I read that it is the powder in M118LR

RL15 will give some killer velocity in 308.
 Nice to know it'll work in .223 as well, but is that in a gas gun or bolt?

4895 is said to be the powder used in milsup ammo in 30-06 and .308.

Might want to try 175 sierra match kings with RL-15 in .308 as well. Better wind drift.
Heard RL powders are a touch temp sensitive. 8208 is supposed to be likened to a short cut Varget, very temp insensitive.
So far I'm liking what I'm seeing with 8208. Upcoming matches will be the test, heat soaked in the sun, that is. Hehe

I am very familiar with Varget and reload with it in .223 and 30-06. The big question is, "What are you trying to do?" Are just trying to poke holes in beer cans or win the National Matches?  I use cheap ammo for practice and recreational shoots. I also do expensive esoteric voodoo magic reloading when I think it is justified.

For me it would be just practice & recreational really. Buying cheap ammo would've been more cost effective huh? Darn! Well I've come this far dammit. I'm gunna reload those 308's!

By "cheap ammo", I really mean reloading with bulk components. There is no need to buy moly coated VLD ultra long range match bullets when less expensive bulk import bullets are available for half the price. Buy powder and primers in bulk also. Just store in a cool dry place. For ultimate cheap, go .22

To add:
RL15 is a shorter stick powder than Varget so it will meter a bit better in a powder measure.  I use RL 15 in an AR for .223 and for a bolt gun in .308.  From what I understand stick powders generally are less temp. sensitive than ball powders. I have used it in all my loads for shooting at Puuloa, sunny and rainy.
4895 is a great powder for use in .223 and 30 as well.  The latter used in the M1 Garand.
For practice at Kokohead I used WIN 748 as it metered well and shot under the shade. 

I bought and tried RL15 once and sold it the same day because I found the carbon residue to be dirtier than Varget when cleaning. I use Butches Bore Shine for carbon and Bore Tech CU2 for the copper which has so far been a good combination. As far as accuracy, RL15 was no better or worse than Varget for .223 so I'll just stick with Varget for my 223 and 308. As for making .45ACP 230gr jacketed ball ammo, I use Clays.   

Benchmark for 223
Varget for 308
Tite group 45acp

hey dregs,

Be aware that there is IMR 4895 and H4895.  Both are great powders but not interchangeable.  Never used IMR 4895, but it is said that H4895 sticks a slightly shorter so it meters just a little better.  I have load tested H4895 and it works well for heavier .223 and  308.  I use it to make my FGMM 168 clone rounds.  For blasting ammo (55gr FMJ / 150 FMJ) I use Ramshot TAC for both calibers as it yields decent accuracy, velocity and is a ball powder that flows like water.

Accurate Ammo = H4895
Range Ammo = TAC
.45 ammo = Win 231 or HP38

 

Whatever you do, don't put 40+ grains of pistol powder in a 308 case.  That would be a very bad day......

^^^I like IMR4895.  I don't bulk load it, so controlling the charge is not an issue for me.

I use H335 and Varget for .223. I find Varget to be dirty but at the prices I have gotten it I will put up with the extra cleaning. I prefer H335 as my best accuracy loads (so far) have used H335. With that said I have loaded the same bullet using Varget and the same recommended velocity and got similar accuracy results to the H335. The groups just open up slightly. H335 meters better and is cleaner. So I buy H335 when I find a deal on powder. My next trials will be using H4895 and IMR4895.

I have tried IMR3031 and found for my .223 it does not yield the results I want.

Of course if you have enough money to buy as much powder and primer as you need then you can use whatever you want to. All my powder and primer purchases are based on a lot of research on the net prior to making them. I knew H335 and Varget yielded good target loads for other people on numerous sites before I tried them myself. I found that Varget is widely used and sold here around the island. H335 not so much.

Keep in mind that powder is only part of the accuracy equation.   Unless you are tuning your loads to specific rifles (measuring off the lands, ect.), I would use a ball powder and be done with it. Especially if you are using a volumetric powder measure.

I sold off all my reloading equipment unfortunately. However, I find myself in my regular vicious cycle of perpetual boredom again and thinking of picking up reloading equipment (again).

I only ever want to reload for bulk, really. And the ability to create my own ammo during the alien invasion. Never did want super match hair splitters. Just the ability to shoot willynilly at fun shoots without thinking too much about the wallet. Gather up brass. etc.