I have Varget and IMR 4064. I’ll be working up some 30-06 hunting loads in the near future. Preliminary look at the loads from GRT shows less powder needed when using IMR 4064. For reference, I’ll be using Hornady #3031. Thoughts on which powder should perform better, overall?
Another Varget thread
- Thread starter MWC1974
- Start date
- Status
AJC1
Member
Both of those work up accurate ammunition. The main cheer for varget is temprature stability. If you work up the load in the temprature being hunted in and dont shoot that load other than hunting during that season use the imr. If you also target shoot the same load during the summer use varget.
4064 is notoriously temperature sensitive. In the other thread on Varget I mentioned harmonics of barrel, and how your accuracy depends in large part on when that bullet exits the muzzle in relation to those harmonics.
Unlike the other thread - In this case a definitive answer is in order - because 4064 may be the best load you've ever had one day.. and three months later might shoot like crap, because the temp is 50 degrees different and the timing on when that projectile exits the muzzle is different than when you worked up the load. Or worse, you work up a great load on a nice cool fall day and in the heat of summer time, find you're piercing primers because it's too hot. Several guys in the past have gone on summer hunts (prairie dogs, whatever) only to find they have to keep their ammo on ice in a cooler until it's time to shoot, so they don't blow out primers!
That being said, I have two rifles where 4064 was hands down the winner on loads, by a country mile - there was nothing else remotely close. If you go with 4064 try to do your load work up when you're at temps which are similar to what you expect to use it in, in the field, for the hunting trip(s).
Varget simply doesn't change much at all between hot and cold. So if it does turn out to be a great powder for your rifle, and works well, you've got a great thing going because it doesn't matter what time of year you work up the load or go on the hunt.
H4350 might be one you'd want to try to compare with Varget. H4350 has been a great powder in quite a few midsized rifle calibers; never been disappointed with a bad showing, with it.
Or if you are shooting lighter loads (150gr) 4895 might be one to check out. A lot of IMR powders are temp sensitive, but I've shot 4895 in temps ranging -14F to 106F and there was no difference.
Given the scarcity of powder, these days, doing full workups and ladder testing of a wide range of powders for a gun may be problematic. Don't stress about it, make due with what you can get, experiment with what you can get, and enjoy. Eventually more stuff will be available, and you'll be able to fill out gaps on load testing.
Unlike the other thread - In this case a definitive answer is in order - because 4064 may be the best load you've ever had one day.. and three months later might shoot like crap, because the temp is 50 degrees different and the timing on when that projectile exits the muzzle is different than when you worked up the load. Or worse, you work up a great load on a nice cool fall day and in the heat of summer time, find you're piercing primers because it's too hot. Several guys in the past have gone on summer hunts (prairie dogs, whatever) only to find they have to keep their ammo on ice in a cooler until it's time to shoot, so they don't blow out primers!
That being said, I have two rifles where 4064 was hands down the winner on loads, by a country mile - there was nothing else remotely close. If you go with 4064 try to do your load work up when you're at temps which are similar to what you expect to use it in, in the field, for the hunting trip(s).
Varget simply doesn't change much at all between hot and cold. So if it does turn out to be a great powder for your rifle, and works well, you've got a great thing going because it doesn't matter what time of year you work up the load or go on the hunt.
H4350 might be one you'd want to try to compare with Varget. H4350 has been a great powder in quite a few midsized rifle calibers; never been disappointed with a bad showing, with it.
Or if you are shooting lighter loads (150gr) 4895 might be one to check out. A lot of IMR powders are temp sensitive, but I've shot 4895 in temps ranging -14F to 106F and there was no difference.
Given the scarcity of powder, these days, doing full workups and ladder testing of a wide range of powders for a gun may be problematic. Don't stress about it, make due with what you can get, experiment with what you can get, and enjoy. Eventually more stuff will be available, and you'll be able to fill out gaps on load testing.
- Status
