Dumb to Buy 8lb?

[mwsenoj]

I hate buyer's remorse just as much as the next guy, so I am always a bit antsy about dropping some coin on stuff I have not used before especially on an online order. I am getting ready to buy a couple of things from Cabellas and get some free shipping and I am feeling the compulsion to buy an 8 lb can of Varget even though I have not used it before. I always hear good things about it and I am already paying for the hazmat fees for primers that I need ASAP. The price in cabellas is decent at $143 down from the reg 170+ it usually runs. Would you take the leap?


ps my rifle is a Rem 700 SPS Tactical .223 20' bbl with 1 in 9" twist. I have bulk Rem brass and shoot the Hornady 53 gr V-Max with some old primers that my dad gave me. I dont care about optimal accuracy as much as reasonable accuracy. I plan on shooting steel and coyotes between 100 and 400 yds.

 

[thump_rrr]

I use Varget with 69gr SMK's in a 1:9 twist AR-15.
I just started load development with 180gr SMK's in my 1:10 twist Savage 10BA .308. I've already hit sub .5 MOA groups and the rifle has only 75 rounds through it.
I've had great success with it in both rifles so I'd say go for it.

 

[evan price]

When it was $128 at my local gun shop November 2008, I bought TWO 8# jugs. I had previously only bought 1# of Varget and only tried it in a single application and liked it. Glad I did that then, it's a good powder.

 

[Grumulkin]

Varget is a very versatile powder so I don't see a problem buying 8 lbs. if you like it and shoot a lot and when the next reloading scare comes, your friends will be jealous. That said, Varget is not what works best in my 223s. You probably should buy a little less and try it before you go all in for it.

By the way, what works best in my 223s depending on the bullet is RL-15 & BL-C(2).

Also, price the powder someplace like Powder Valley before you decide how good a deal the Cabela's price is.

 

[cfullgraf]

You will get about 280 rounds of 223 Remington from one pound of Varget. How fast will you use up the powder?

Properly stored, even open powder will last a long time, maybe decades.

That said, I prefer to not have an open canister of powder for too long. But it happens in my household. I have not experienced powder going bad--yet.

I like and use Varget in 223 Remington and 30-06.

 

[Walkalong]

When you have finalized a load, buy in bulk.

 

[bukijin]

I think there are better powders for .223. (I have great success with AR2207 = H4198)

Having said that, I bought 500g (approx 1 pound - why do you North Americans still use imperial measurements ?? ) of AR2208H (= H4898) for my .308 and it only lasted one afternoon. Wish I had bought 4 kg. Better to buy in bulk....and prices there are so much cheaper than Australia - despite the strong Aussie dollar and the fact that those powders are manufactured here why is that ?? (4kg costs approx AUS$320 here).

But realistically, you will use it eventually in one calibre or another so why not ?

 

[sugarmaker]

I bought 32lb 4895B back around 2000, have 15lb left. If I had it to do over I would buy enough to wear out the barrel with whatever made up the "standard load" for that gun. Too much and you end up with lots of extra powder which may or may not agree with the new barrel. Too little and you end up re-developing standard loads. Canister grade powders are more forgiving so smaller quantities make sense. I buy what I'll use in a year.

 

[amlevin]

Tough Question.

I have gone through 35# of it so far this year and am still trying to make up my mind

Yesterday's range session yielded another of those "annoying" one-hole, 5-shot groups at 100 yards using varget in my .308. How in the world is one supposed to keep track of his shots when he only sees one hole in the target

Varget, as far as I am concerned makes a great rifle powder and I'll be ordering another 30 plus pounds next week.

 

[LiveLife]

my rifle is a Rem 700 SPS Tactical .223 20' bbl with 1 in 9" twist. I have bulk Rem brass and shoot the Hornady 53 gr V-Max with some old primers that my dad gave me. I dont care about optimal accuracy as much as reasonable accuracy. I plan on shooting steel and coyotes between 100 and 400 yds.

