From Varget tto Win 748

[Hook Creek]

Picked up some Winchester 748, and was wondering what anyone has seen for different temps and accuracy, POI change, etc. Been using Varget and IMR 4064 for a couple years now but tired of literally using a spoon and the tapping of my finger to measure every single round because the shit don't meter lol! Loading for .223 Remington and .308 Winchester. The 748 will be for the .308 and I picked up some Hodgdon 335 for the .223. Just loaded some rounds to test tomorrow and love how the stuff measures with my RCBS Competition Powder Measure.

 

[excaliber]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

Varget is temp insensitive. Win 748 is very temp sensitive.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

Why not 748 in the 223. It can be one hell of a good powder in the 223.

 

[Hook Creek]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

well tested some loads today, and wasn't as impressed as I had hoped..

Brass - Lapua
Bullet - 175gr SMK BTHP
Primer - CCI BR2
Powder - Winchester 748(43.0gr to 46.0 in .5 increments)
O.A.L. - 2.800
Rifle - Remington 700 VTR .308 Win

Did the testing at 100y and 5 shot groups varied from 2in to a little more than an inch. best group was from the 45.0gr of 748. was reading that the ball powders aren't as forgiving to develop a good load like im used to, so ill just keep playing with it. Noticed though that it seems like the hotter the load the more accurate, which is opposite from my experience with Varget and IMR 4064.

Also an important mention here is that the VTR is brand new and never been shot. New load, new gun. Previously I was working with a sps tactical in .308 which I was very happy with.

 

[wvlapua]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

Try some BL-C(2). It is very forgiving in my .204 and a pleasure to load with.

 

[Hook Creek]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wvlapua</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try some BL-C(2). It is very forgiving in my .204 and a pleasure to load with. </div></div>

Pretty sure BL-C(2) and 748 are the same thing. The Load data I used for the 748 was actually the data for BL-C(2) cause 748 was not listed.

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

They're not the same, BL-c2 is a way dirtier powder.
I think it is quite old also.

 

[Beef82]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

W748 works good in .223 if you want just one powder. It is definitely temp sensitive, its close but certainly not the same as BL-C2. Allot of ball powders do better with hotter loads, seems to help them burn more fully as fouling often decreases as well. Obviously there is a point of diminishing returns and I am not advocating just loading max and skipping proper development.

 

[fish30114]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

I like 748 for the reasons you selected it as a powder. I found the same thing regarding it preferring a hotter load, and had the opposite as well with Varget. I personally not had any more temp sensitivity wiht 748 than with Varget. Having said that it is obvious that other posters HAVE... I will also throw in that I made one little change with 748 when loading for 308 that made a big difference, and that is going with a magnum primer. I actually dropped down a couple grains and eased up from there with the mag primers, but it helped the groups with 748, maybe worth a try.

 

[BCP]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

I am with the OP, usually use varget but went with 748 as varget was out-of-stock. Seems to work ok for 223, 308 not so much. Maybe for blaster ammo. Also have some TAC on hand, all things considered it's probably a better choice than 748.

 

[dm1779]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

I'll agree about BL-C(2) being dirty as hell. I used it for some 69gr loads in my 223 and was horrible. I've used H-335 with great success (typical 3 shot groups under 1/2" @ 100 yards).

Varget metering isn't too bad with the Redding BR3, but I'm typically loading for my F-Class .308 rig so I'm tricklin anyways.

 

[Chanonry]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: excaliber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Varget is temp insensitive. Win 748 is very temp sensitive.</div></div>

Everyone says this about Varget. I was using Reloader 15 and RL17, switched to Varget to benefit from the legendary temp stability only to find that the lot I had produced velocities WAY below advertised numbers.

My (limited !) experience is that I can trade one issue for another. Varget will only be fertilising the roses for me.

So temp stability, lot consistency, high velocities for 175 gr, simple metering and availability pls.

Ideas anyone - 24" AX due to arrive soon...

 

[stewfish]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

Last summer, the kids and I burned up 8 lbs of W 748 shooting .223. I settled on 27.5 grains of 748 and the Nosler 50 grain Ballistic Tip loaded at mag length. At 300 yards, the shots landed on a 2" shoot and see sticker every time. This occurred at 50 degrees, and 95 degrees. No real change in pressure signs. I used R-P, LC, and FC brass. When you go much above 28 grains, the rifle really barks. The Lyman book shows 29 grains as max.

For what it's worth, I shot a coyote in November with this same load, and it performed quite well.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

748 was my "go to" powder for years. It went in 7MM08, 308 and 30-06 hunting loads and worked just fine. I like the way it metered and accuracy was always good from those loads. When I wanted to load it in 243 I couldn't find data so I called Sierra for some help. Their testing showed it was not a good choice at all for 243 and developed very high pressure within a short weight spread. BTW, I never used it in 223 as that nasty old BLC2 went there.
Now days, if Varget will work that is what I use. Burns cleaner and deals with temp very well.

 

[davezander]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

Wow, I haven't been reloading for .223 very long but I'm getting really tight groups using 26.5 grains of 748 shooting 55 grain v max bullets. 1:9 twist 16" barrel
RRA operator rifle.

Now i haven't shot it in hotter temps yet, temperatures in the 40's when i've tested so far.

 

[JGorski]

Re: From Varget tto Win 748

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cronos</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well tested some loads today, and wasn't as impressed as I had hoped..

Brass - Lapua
Bullet - 175gr SMK BTHP
Primer - CCI BR2
Powder - Winchester 748(43.0gr to 46.0 in .5 increments)
O.A.L. - 2.800
Rifle - Remington 700 VTR .308 Win

Did the testing at 100y and 5 shot groups varied from 2in to a little more than an inch. best group was from the 45.0gr of 748. was reading that the ball powders aren't as forgiving to develop a good load like im used to, so ill just keep playing with it. Noticed though that it seems like the hotter the load the more accurate, which is opposite from my experience with Varget and IMR 4064.

Also an important mention here is that the VTR is brand new and never been shot. New load, new gun. Previously I was working with a sps tactical in .308 which I was very happy with. </div></div>

If you're going to use ball powders in your 308 try 2000MR & CFE223. 300yd targets with both & 168AMAXs.