As much as I enjoy varget...

[FLIGHT762]

I got lucky a few weeks ago and was able to snap up my 5-1# limit of Varget and added 2- 1# bottles of IMR 3031 directly from Hodgon's web site. The total cost, shipped to my door came out to $53.00 per #. Just the shipping, haz mat & added State sales tax came to $73.00!

Many sites are limiting the amount of powder you can buy at one time. I would love to buy the 8#'ers, but they are scarce.

This is the new price for powder.

 

[WVRJ]

I've found some Varget in one of the local stores around here and I sucked it up and paid $55 a pound for it.That's a better price than I've found online once hazmat and other charges are factored in.I was looking at GunBroker and the price on there is right around $85 a pound.

 

[Blue68f100]

When I built my 6.5 CM several years back I stocked up on supplies once I found my load combo. Bought a case (2 8#) jugs Varget, 2000 140gr ELD M, already had the primers. Figured that would last the life of the barrel. I'm still set for 5+ yrs at my current rate. What I was low on was bullets and those seam to show up on a regular bases. In fact I have an abundance of some powders (CFE223, W296, TAC, WSF, WST) that I could sell if I wanted too. But into today's world I keeping most everything I have. Most all of my rifle ammo is setup for SR which I have plenty of. I very low on LR but don't have a gun that requires it. My neighbor is in a world of hurt since most of his guns require the LR. I told him on some of those you get SR brass if you wanted too. He's been looking and have yet to find any LR for almost 2 yrs now. I look for him too and LR seams to be the hardest to get of all the primers.

When all this mess started I was lucky enough to had placed several large orders for stock since the prices were low. Good thing too. This time has been one for the record books.

Varget has worked for me in several loads. RL-15 worked till it warmed up and I started blowing primers. The temp stable version would be my only choice if I was looking. On my list of things to get has been H1000 for my 7mm Mag. Have not seen any for years. I don't shoot it much because every time I do my back complains to me. Just too much recoil for this old beat up body.

 

[emb]

I'm lucky I still have some Varget. But it will run out. As an alternative I went with Accurate 2460 for use with my range loads and will save a pound or 2 of the Varget I have left for my hunting loads. I checked the Accurate data, and it has data for a 150 grn Barnes. I don't typically use Barnes bullets in this caliber and have no opinion where you can use the Accurate data listed for your bullet. I'm using 150 grns Hornady FMJBTs for my range loads and 150 grn Noslers Accubonds for my hunting loads. Every time I look Accurate 2460 seems to be available somewhere.

 

[gwpercle]

Varget seems to be the one powder I need and can't find. Been trying other's, but I really hope it comes back in soon.

Varget is the one powder I have never been able to find ... Something that sells that well can't be allowed to be discontinued ... It's the powder that lays golden eggs you just can't kill that goose ... to much profit to be made !
Gary

 

[papajoe222]

Accurate 4064, although not as temp. insensitive as Varget, has worked well for me with 150gr+. I don't know if, or how well it would work with monolithic bullets though. It's one of the few powders I've been able to find lately.

 

[Jackiesman]

If there is one thing the “crunch” has taught me its that I had better be versatile. I probably have 3 or4 ditterent powders (and both new and old loading manuals”) that can be used to obtain near identical results. So far I’m doing ok.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Varget seems to be the one powder I need and can't find. Been trying other's, but I really hope it comes back in soon.

I've probably got 8 or 9 pounds of it .... I might be able to help out someone close to me in a pinch. It's always been one of my favs because it is so temp insensitive and works well from really cold to really hot humid weather. TAC is great also but not quite as solid in big temp swings imho. I've got a bunch of TAC too, and RL 15 and so on ... because some time ago I switched almost exclusively to Vihtavouri powders with the exception of 2520.

One can still find lots of alternatives to Varget and TAC.

I do have 25-30 pounds of various 4895s mostly IMR and RG so I still use those ... looks like the OP's question has already been answered. I know I have some very specific loads worked-up out there that would work with that specfic Barnes projectile. Hard to beat the ones straight out of the Barnes manual though.

