Why no Varget for target?

[Smokey Joe]

Am researching a load for the .300 WSM. Want to use 168 grain target bullets, either Sierra or Nosler. Have researched several printed sources, plus the Hodgdon website. Was thinking of using Varget as the propellant. All agree that I could use Varget with a 165 grain bullet, but all also have ZERO data on Varget for 168's!!

Gee, whiz! I wouldn't have thought that 3 grains of bullet weight, a difference of 1.8%, would cause that much difference. The "standard wisdom" is that you can use the same load for 165 or 168 grain bullets, but Hodgdon's website gives different loads, for example, with H4350, for 165's and 168's.

So. What to do? Any suggestions?

 

[jmr40]

I don't think Varget is a good choice in 300 WSM, that is probably why it isn't listed. Probably nothing wrong with using it, but manufacturers don't test every combination and they don't forsee many using Varget with that bullet weight in 300 WSM Generally speaking I'd use the same starting loads with 165's and 168's and work up just as I would with 165's from different manufacturers. I think you could do that and be just fine.

I've used H4350 with excellent accuracy and from what I gather from others it is probably the go-to 300 WSM powder for best accuracy. RL-17 is another popular powder that can often beat H4350 by at least 100 fps. But I've found accuracy to be a bit less, and not worth the extra speed

 

[243winxb]

Nosler lists 9 powders with there 168 gr bullet. Buy a pound of one you can find.

 

[GJgo]

I can back up everything jmr40 said. Just use H4350 & find the jump it likes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO there is no difference with a 165gr or 168gr bullet in that cartridge. I would feel confident using the 165gr load data with a 168gr bullet. If you look on the Nosler Laod data page you will notice they list a data chart for a 165/168gr bullet so Nosler agrees there is really no practical difference in the data for the 2 bullets.

That said, I agree there are better choices for powders in the 300 WSM than Varget. I feel Varget is too fast a powder for that combination and I would 4350 instead. 4831 would also be a good choice.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Thx!

Thank you all for your thoughts. Fortunately, I do have some H4350 on hand...