varget pulldown what does commerical varget look like??

[brassbullets12]

i have purchased some varget surplus powder, it came from a major supplier. it was pulldown .. my question is does commerical varget look like 2 different colors. like a gold and silver mixed.. i have bought many jugs of different powder from this company, of pulldown, haven't ever had a problem. my reason for the questions is i am at max loads for .308 175 gr. match and my velocities aren't where they should be... i am using 45. gr. and only getting 2400fps at best at 45 feet. i am using a savage 10FP.

 

[tequillaeagle]

any varget that i have gotten looks like its a greenish/gold color and its always been like from hodgon and i got it from cabelas

 

[USSR]

brassbullets12,

Yes, Varget and the other Hodgdon powders have that two-toned look. Only 2400fps? What brass are you using? Mind if I ask where they sell this surplus Varget?

Don

 

[otrman]

Also, what is barrel length? What OAL are you loading to?

 

[brassbullets12]

got it at a gunshow, i know the people really good, rather not say, i will see them this weekend...it came in a offical jug, and was offically marked pulldown... it looks like you say two -tone greenish gold...

the gun has a 26" barrel, loading to what serria max oal. is for the 175 match king. ..i am using LC MATCH i am using Win regular large rifle primer...
thanks for the reply

 

[USSR]

the gun has a 26" barrel, loading to what serria max oal. is for the 175 match king. ..i am using LC MATCH i am using Win regular large rifle primer...

Something is seriously wrong here. Could it be your chronograph - and why is it 45 feet away? I load a lot of LC Match brass (although not with Varget), and velocities tend to run quite high using less powder than you would use in most commercial brass. You are using more powder than I would recommend for that brass/bullet load, so I can't explain your low velocity readings.

Don

 

[otrman]

It has been my experience in the 4 rifles that I load for that none like ammo that is loaded to MAX OAL. I would recommend backing off the charge a little, and start seating deeper in stages, maybe .010. If you wish to continue at Max I would only back up at .005 per stage and keep a real close watch for over pressure signs. I had a similar issue with 223 and ended up .020 shorter than MAX OAL.

 

[otrman]

From Accurate Powder,

SPECIAL NOTE ON CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH “COL”
It is important to note that the SAAMI “COL” values are for the firearms and ammunition manufacturers industry and must
be seen as a guideline only.
The individual reloader is free to adjust this dimension to suit their particular firearm-component-weapon combination.
This parameter is determined by various dimensions such as 1) magazine length (space), 2) freebore-lead dimensions of
the barrel, 3) ogive or profile of the projectile and 4) position of cannelure or crimp groove.

Repost

 

[R.W.Dale]

Something is seriously wrong here. Could it be your chronograph - and why is it 45 feet away? I load a lot of LC Match brass (although not with Varget), and velocities tend to run quite high using less powder than you would use in most commercial brass. You are using more powder than I would recommend for that brass/bullet load, so I can't explain your low velocity readings.

Don

I can.




The powder the op has isn't Varget.


Luckily it appearantly is slower and not faster

 

[NCsmitty]

It's looking like the pulldown "Varget" does not match up to the burn rate of commercial Varget.
I'm reading 45gr of Varget should get you to 2650-2700fps with a 175gr bullet, especially in a 26" barrel. I think that's a compressed load too.
As USSR said, something isn't quite right. But I guess you knew that. All I can suggest is to compare that to some commercial Varget if possible. I would back off a couple grains though, if you do that.


NCsmitty

 

[evan price]

I would be willing to bet that it is actually Radway Green 4895, not Varget, I've never heard of pulldown Varget- it's not a powder loaded for the military, Varget is a consumer product. Mulwex/Australia Defence Industries makes AR2208 which is the cannister Varget but it's not 100% identical, and I don't have any idea who would be demilling any quantity of that. At any rate, 45 of Varget and a 175 is a compressed load- is it?

The only thing is 45 gr of 4895 is overmax with a 175-gr, so ???

 

[ArchAngelCD]

According to Hodgdon with a 175gr bullet in a .308 the MAX charges are:
IMR4895 - 45.0C @2704 fps
H4895 - 42.7 @2647 fps
Varget - 45.0C @2690 fps
COL = 2.800"
"C" = Compressed

IMO you should stop using that powder right now until you find out what it really is. It's obviously not any of the 3 above unless your Chrono is incorrect and the velocity from your ammo is higher than 2400 fps...