Although Varget can work for .223, I would use it mostly for .308 along with H4895.

When you have finalized a load, buy in bulk.

I am with Walkalong. If you have not shot any loads with Varget or done comparison with other powders, you may be short changing yourself, even for plinking loads.

I have tried H335/H4895/Varget in my 20" AR with 1:9" twist and for 55 gr bullet weight, I like H335. It will produce sub 1" shot group at 100 yards.

If a friend asked me what one powder to buy for the same twist rate/barrel length for 55 gr .223, I would suggest H335.

You can always buy 8 lbs of H335 and buy one pound bottles of Varget (and other powder like H4895) and do comparison tests. When you use up the H335 and found a better load, buy more of that powder. If you are happy with H335 loads, buy more of H335.

 

[REL1203]

i have been in your sitation many times. I am actually in it right now, i need to buy a 4 or 8lb bottle of something to start loading 223/556 over the winter, and right now am torn between TAC and H335, and the last gun show I will be at for this year is this weekend, i had to go out, buy 1lb bottle of H335 (none on hand myself) this last weekend, load up test rounds with both TAC and H335 and have to go test them this week after work before Friday/Sat so I know which to buy in bulk... At this point, if I dont get to test them in time, i am leaning towards H335

 

[spclpatrolgroup]

Varget is what I use in my 22-250, its the only powder I will use for it anymore.

 

[GooseGestapo]

re: Amlevin
Spent cases!!!! or and empty magazine.
Works for me!

 

[cfullgraf]

why do you North Americans still use imperial measurements ?? )

Becasue the saying "A pint's a pound the world around" sounds sexier than "A liter's a kilogram the world around".

 

[dbarnhart]

My only problem with Varget for 223 is that it does not meter well in the Hornady LnL-AP.

 

[Tallinar]

I am feeling the compulsion to buy an 8 lb can of Varget even though I have not used it before.

If it were me, I'd buy a smaller can to try it out first. If you find it suits your application, then buy it in bulk.

For .223, that will be what, over 2,000 rounds worth of powder? I'd give it a try first before taking that leap, personally.

 

[redbullitt]

I said yes because I have not had anything I could load it in not do well. FWIW i have the same 223 bolt...

I use just under 24g varget and a 69smk and it shoots lights out. Under 3/4 minute out to 300 yards very consistently. Varget is known to be great with temperature insensitivity, which for me is a very good thing.

 

[sellersm]

Why not? To me, Varget is to rifle as Unique is to pistol & shotgun! You can always find a use for it!

 

[helotaxi]

If it turns out you don't like it, you'll have no problem unloading it on someone else (sts).

 

[RustyFN]

I am shooting a 16" 1:9 twist AR. I have tried Varget, W748, BL(C)2 and H335. I liked H335 best. I just bought 8 pounds of it.

 

[Seedtick]

The price in cabellas is decent at $143 down from the reg 170+ it usually runs.

Powder Valley's everyday low price = $139.50

Might be worth checking out??

Seedtick

 

[Hondo 60]

Bought an 8 lb jug about a year ago.
Works great in my AR15

Also just bought an 8# jug of Tite Group.
It should last me at least 6-8 months.

 

[P-32]

I've worked through a couple of 4 lb cans of Reloder 15 in my AR's. Both were the same lot number. Varget is a good powder for a number of cartridges. I say buy it.

 

[Sport45]

I purchase most of my powder in 8# jugs.

Too bad they don't have TAC in 8 pounders or I'd have suggested you try that instead of Varget for your application.

 

[Joemyxplyx]

Sport45 wrote:

Too bad they don't have TAC in 8 pounders or I'd have suggested you try that instead of Varget for your application.

I've got 2 8lb bottles of TAC I bought back when it was $10/lb. Powder Valley wants $125 for an 8lb bottle: http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

Also TAC, being a ball powder, meters a lot better than Varget.

Just saying.