.30-06 Range Report - Varget shrunk my groups by half... I'm a believer!

[falldowngoboom]

I've been trying to find a good load for Hornady 150g FMJ BTs using IMR 4350. I've never been able to consistently group much better than 2" no matter what the powder charge I loaded up. Someone suggested that the bullets don't shoot very well, and I began to wonder if it was my rifle's inherent accuracy.

Thankfully it's not . (Marlin XL7, BTW.) I switched over to Varget and found a load that shot a 0.96" five-shot group (50.5g). As well as two others that shot 1.24" (49.5g) and 1.33" (51.5g). I know some of you guys out there are consistently shooting 1/2" groups, but after never being able to come close to even MOA, this is a huge gain for me. Hopefully I'll be able to refine this load to always shoot MOA or better.

Anyway, comments/questions are welcome and if you're looking to push a 150g bullet, I'd definitely give Varget a shot. I'm gonna try out some 165g bullets next... IMR 4350 or Varget? That'll be the real test.

I've attached pics...
1. IMR 4350 - 58.8, 59.0, 59.2g
2. Varget - 49.0, 49.5, 50.0g
3. Varget - 50.5, 51.0, 51.5g

 

[fireman 9731]

Its good stuff!

 

[Seedtick]

Congrats

Good job! Now you've got something to work with.

Fun ain't it?

ST

 

[fatelk]

That's real good for FMJ bullets!
Have you tried a better quality bullet to see what accuracy you get?

I've never used Varget myself, but I've heard enough people who swear by it that I'm thinking I should try it out someday. I'm thinking that the faster burning Varget would be better suited to 150 gr bullets. It would be interesting to see if your rifle still prefers Varget over 4350 with heavier bullets.

I only use 4895 anymore myself, works great in the old M1.

 

[jaholder1971]

I've always found 4350 a little slow for any bullet below 180 grains. varget, 4064 and RL 15 always get the nod for 150's and 165's.

 

[falldowngoboom]

Now I'm wishing I bought two 8lb jugs of the stuff when I had a chance...

fatelk, haven't tried a better bullet under Varget, but I have shot Hornady 150g SSTs and GMXs under IMR 4350 and they've been equally disappointing. Will try them under Varget and see what happens.

jaholder1971, hopefully the 4350 shoots at least somewhat better under 168g as I bought a bunch of Nosler CC 168g and still have several pounds of the 4350. If Varget shoots 168g better, I'm definitely going Varget all the way. I don't see myself shooting 180s very soon.

 

[loadedround]

I have been using Varget in both my 223's and my 308 and have not found a better powder unless I'm shooting heavy for caliber rifle bullets. It is indeed the "Unique" of rifle powders.

 

[Doug b]

+1 to what jaholder1971 said.
I benched 20 rnds each of Varget and IMR4064 loaded to the same published velocities last year IIRC with Speers lovely little 130 gr.hp in my Colt sporter.
IMR4064 did shoot slightly tighter than Varget.

 

[Runningman]

Good job falldowngoboom nice to see that Marlin XL7 working out for you.

I know IMR 4350 is supposed to be an excellent powder in the 30-06. At least I've read it many times over the years. And I have tried it many times since I started handloading in the 70s in four different 30-06 I own or have owned. IMR 4350 has always been one of the least accurate powders I have tried in the 06 with bullets from 150 - 180 grain. IMR 4064 and Varget works well with 150 grain bullets. For what ever reason 51.2 grains of IMR 4064 with 150 grain Sierra FB shoots very well in every 30-06 I have tried it in.

For 180 grain Bullets in the 06 Reloader 22 and Norma MRP worked up to maximum loads will lay down some impressive chronograph numbers out of the old 06 and shoot under MOA groups with good bullets while doing so. Hint... 6" or longer drop tube help get all the powder in there.

Something else I have learned over the years with 30-06 my best accuracy usually comes with the bullets .030 - .050 off the lands... at least that the way it worked out for me on four different 06 rifles. Any closer and accuracy always seemed to go down hill.