 

[Random 8]

I swore off Varget after the last shortage as an unhealthy addiction. It is always the first to dry up, and even in good availability times can be spotty and expensive.

I switched to IMR 4064 to do almost anything Varget will do with a wider range of load data available. I absolutely love it in pretty much any medium case, I.E. .308 win. I cant help with your specific load, other than you might try the "old" Barnes advice from back before they developed their own load data. I believe it was to reduce start and max loads by 10% and work up carefully. This is a different Mono bullet, but MIGHT be similar to your TTSX whizbanger. The numbers make sense to me. Loading conventional cup and core bullets with this powder, the max load North of 47 was getting a bit spicey, but in the range of 45-46 put me in the .300 Savage wheelhouse.

BULLET WEIGHT
150 GR. NOS E-TIP
CASE
WINCHESTER
PRIMER
FEDERAL 210M, LARGE RIFLE MATCH

Starting Load Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4064 OUT OF STOCK 0.308" 2.800" 42.9 2,659 47,500 PSI 46.7C 2,883 59,800 PSI

 

[TEXASJD]

Keep an eye out for Shooter's World Precision Rifle. It performs very very close to Varget, meters like silk, and costs half as much.

Not sure why but its price has doubled
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020431551?pid=454236
last 8lb at the end of 2019 was 190$
Varget is cheeper now
https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/hodgdon-varget/

 

[wombat13]

It seems to have vanished. So, since I can neither find varget nor h4895, I have to use what I have. Barnes does not seem to live in the same world as the rest of us, so in the .308 their 150gr ttsx (or tsx) loads do not use any of the three rifle powders I have. I have also been cautioned against using the hogdon loads (and when I compared barnes loads to Hogdon loads on the two websites I can see why).
So, in an effort to not reinvent the wheel, and knowing some are hesitant to share load data, I hope those who are willing to share will help me out.
Do you have any advice on .308win using 150gr ttsx powered by IMR4895 or IMR4064. I have 414 also, but not as much, so if you can help with the other two that'd be great.

Thanks!

Why were you warned not to use Hodgdon data for Barnes bullets? I'm curious because I tend to use Hodgdon powders and have used their online data twice with Barnes bullets. So, I just compared Barnes and Hodgdon online load data for .308 win with 110, 130, 150, 165, and 168 grain Barnes bullets. There are 21 instances of the two sites listing the same powder/bullet/weight combo. Out of those 21 instances, looking at the max load data: 14 times (67%) the two sites are within 1 gr of each other; 12 times (57%) Barnes max load is higher; and Hodgdon's data is never more than 1.1 grains higher than Barnes.

Seems totally safe to use Hodgdon data. We're always supposed to start well below max published data and work up.

 

[courtgreene]

Why were you warned not to use Hodgdon data for Barnes bullets? I'm curious because I tend to use Hodgdon powders and have used their online data twice with Barnes bullets. So, I just compared Barnes and Hodgdon online load data for .308 win with 110, 130, 150, 165, and 168 grain Barnes bullets. There are 21 instances of the two sites listing the same powder/bullet/weight combo. Out of those 21 instances, looking at the max load data: 14 times (67%) the two sites are within 1 gr of each other; 12 times (57%) Barnes max load is higher; and Hodgdon's data is never more than 1.1 grains higher than Barnes.

Seems totally safe to use Hodgdon data. We're always supposed to start well below max published data and work up.

I believe it is because the bullets are longer than their equal weight cup and core counterparts, taking more space in the case. Thus, causing pressure differences.

 

[courtgreene]

I swore off Varget after the last shortage as an unhealthy addiction. It is always the first to dry up, and even in good availability times can be spotty and expensive.

I switched to IMR 4064 to do almost anything Varget will do with a wider range of load data available. I absolutely love it in pretty much any medium case, I.E. .308 win. I cant help with your specific load, other than you might try the "old" Barnes advice from back before they developed their own load data. I believe it was to reduce start and max loads by 10% and work up carefully. This is a different Mono bullet, but MIGHT be similar to your TTSX whizbanger. The numbers make sense to me. Loading conventional cup and core bullets with this powder, the max load North of 47 was getting a bit spicey, but in the range of 45-46 put me in the .300 Savage wheelhouse.

