Powder choices: H335 vs. Varget

[Dave R]

I have a .308 load that I am very happy with,using H335 powder.

I got a new kind of bullet, and wanted to put together a load for it. I got a half can of Varget from a friend, and I'm tying to convince myself that it would be worthwhile working up a load with Varget.

I am not doing a very good job of convincing myself I need to do this.

The differences between the two powders, as for as I can see, are:

-Varget is supposed to be more resistant to heat/cold affecting velocity. Here in Idaho, that might mean something.

-Varget is $1 more per pound.

So what has been your experience in switching from one powder to another? Is there really that much diffrerence? Or should I stick with a load I like?

 

[Poodleshooter]

If you have a new bullet, you'll have to work up a new load with the H335,too. Your old load may not work. There will be plenty of differences-different load density, a different velocity curve,the temperature issue.
Using that half can of varget,you'll only get 75-80 rounds before you run out. Weigh those statements with your decision.

 

[Coltdriver]

The H335 is a faster burning powder than Varget.

I use H335 under a 40 grain bullet in .223 and Varget under a 50 grain bullet. They are ballistically very similar.

Just my two cents worth in .223. I have not used these two in any other round yet.

 

[M40A1]

Varget

I have had excellent luck with Varget in my .308 M40A3 rifle out to 1000 yards using both 168 and 175 grain BTHP bullets. Good velocity, very consistent accuracy. Worth giving it a try.

 

[ocabj]

I worked out a load in .308 for the 175 Sierra MatchKing in H4895 and Varget. I feel pretty confident with either one as far as accuracy goes, but I never really tested the whole temp sensitivity issue. One of the members on Sniper's Hide did a test of H4895 and temps and he found it to be as consistent as Varget.

I pretty much use Varget just because it is a fairly popular powder as far as .308 goes. But I know that if for some reason I can't get Varget and the SHTF, I know I can use H4895.

If you got a load in H355 that you are happy with, I don't see any reason to switch. If you want to work up a load with Varget just for fun, go for it.

 

[Wildalaska]

Anybody using RL 15?

 

[Dave R]

Not me. Too many powders to try in one lifetime, I think.

I'm trying the Varget because someone gave me half a can.

FWIW, in Speer No. 13, Re15 gave highest velocities in .308 for ALL bullets over 130gr, except for their 168gr. match bullet. Varget took top velocity there. But Re15 was about no. 5 on that list, too.

I like Speer's layout, listing powders in order of velocity for the bullet selected...

 

[g56]

The major thing I look at when I compare the two, H335 meters better than Varget, in my case that just makes it a lot easier to work with. Using H335 I check the load weight before and after metering the loads into the cases, Varget means weighing every load, that's a major consideration to me.

 

[M40A1]

Varget

I meter all my Varget loads, no problems and very consistent.

 

[Dave R]

Not a worry for me. I can't meter my .308 loads. My RCBS Uniflow has the small chamber(?) that maxes out well below the 46gr. charge I use for H335. It won't throw a charge that big.

Do I need to get a replacement part to allow bigger charges?

 

[M40A1]

Yes. My Uniflow has two drums, one small diameter drum I use for hangun rounds and small rifle rounds like .223. The larger drum is used for rifle rounds like .308 and .30-06. Don't know if that drum is available separately or not.

 

[Dave R]

That explains it. I bought mine used for $20. Didn't include the larger drum. Something to look for at the next gunshow...

Or maybe a call to RCBS.

 

[Dave R]

e-mailed RCBS. They said they'd send me a large drum. No charge. COOL!

 

[MAUSER88]

H335 is my favorite rifle powder. I use it in .223, 7.62 x 39mm, .308, .30/06 and 8mm. It is a good "all around use" rifle powder.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I load and shoot very little .308, but a LOT of .223

My experience is that Varget just didn't live up to the published data with either of two different lots I tried.

I like H335, but always seem to go back to BL-C2 for my .223 uses.

I've used RL-15, and prefer it to either H335 or H4895 in all applications except the .223. I use a progressive loader for the .223 and find that powder charges are much more consistent with the spherical powders. I've used H335 for 55gr bullets in the .223, but prefer the BL-C2 and near equivalent Win748 as they are more flexible with the bullets heavier than 55gr. My experience is that the BL-C2 is more accurate too.

I just couldn't get enough Varget into a .223 case to get anywhere near the book listed velocities by Hodgdon. Loads were tried with bbl's from 14.5" to 26". My experience is that Varget is best in .223 with bullets 69gr and heavier.

RL-15 actually gave better velocities than the books listed for .223, and the small extruded grains give excellent metering for an extruded powder.
I get the essentially "advertised" velocities with the RL-15, but with less than some listed data.
YMMV.

With H335, I top out with 3,150fps w/55gr bullet in .223. RL-15, BL-C2, and Win748 deliver 3,250-3,300 reliably. Varget struggles to break 3,000fps with full cases with the lot's I've sampled.

My younger brother only owns one high-powered rifle, and hunts everything in N.America with it (big-game). He uses the Nosler 150part. and H4895 in a pre-64 Win. m70 feather-weight in .308. I've tried to get him to try RL-15, but he refuses.

He cites the One Load, One Rifle, KNOW's the GUN/RIFLE concept.
Works very well for him! (last box of 50 Nosler Part. 150's lasted 10yrs.!)
Always one shot, dead game- including 3 Elk, till this past Nov. in Colorado. Lung shot cow ( broadside @250yds measured w/laser) went over hill with both after-burners lit. Lost blood trail after 600-700yds, never saw her again. He hit her a little high, and too far back in ribs.
I'd been fussing at him about his 300yd zero at ~1,000ft msl being too high. He admits now that my 250yd "zero" rechecked at 6,500msl sounds better now. (what I used with my .338/06 and 210gr Nosler Part's.)

I plan on using more of the RL-15, as several more of my rifles really like it. (.30/30, .30/06, .338/06, soon to try it to replace H4895 in .35Rem.).

But if I was using a progressive machine to load those, I might try the H335 too.
I suggest you check out some of the mil-spec/surpl. equivalent to H335. If you load much volumn, you could save some serious money. $8/lb vs. $16/lb from Jeff Bartlett (www.gibrass.com).