April 7, 2009, 08:29 AM | #1 |
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Chosing The Right Powder
I Have A Question For You More Experienced Reloaders. If You Had To Choose Between Imr4350 And Hogdon Varget, Which Would Be The Better Choice And Why. My Gun Shoots Both Well.
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April 7, 2009, 08:38 AM | #2 |
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Varget can be tougher to meter accurately than 4350 depending on your powder measure...
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April 7, 2009, 09:14 AM | #3 |
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It would help if you told us more about the loads you are comparing. What cartidge, what charge weights, what velocities, what other bullets do you intend to use in this cartridge or other cartridges you intend to use the same powders in?
Also, I have to wonder why you care if the performance and cost are so identical that you don't have any reason to make the choice yourself? What are you really looking for us to provide? SL1 |
April 7, 2009, 09:51 AM | #4 |
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In theory, IMR 4350 should give you higher velocities and slightly less accuracy in the majority of rounds they both work in. But that is assuming a lot. There are plenty of exceptions, as each gun seems to be a law unto itself. The faster Varget has better temperature stability, and the charge you need is usually lower in weight. That makes for lower recoil impulse. The faster powder creates more pressure early in the bullet travel, but, being a smaller charge weight for a given chamber pressure, it makes less total gas, with the result that less pressure is present when the bullet exits the muzzle. Muzzle blast following the bullet exit deflects off the bullet base and will tip it to the degree any muzzle crown or bullet base imperfection exists. The greater the muzzle pressure, the greater that effect is. That is part of where the greater accuracy potential of the faster powder comes from. The temperature stability can be an issue in some environments.
It should be noted that Varget is known to compensate for temperature pretty well in the .308 and other medium-size cases, but not to be much help in .223. I've never heard a good explanation of this, but there is some temperature study data from Denton Bramwell in this article. On the other hand, if you have a perfect muzzle crown and perfect bullets, then the next consideration may how well the case is filled? Slower powder usually does that better than faster powder. A filled case is less prone to ignition irregularities than a partially filled case is. The main thing that seems to determine peak accuracy is bullet barrel time. Finding a powder that burns consistently and makes a load possible that gets you to a sweet spot in barrel time with velocity in a useful range is the real objective. That depends on all the factors that can affect vibration periodicity in your gun and its barrel. That's why one powder may unexpectedly outperform another in your gun.
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April 7, 2009, 10:05 AM | #5 |
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I wouldn't choose either one.
Why? Because I don't know what cartridge I'm loading for.
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April 7, 2009, 10:08 AM | #6 |
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There's at least a dozen different reasons to choose any powder in any caliber.
In rifle, I first look for a powder that's locally available. If I have to order it, I'm not likely to try it. Next, I typically look for decent performance at lower pressure. If I can get a few more FPS out of a different powder, but it runs at a higher pressure, I don't think that's worth it. I'd rather (theoretically) lengthen the life of my brass by running a moderate load rather than a hot one. Next, it's got return consistent results on paper, or I keep looking. How it meters is not as important to me in a rifle round, as I may simply weigh out charges anyhow. For someone shooting piles of rounds from an AR-type, this answer might be radically different. I also like a low charge weight, because that saves money. Someone always comes along and says, "C'mon, how much money is 4 grains of powder anyway?" Well, you can call it four grains... I tend to call it 15-25% of the load, which is also 15-25% of the can. Do the math... there's a tremendous savings in a lower charge weight, especially when you are dumping large charges, like in rifle rounds. In your position, ya know what I would do? I'd buy a pound of each powder, and go through both of them, and see what you see. The answer will likely show itself. That's the answer to "how do YOU choose a powder." If you instead are asking, "Which powder do you suggest I use?" then yep, need more info.
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April 8, 2009, 03:31 PM | #7 |
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First I would need to know what I was loading it for. Caliber, gun, etc. There are alot of powders that will work in alot of differnt calibers, but I try to get the best one for that caliber. I ask on this forum, research my manuals on what they recommened for the bullet you are using. Then if I have a few I try them, and go with the best results. If I dont have them at least I will have the field narrowed down thru the research. So my answer would be get the manual for the bullet you are going to be using, and hopefully you have a few that you can cross reference, and give some more information as to the caliber, bullet make, and grain, gun it is going to be used in etc. I have a ton of manuals you no doubt need to stay updated with them. The more you have the better info will come from it. Drives my wife nuts, I try to buy them now and not tell her. Keep it safe!
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April 8, 2009, 10:01 PM | #8 |
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The Right Powder
I feel fortunate in that I only re-load Pistol. I have my powders down to 2 types with several pounds of each (enough to Orbit Arnold S!), with a couple of spare pounds here and there that have been tested for my special loads. I don't re-load rifle, since I have a few hundred pounds of 223 in various types of bullets. I am glad to have loaded up on all items necessary to carry on for several years.
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April 10, 2009, 10:03 AM | #9 |
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POWDER
Sorry Guys I Forgot The Cal And Gun. I Am Loading These 2 Powders For A 243 Savage Model 10 Standard Barrell. The Gun Shoots Both Powders Very Well 5 Shot Groups @100yds You Can Cover With A Dime. But I Have Heard That The Varget Is More Tolerable With Heat And Cold Temps. Also I Cant Find Imr 4350 At Any Reloading Supply Store In My Area. Just Wanted To Ask If Anybody Has Shot These 2 Powder Choices In There Guns.
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April 10, 2009, 10:20 AM | #10 |
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The .243, having a fair amount of case diameter and capacity relative to the diameter of the bullet, will be able to better burn slower powders than, say, a .308 would. You can also use 4831 or maybe even 7828 in it.
All the powders in the Hodgdon Extreme line from Australia are supposed to be made with the same temperature immunity. So, Varget, H4350, and H4831SC (sc for short cut grains; easier to meter) would all be powders you could work with to find peak accuracy and performance loads. The slower the powder the more you will use per load, but the more velocity potential you will get. As to accuracy, the fact the bigger charges fill the case better can help with ignition consistency.
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April 10, 2009, 10:52 AM | #11 |
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My wifes .243 we are using RL-22, and 100 grain Nosler Partition. Works really good . Those bigger bullets in the .243 like the slow powder, so Unclenick is right.
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