Recommend a powder similar to Varget

[Jethro21]

It seems like I am having hard time finding Varget lately, one of my local places had some 8 pounders a week or 2 ago but I was short on money...

Anyway, I am wondering if there was a powder that is similar to Varget that might have a little more availability. Because I have no extra Varget, I am a little hesitant to shoot up my stockpile of reloads and I am dying to get out and do some shooting!

Oh, I am shooting .308, 178amax.

Thanks,
Jethro

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

I only use varget myself and I found a couple of 1lbers at Bass Pro last week. Check out your big chain stored if you have any close to you, and get some on backorder from Sinclair or Natchez if you can afford it. After last election it was a few months before I saw it stores again. This time it might take even longer. Next time be sure to stock up before the elections

good luck

 

[Bob L Swagger]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

I did alright with IMR 8208 XBR with berger 175 OTM's. I dont see why it wouldn't work with the 178 Amax.



At 100 yards (during load work up)

At 300 yards (playing with seating depth)

 

[l115a3]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

4064

 

[turbo54]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

Reloder 15, H4895, IMR4895, IMR8208xbr, IMR4064

All good choices.

'15 tends to get a shade more speed than Varget, especially with heavy bullets. The trade off is temp stability.

H4895 is temp stable and awesome. Shade fast for 175+ in 308, but fabulous under 175.

IMR4895 is what H4895 copied. Excellent in its own right but bested by H4895.

8208 was too fast to get good speed for the 178s when I tried it. Varget was 100+ fps faster. The 8208 did shoot lights out though.

Its been a WHILE since I shot 4064, but it was basically the non-temp stable brother to Varget. Same charge yielded same velocity and accuracy. Interchangeable with Varget, though the load manuals always show a higher max charge for Varget.

 

[JGorski]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jethro21</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It seems like I am having hard time finding Varget lately, one of my local places had some 8 pounders a week or 2 ago but I was short on money...

Anyway, I am wondering if there was a powder that is similar to Varget that might have a little more availability. Because I have no extra Varget, I am a little hesitant to shoot up my stockpile of reloads and I am dying to get out and do some shooting!

Oh, I am shooting .308, 178amax.

Thanks,
Jethro </div></div>

Well if youre shooting a 178 Id look at buying some CFE223 or 2000MR, will give you more velocity than Varget or I was going to say RE15.

 

[fx77]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

I have had good results with Vita Vhouri N 140..for some rounds the grains of Varget=Aame # Grains of VV N140...

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

Last time Obama got elected and Varget became unobtainium... I switched over to Viht N150 for my .308 Win loads. A little more spendy but availability in 8lb jugs when I needed it was worth it.

 

[Jethro21]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

Could I add another issue to the mix? Looking for something not temp sensative.

I did some researching on 2000MR and it *looks* from what I have read so far it is pretty temp stable.

Are there any other options I should look at?

I really appreciate the help,
Jethro

 

[Down South]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

I think Alliant AR Comp is close to the same burn rate as Varget and is suppose to be very stable. Just another option for you to try.

 

[Guest]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HillbillyfromAL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I only use varget myself </div></div>
Same here for .308 but if I need I switch to 4064 first, then Re-15. With 4064 it could be 1/2 grain either way depending lot. W/15 I have to add 3/10's more for the same speed as Varget,

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

I got a tub of 1680, as it was recommended to me. I haven't had a chance to try it for myself, but it was very highly recommended to me by my gunsmith, who uses it for many things, including .308, 5.56, and 30.06.

 

[korykhunter]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

Plenty of Viht powders available. More expensive but available.

 

[2ndPanzer]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

N150 isn't temp stable, but damn If it isn't great with a 308. Same charge weight as Varget.

 

[Adam B]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 2ndPanzer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">N150 isn't temp stable, but damn If it isn't great with a 308. Same charge weight as Varget. </div></div>

You lost me here, N150 is a single based powder and isn't "really" effected by temperature changes. It is a great powder after you get past the cost.

 

[marduk185]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">4064 </div></div>
started reloading when the last osama craze happened and varget was like a unicorn scarce. imr 4064 is better anyway so i never switched back to varget

 

[FLIGHT762]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

A powder that gets overlooked on the powder shelf is IMR 4320. It is short grained, meters very well (much better than 4064) and will give a good velocity with 175 gr. bullets in the 308 Win.

If you see it on the shelf when your usual powder is scarce, it's worth using. It is very near the speed of Varget.

 

[vinconco]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marduk185</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Golfy Sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">4064 </div></div>
started reloading when the last osama craze happened and varget was like a unicorn scarce. imr 4064 is better anyway so i never switched back to varget </div></div>

4064 performs better than Varget in my rifle

 

[fnbrowning]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

As a long time user of Reloder-15, I really think the temperature issue is overrated. In the M118 Long Range adaption, a 175gr Sierra Matchking bullet is used over Reloder 15. Don't you think the American snipers get the best mix of components?

Here is an educated guess from various articles:
M118LR (best guess from pulled components)
Powder, Reloader15 (reported 43.0 grains)
Velocity = 2580 fps (78 feet from muzzle)
Pressure = 50k psi, copper
Accuracy = 3.5" mean radius at 600

I also have to point out there is a large number of satisfied .308 shooters both here and across the web that independently agree 43 - 43.1-43.5 grains is the ticket.

 

[mrgreentie]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

CFE-223. Good stuff.

 

[3-0-hate]

Re: Recommend a powder similar to Varget

Looking at the relative burn rates will give you a good idea of what is similar to what..

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

IMR 4320 is about as similar as it gets for Varget, IMO.. Its just a little more sensitive to temp swings.