BULLET WEIGHT
150 GR. NOS E-TIP
CASE
WINCHESTER
PRIMER
FEDERAL 210M, LARGE RIFLE MATCH

Starting Load Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4064 OUT OF STOCK 0.308" 2.800" 42.9 2,659 47,500 PSI 46.7C 2,883 59,800 PSI

Helpful, thank you. So between the older barnes manual quoted above and this, I have information to guide me using both of the powders I have on hand. You folks, as usual, have been wonderful.

 

[wombat13]

I believe it is because the bullets are longer than their equal weight cup and core counterparts, taking more space in the case. Thus, causing pressure differences.

Yes, data for cup and core lead bullets can't be used with copper bullets, but Hodgdon lists data for Barnes and Nosler copper bullets.

 

[Thomasss]

Do you have any advice on .308win using 150gr ttsx powered by IMR4895 or IMR4064.

Hornady 10th Edition lists their 150 grain GMX, all copper projectile, in .308 Winchester for both IMR 4895 - 37.7 to 46.4 and IMR 4064 - 38.4 to 44.9. If you happen to be loading for a M1A1 you should reduce IMR 4895 by 3 grains off the high end and 2 grains off the max for IMR 4064. I don't why you can't develop a good "working up load" from these two great rifle powders.
I guess I shouldn't complain when I called up my favorite gun shop and found they had
3, 8 lbs. kegs of Varget and 15, 1 pounders. I couldn't get there right away because of a snow storm and thought oh oh, all the one pounders will be gone. Two days later they still had a dozen 1 pounders @ $42 each. That is my favorite Garand fuel.

 

[wombat13]

Also, Hodgdon lists IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 with the 168 gr TTSX. Max load of 45.0 with 4064 and max load of 44.0 with 4895. The max charge will be higher with a lighter bullet, so you'd be safe using this data.

 

[Jackiesman]

I swore off Varget after the last shortage as an unhealthy addiction. It is always the first to dry up, and even in good availability times can be spotty and expensive.

I switched to IMR 4064 to do almost anything Varget will do with a wider range of load data available. I absolutely love it in pretty much any medium case, I.E. .308 win. I cant help with your specific load, other than you might try the "old" Barnes advice from back before they developed their own load data. I believe it was to reduce start and max loads by 10% and work up carefully. This is a different Mono bullet, but MIGHT be similar to your TTSX whizbanger. The numbers make sense to me. Loading conventional cup and core bullets with this powder, the max load North of 47 was getting a bit spicey, but in the range of 45-46 put me in the .300 Savage wheelhouse.

BULLET WEIGHT
150 GR. NOS E-TIP
CASE
WINCHESTER
PRIMER
FEDERAL 210M, LARGE RIFLE MATCH

Starting Load Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4064 OUT OF STOCK 0.308" 2.800" 42.9 2,659 47,500 PSI 46.7C 2,883 59,800 PSI

Kept enough 4064 back for my 375 HH Because it loves the stuff. Using the rest in the 5.56 ( and -06 when I run out of 4350) and getting great results thus far. Specially the 06 which gives me a sub MOA at 100 - 150 over the sled. Both are really good powders.

 

[Random 8]

Kept enough 4064 back for my 375 HH Because it loves the stuff. Using the rest in the 5.56 ( and -06 when I run out of 4350) and getting great results thus far. Specially the 06 which gives me a sub MOA at 100 - 150 over the sled. Both are really good powders.

Yes, I did like Varget too because it was a lot like 4064. Unfortunately so did everybody else, and after the last shortage I started to drift away from powders produced outside of North America. Phasing out R15 too, even though I really like it in 5.56 heavy match. 4064 just seems to do what I want across a wide range of cartridges, and data is available for most of the miltiary metric calibers I like to shoot. Go Canada!