308 Vargert or Rl-15

[dar1246]

I have been using varget with the 155 laupas.
Load data
45.4 grs
210prs
Laupas brass
2700fps
Shooting out to 800yds it takes 25Moas. Looking to take this down some. I have some people using RL-15. Do you get more speed wtih that load?

 

[FNG]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Dar, I have been trying to figure this one out myself. I read through the SH reloading depot section and found that Varget is used a little more probably due to not being as temp sensitive. But I noticed that they are quite close in FPS with the edge going to varget but there is also bbl differences to add in and yours could be different. May not help but use what you have. I think 15 is easier to find.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Both powders are good and pretty close in terms of what FPS they deliver. The RL-15 is going to burn dirtier than the Varget. I have had great results using 46.0 grains of RL-15 with Lapua cases and 155 scenars. I know Vihtavuori N540 is supposed to be a pretty hot powder and was designed specifically for the .308. Other than uping your charge of Varget I really don't know of any other powder in that burn rate that will get you higher FPS. You will need more velocity to shoot flatter.

 

[Sumpter Steve]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Varget is used a little more probably due to not being as temp sensitive.

+1. This is why I use Varget and I've had great results with it.

 

[eddief]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Varget worked better for me in my 6.5x47 than RL15 and it does burn quite a bit cleaner. H4350 is a close second then the RL15.

Same, same for my 308.

 

[Downzero]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I don't think you're going to find much difference between those two powders.

They're two sides of the same coin.

 

[Tomekeuro85]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I use varget exclusively in my (only) .308 from GAP with 168SMK's Fantastic!

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I was running 46grs of Varget. It showing signs of pressure.

 

[30378]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Use the one you can find. Either works very well.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

What is your barrel length? That could be a big factor.

 

[FNuser]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

lapua brass
168 smk's
43.5 g rl15
fed gmm lr's no pressure sign

 

[Scimitar]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I was getting 2900 FPS with a 26 inch AI 5R barrel. What are you shooting?

 

[NativeCraft]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

John Holliger at White Oak claims Rel.-15 burns cleaner than Varget. Who's right?

 

[FootSoldier]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I am running;

155 Scenar
45.0 grs of Varget
BR-2 or 210M
Lapua brass
2.857" (.030" off the lands)
2852 fps at 1480' ASL and 88* F
Out of a 24" FNH SPR

Varget has been the ticket for me. 1k yards at just under 29 MOA.

 

[bdh308]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

You may try BLC2, IMR4895 too. I am noticing alot of places starting to get stock locally so keep ur ears open and yours eyes focused or youll miss the bus.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Shooting a 20" Remmington.

COL is 2.830

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Is anyone using the Vihtavuori N540? How does it compare to these powders?

If I increase the charge. The bolt gets harder to open and the primers are showing signs. No blown primers with that charge. But I thought I would decrease the charge for less presure.

 

[MBrown]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I got 2930 fps from 45.9 gr of Varget,lapua brass,gmm210 primes, pushing a 155 lapua from a 26" hart barrel. COL is about 2.900.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

That is where I would like to be around that 2850 to 2900.

 

[Supersubes]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

A friend and I have been playing with Varget and H4895. Using Lapua brass with Lap 155's and BR2's we are getting about 2780 with a 22" brux using 45 gr of Varget. OAL is just shy of an AICS mag. That load is totally safe but we cannot get any more in the case.

Recently he bought some H4895 and I was surprised at the velocities. We crept up to around 45.5gr and eclipsed 2900fps. The end load though was 44.7gr and 2860 fps.


My R15 experience is only with my 6.5X47, and fired cases come out with almost a complete lack of soot on them. Probably has more to do with a nice round chamber, than the powder.

 

[Supersubes]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Oh I forgot, N540 is a nice powder. Although I have not used it with 155's, it produced the highest velocities using 175 SMK's.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

That is pretty good with the 4895. 2900 would much prefered of 2700.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I have run both. I like both. I get whatever is available, which lately has been RE15.

 

[coldbeerchief]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I get 2850 fps out my Crusader (22" Bartlein)

46.5 Varget
Hornady Match brass
CCI BR-2
2.870" COAL

 

[rwcathunter]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

i run both varget and re 15. i havn't noticed any difference in velocity or accuracy. re 15 has been easier to get for a couple years so that's what i'm using.

 

[1911.it]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I averaged ~100fps more with Varget than RE15. RE15 also had a much greater extreme spread. I couldn't get the velocity with N540 either although I really like the VV powders for how clean they burn and how well they meter.

 

[Hoploman]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I think they're almost the same exact thing. I think variables such as environment, rifle, barrel, components make more of a difference than the difference between these two powders.


Half the people say one is cleaner than the other, half say one is faster than the other.


As far as clean/dirty, I can't say. They're both pretty clean. As for temp insensitivity, R-15 seems pretty good, but Varget has been very insensitive and that is because I've used it more and can confirm this. Not enough use with R-15 for me to say, but it shows that it is so far. R-15 has given me a little bit more FPS than Varget with comparable charges, but again, until a few hundred (yes HUNDRED) rounds go through the chrono in various conditions...can't say.