 

[falldowngoboom]

Yeah, I figured 4350 would be a safe bet because it seemed so popular (that and I found an 8lb. jug along with LR primers in stock at the time, so couldn't resist combining the shipping and hazmat fees.)

Thanks for the tip on seating depth. I'll give it a try. Never would've thought to go so far off the lands as I normally try to stay in the 0.01 to 0.02" range.

 

[dardascastbullets]

Hi falldowngoboom!

Now if you could only get your hands on some RWS primers - your groups will shrink another 100%! I used them exclusively during my highpower days. I was introduced to them by a former Wimbleton Cup winner who used them exclusively also. They are as scarce as hen's teeth so if you find some you had better buy all there are! You will not be sorry you bought them!

Good luck!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

4350 is too slow a powder for use with a 150gr bullet IMO. I do use 4350 with a 165/168gr bullet and heavier with very good accuracy. With 150gr bullets I use 4895 or sometimes IMR4064 and now I've been using Varget because it's just so darn accurate.

falldowngoboom,
I'd like to see a side-by-side test with a 168gr Match bullet using Varget and 4350. I'm sure 4350 will fair better but I haven't tried Varget with a heavier bullet yet because I'm happy with H4350.

 

[lgbloader]

I think 4350 is a great powder for the -06 but I only use it on heavier bullets as well.

LGB

 

[falldowngoboom]

I'd like to see a side-by-side test with a 168gr Match bullet using Varget and 4350. I'm sure 4350 will fair better but I haven't tried Varget with a heavier bullet yet because I'm happy with H4350.

Gonna load up a series today of 54.5 thru 57.0g IMR 4350 under Nosler 168 CC BTHP Match as well as 48.0 thru 50.5 under Varget. Will try to make it out to the range tomorrow or maybe thursday and report back.

 

[COSteve]

I'm using varget in .223, .308 and anything below 180 grain in .30-06.

Good stuff for sure. Congrats on finding your load.

 

[jaholder1971]

Get yourself some Sierra 175 grain matchkings and put 54 grains of IMR 4350 behind it. Makes an excellent old milspec M72 sniper load duplicate, just don't use it in an M1 garand. OAL 3.340"

46 grains of Varget or 4064 behind this same bullet works great in the old gasgun, too.

 

[falldowngoboom]

Update - IMR 4350 vs. Varget - 168g Match Bullets

As promised, I managed to make it out to the range today to test the two powders, IMR 4350 & Varget. All under Nosler 168g CC HPBTs.

I apologize in advance for being a bonehead and accidently shooting the wrong targets with three rounds. I marked up the picture and drew in where the round should have hit if I was aiming at the right target. :banghead: I was checking with a spotting scope every few rounds, so I'm 80-90% certain that the holes I selected were the ones that were misguided.

Overall, it seems like Varget is still the better powder here. An average of all 6 groups was 2.03" for IMR 4350 and 1.48" for Varget. Varget also had the tightest group at 1.00" (50.0g) while IMR 4350's tightest group was 1.31" (55.5g).

Things to note. It was incredibly hot at the range today, 100 degrees (the first test in the OP was only low 80s). I took breaks every 12 shots to cool the barrel by wrapping it with a damp rag, but even then it was scorching hot by the end of every 12 shot volley (about 1 shot/min). The Varget test was done after the IMR 4350, which gives me even more confidence in it because I didn't clean the barrel with any solvent, just a dry patch every 12 rounds. (Been noticing flyers right after cleaning with solvent.) I shot round robin, meaning one round of Load 1 on Target 1, one round of Load 2 on Target 2, etc. Hence, the mixup with shooting the wrong targets. I neglected to shoot round robin on the test in the OP, unfortunately.

Enjoy!

P.S. Anyone think there are good loads to be had for a 168g bullet outside of the range I tested? (54.5 - 57.0g IMR 4350 & 48.0 - 50.5g Varget)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for posting the results of your test, I do appreciate it...