What are people's thoughts on Hodgdon 's Varget Smokeless Powder?

[gfanikf]

Looking at recipes and calibers I'm interested in reloading it seems to be useable in all calibers (well no idea if in French 7.5...because that calibers is a PITA to find things for!). My local dealer also stocks it for ~$27 a pound, which being 15 minutes away isn't bad. Just wondering what people have thought of it and their use experiences.

Thanks!

 

[Snag]

I use it for 243 on a Dillon 650. I picked Varget from it's reputation as being accurate and versatile.

From what I've read people have problems with metering. I haven't had any issues so far. Flows fine through my measure and is very consistent.

 

[gfanikf]

I use it for 243 on a Dillon 650. I picked Varget from it's reputation as being accurate and versatile.

From what I've read people have problems with metering. I haven't had any issues so far. Flows fine through my measure and is very consistent.

For the moment I would only be using Lee Dippers. So that helps mitigate that issue a little.

 

[rcmodel]

it seems to be useable in all calibers

Well, certainly not usable in ALL calibers.

But there are much worse choices you could make most bottleneck rifle cartridges.

I'd say gofer it if you can find dipper data for the calibers you want to use it in.

Course, you need to be dipping into a powder scale pan and weighing them in the first place.

rc

 

[gfanikf]

Well, certainly not usable in ALL calibers.

But there are much worse choices you could make most bottleneck rifle cartridges.

I'd say gofer it if you can find dipper data for the calibers you want to use it in.

Course, you need to be dipping into a powder scale pan and weighing them in the first place.

rc

Sorry meant to say in all calibers I might want to reload for, went off on a rant on the French 7.5 and never finished my original thought. lol

 

[rduckwor]

Solid powder for many different loads.

RMD

 

[rikman]

I've had very good accuracy in 308Win & 8mm Mauser with Varget.

 

[pilotlight]

Wish I had about 700 lbs of it. Enough to last me a lifetime.

 

[J_McLeod]

It also takes up enough space that many max loads are compressed. You'll have a hard time getting enough of it into a case to be dangerous.

 

[gfanikf]

It also takes up enough space that many max loads are compressed. You'll have a hard time getting enough of it into a case to be dangerous.

That's good to know, though I want to make sure I don't need to ever rely on that in the first place.

I've had very good accuracy in 308Win & 8mm Mauser with Varget.

Sweet, 8mm Mauser is one of the calibers I'm reloading.

 

[Flintknapper]

Versatile powder...no doubt about that, but that is its strongest point IMO.

I find it to be loud (and smokey in some cases), doesn't do anything particularly special, is accurate in some cartridge/bullet combo's and not in others.

If you are looking for ONE powder to handle a lot of cartridges and can live with varying degrees of accuracy, its hard to beat.

I have some...but don't use it much.

 

[Dthunter]

I have used Varget allot over the years.
It has performed very well in my .308 and 7mm08!
It has proven to be very stable pressure/velocity wise in a HUGE temperature range!
Form -40 degrees Celcius( -40 F) to +37degrees celcius (98F)! Wow!
My .308 loves it to enough to shoot sub MOA out past 1000yards.

Give it a good try!

 

[chocdog]

Varget

MOA and less groups for my Remington 700BDL 30-06 with SGK165SBT.

 

[beatledog7]

The only powders I buy in 8-lb jugs are Varget and Bullseye. I use about a dozen others, but those two rule my bench.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

It's a good powder for medium size cases from 22/250 thru 30/06, especially for .308 and 30/06 service rifles.

 

[TheCracker]

It's awesome in 308 and 223 in my experience if that helps any

 

[weeniewawa]

I use Varget in a Lee Perfect powder measure, you can get one at Midway right now for under $20

sure beats dippers and on price and accuracy

 

[Uniquedot]

It's a fantastic powder for .308 and I've been loading it in 30 30 lately with pleasing results. I keep a few pounds of it in my powder cabinet.

 

[sfed]

Varget is a good all around Powder

I have loaded many 30-06 and 223 with varget and have had excellent results with it. Most of the 223 loads when you get them worked up from the starting point get to the compressed stage when the accuracy started coming in for me.

 

[arizona98tj]

I've enjoyed using Varget in my .308 Win loads. Started with it about 18 months ago and have been very satisfied with the sub-MOA results using Sierra 175 gr Match Kings.

 

[M1key]

My go-to for heavier 223 loads.

M

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have constructed .223 ammo using a 55gr Sierra bullet over Varget that shot a .4" 5 shot group @100 yards. I like the stuff...

 

[SlowFuse]

My experience with Varget has been all good. On 223/5.56 loads over 62 grains, it gets the nod 95% of the time. I've used it to load 25-06 and 30-06 also. While its not the best overall powder for the 06 cases, in my opinion, it has worked quite well. I'd say its the most versatile powder in my cabinet.

 

[eastbank]

i load my match loads useing a lee dipper(intire set is very cheap). what i do is find the dipper that is close to the load you want to use and and use a small didital scale(midway 35.00), dip the powder and put it on scale and then bring the charge up to what you want by adding a few grains at a time with your fingers. i weigh and charge all my match shells that way and the loads are with in 1/10gr. its slow compared to useing a powder dispenser,but with any stick powder(4831,4350,ect) its hard to get with in 1/10gr with a dispenser. eastbank

 

[EMC45]

It is real good in .223 and .308 in my experience. It is what is loaded in Hornady TAP ammo too BTW. I called and asked them for the .223 and the .308, both loaded with Varget.