Alliant says R-15 is the powder used in M118LR.


My conclusion is that they're both excellent powders. Both have been highly accurate for me. The charges are the same. Velocity about the same, so close it doesn't matter. Both temp insensitive. Both relatively clean compared to older powders.


While this might be not the best mentality for reloading, after testing these with chrono etc, I consider them interchangeable for MY loads and practices. I don't load max or super-hot.


They're both accurate. Just under 1/2moa for me.

 

[Joe-n-TX]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

What LoneWolf said... I have/use both. Varget comes in 8lbers when you can finde them.

Lately I've been mimmicking the Fed Match 168gn load with RL15.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I might try to seat the bullet out farther and increase the load with the Varget.

 

[Downzero]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NativeCraft</div><div class="ubbcode-body">John Holliger at White Oak claims Rel.-15 burns cleaner than Varget. Who's right? </div></div>

The rest of the world is right and John Holliger is wrong. Nothing Alliant makes is clean burning. Not Power Pistol, not Unique or Bullseye, and not Reloader 15.

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shooting a 20" Remmington.

COL is 2.830 </div></div>

Dar,

Getting close to 2900fps out of a 20" barrel is a tall order. You may have to drop down to a lighter bullet.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I think you might be right about filling a tall order.

 

[nashlaw]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 30378</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use the one you can find. Either works very well. </div></div>

Yep, that is my philosophy.

I have 15#'s of RL15 and have no complaints. My brother uses Varget and likes it.

So far, anytime I have put some RL15 under a SMK and pulled the trigger, good things have happened downrange.

 

[7mmRM]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I run Varget in all my 308s. Though I wouldnt hesitate to run '15 in them.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

As a reference, I am getting 2925-2950 fps with:

47.8 gr Varget (Compressed)
155 Scenars
2.948 OAL or 0.015 from the lands
CCI primers
Win cases

{Use 47.5 or 47.6 with Lapua cases}

Note: very stiff load--but I do get 25+ reloading from the cases so its not "that" stiff. Use care and work up slowly watching pressure signs.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I loaded some at 46.2 Varget tonight and shot at 800. Come ups was 22moas. Alot better but the primers are showing some signs of pressure. I will do a work up from here. I will also seat the bullet out farther.

 

[jp_colt]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

175 Sierra MK
43.0 grs of Varget
BR-2
Lapua brass
2.845" (.020" off the lands)
2640 fps
Out of a 24" AIAW

0.415 5 shoot group at 200 yd, Will be trying 1000yd shot in a few weeks

 

[padronanniversary]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

175 SMK
43.4 grns of Varget
BR-2
Lapua Brass
2.8"
2650

Out of a AIAW 24"

And shooting at 300 I grouped 5 shot at 0.6 center to center , a surpsiing performance on my part considering it was my first time out with load development !

Hey JP, looks like we got twins

oh S&B 5-25 on a 45 moa base

 

[chain]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I use RL-15 because it shoots great in my 06 also. Two guns 1 keg of powder

 

[SOC308]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

i'm running the following out of a custom phoenix action w/ a bartlein 1:10 twist 24" barrel w/ a 308 palma chamber

155 scenar
46.6 gr varget
LC Match brass
BR-2 Primer
2975 FPS
2.840 OAL (as long as i feel can be mag fed consistently)

 

[Bronco]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

24" Krieger, 1 in 11 with 308 palma chamber.

155 Scenar
44.5 gr. RL-15
LC 84 Brass
BR-2 Primer
2820 fps, 1120 asl
2.820 oal, .008 off lands
32 moa @ 1000 yd.

 

[Tomekeuro85]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Ive never actually tested myself, but with all the positive feedback I read about varget, its all i use and im definitely not disappointed. Just bought myself 24lbs of it...

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I tried some new loads. Here is the results.

48.5grs varget
COL 2.875
210m pr
Laupa brass
2857fps

47.5grs Benchmark
COL 2.875
210m pr
laupa brass
2900fps

48.5grs RL-15
COL 2.875
210m pr
laupa brass
2895fps


Seating the bullet out help with the pressure. These numbers are from a Remmington XCR Compact Tactical 20" in barrel. Not bad.
I would recommed working up your load for the rifle your shooting.

 

[coldbeerchief]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

Those numbers out of a 20" factory barrel are unreal.

is your chrono accurate? I've had a couple that read 100-200 fps too fast.

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

I use a CED chrono. They are real. I would use caution working up a load. If you look at Nosler reloading manual. The max on Varget is 48.5. The newer books are more conservative.
I seated the bullet out and worked from there. I'am really happy with these numbers.

Benchmark did really good.

 

[glock63]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use a CED chrono. They are real. I would use caution working up a load. If you look at Nosler reloading manual. The max on Varget is 48.5. The newer books are more conservative.
I seated the bullet out and worked from there. I'am really happy with these numbers.

Benchmark did really good. </div></div>

This is with the 155 scenar?

 

[dar1246]

Re: 308 Vargert or Rl-15

155 scenar