Nimrod
Member
Does anyone have some starting loads using Varget for a M1a with a 168 gr Match bullet with LC brass ? TIA
Varget Powder
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Dave P
Member
40-42 grains should get you going. But I have yet to find any great varget loads in any gun ...
I do not know what you have been doing wrong, but I have had great success with Varget in 223 with 40 to 80gr bullets. 27.5gr in WW brass with RP 7.5 primers with 40/50/55gr bullets is a one holer out of 700VLS. Out of 700P is just as accurate. Out of the AR's well it is just as effective. Try 25gr with Moly Coated 69 SMK! Oh my ! Obviously you have never tried it in 308. I have one groups out @200 with Lapua 167 Scenars and Sierra 175SMK's in Lapua brass with BR-2 primers. The only reservation with Varget is that you have to use a trickler to get charges on the mark.
Nimrod
Member
M1a 308
thank you all John your 308 load what would it be ? I loaded up some 308 rounds with 43 gr of Varget and a 167 gr Nosler bthp which I thought was safe load but not too shure now
TIA john
thank you all John your 308 load what would it be ? I loaded up some 308 rounds with 43 gr of Varget and a 167 gr Nosler bthp which I thought was safe load but not too shure now
TIA johnsitkablacktail
Member
I use Varget in just about every rifle I have now from .223 - 45/70, it's good stuff a great all around powder for nonmagnum loads.
nimrod, 43 grains of varget in a 308 pushing a 165-ish bullet is ok.
depending on the rifle, it may possibly be too warm, but you will not blow yourself up. fwiw, my own 308's go over 44 grains of varget (one of them a lot over).
depending on the rifle, it may possibly be too warm, but you will not blow yourself up. fwiw, my own 308's go over 44 grains of varget (one of them a lot over).
Dave P
Member
Well John/PO might think they are safe, but Sierra does not: max for 168 MK is 43.5 gr Varget per version 5 load manual. Max for 175MK is 41.7 grain.
Dave I do not THINK they are safe, I KNOW they are safe in my guns cause I have worked them up! Dave you are very right the numbers do not jive with the Sierra Manual; that is why I have more then one source for data. The quirk is that they use Federal Brass! And to me Federal Brass sucks. Premature case failure secondary to enlarged primer pockets. If you were to read what brass I was using you would find that I said WW or Lapua brass,and that does change the equation! Check the Hodgdon site for yourself and peace of mind. I am not dreaming this up! The loads listed are pretty much universal good shooting loads in just about every 308. The limiting factor is the brass. And, of course working the loads up in your personal rifle is "best practice".Hodgdon 308 Data
PS Dave I have been reloading for 30 years. I have did not just start doing stuff. I really have an idea of what I am doing with respect to reloading. All my guns are intact due to safe reloading practices. I have all ten digits! Orginal equipment eyes, too!
PS Dave I have been reloading for 30 years. I have did not just start doing stuff. I really have an idea of what I am doing with respect to reloading. All my guns are intact due to safe reloading practices. I have all ten digits! Orginal equipment eyes, too!
Dave P
Member
Hodgdon does list must larger max loads, but prolly not because of case differences: my data says the lapua and fed cases hold about the same (fed holds about .3 gr less). I have also heard that "older" varget has a significantly different burn rate.
Dave
Where in the world do you dream up this stuff about Varget? A gunsmith that I know has been tracking "Varget". He has has consistent chrono readings with various lots of Varget, and he has not experienced any significant changes in the lot to lot variation that you suggest exists. He can not say the same for VV 540. I tend to think you are pooh poohing Varget in general. It is a good powder that spans the 223 very well. It is seems to be a "gold standard" for accurate 308 loads. Each person has to judge their results. WW brass is lighter, and hence greater case capacity. I have swapped WW loads into Lapua brass with no change in signs of increased case pressures. Whereas that can not be said about RP or FC or LC brass.
Where in the world do you dream up this stuff about Varget? A gunsmith that I know has been tracking "Varget". He has has consistent chrono readings with various lots of Varget, and he has not experienced any significant changes in the lot to lot variation that you suggest exists. He can not say the same for VV 540. I tend to think you are pooh poohing Varget in general. It is a good powder that spans the 223 very well. It is seems to be a "gold standard" for accurate 308 loads. Each person has to judge their results. WW brass is lighter, and hence greater case capacity. I have swapped WW loads into Lapua brass with no change in signs of increased case pressures. Whereas that can not be said about RP or FC or LC brass.
Red_SC
Member
In my Rem PSS, I found 45.5 gr. of Varget to be an accurate with 168 gr Sierra Matchkings and 165 gr hpbt Gamekings in Federal brass with CCI BR2 Benchrest primers. Many people prefer 46 grains, but it opened my groups up slightly. Hodgdon lists max as 46 grains.
30Cal
Member
I do pretty good w/ 39 or so grains in LC brass.
FWIW, my lot of powder seems to be appreciably hotter than everyone elses in the world. 43grs gets me about 2700fps (above max for the M14).
Ty
FWIW, my lot of powder seems to be appreciably hotter than everyone elses in the world. 43grs gets me about 2700fps (above max for the M14).
Ty
wanderinwalker
Member
All I can post is that my experiences with Varget have been fairly positive in .223 Remington with heavy bullets. I don't really like it for 69s but for 77s and 80s it is a dream. Don't have a .308 to try it in but I don't see why it couldn't work as well.
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