.308 Varget loads

piercfh · June 13, 2007, 08:05 AM

I was given some varget powder by a friend to try. I was wondering if anyone has had success with this powder. I will be shooting 168 and 175 grain BTHP. The rifle is a savage 10fp.

recipes anyone?

thanks

Jim Watson · June 13, 2007, 08:36 AM

My current 1000 yard F-T/R load is .308 Lapua brass, CCI BR primer, 175 gr SMK and 44 gr Varget. That is one grain less than the Hodgdon maximum. I have shot the maximum of 45 but it does not give much more velocity and is not quite as accurate as 44. Rifle is a Savage 12 BVSS-S but now with Pac-Nor barrel.

I don't use 168s but if you go a little under the maximum you should do OK.

If you read the fine print you should start lower and "work up" but I have gone by what experienced target shooters use and not had any trouble.

Wild Bill Bucks · June 13, 2007, 12:09 PM

I'm presently using Combined Technologies Ballistic Silvertip 168 grain in front of Winchester brass charged with 44 grains of Varget and Winchester primers. 1/2" groups at 100 yards are the norm. I have also used it on bullets as light as 110grains and as heavy as 180 grain with no problem at all. Stay with the book minimums and work up, until you find the charge your rifle likes to swallow, and you should be OK. I use my rifle exclusively for hunting and don't get much opportunity for really long shots (mostly under 100 yards) but I am sure what Jim says is right as rain about distance. The Varget powder is fast becoming a favorite of mine because of the versatility and performance in quite a few calibers.

Ammo Junky · June 13, 2007, 04:37 PM

I use 44.5gr varget with 168gr and 43.5 with 175. both shoot about .7" for 5rd from my 700vs. I load to 2.790" col as the lawyer throat on a rem 308

doesnt allow for a reasonable bullet jump anyway, so I load for a reliable mag feeding rd.

piercfh · June 14, 2007, 08:08 AM

Thanks for the help guys.

The combined tech bullets looked very apealing to me, but after some experimenting I determined that my rifle doesnt like em. I was shooting something like 1MOA with the ct's. I loaded the rest of them in 30-06 for my roomates cheap savage combo and the gun shoots 1/2 MOA

. I guess some barrels just dont like em, and some do.

With 4350 and 168s the rifle has shot .6, but I was told it may like other powders better. The best groups I have turned out were .5 with factory remington loads with the 168BTHP. Im pretty new to reloading, and pretty scared of blowing my face off so any load reccomendations are very appreaciated.

Other than varget what other powders have yall had good luck with?

thanks
Frank

MrGee · June 14, 2007, 11:05 AM

varget hands down it is not temperture sensitive as others
imr-4350 works but at its best in a compressed load in the 308
imr - 4895 maybe the next runner up to varget

Ammo Junky · June 14, 2007, 04:42 PM

4895 maybe the next runner up to varget

+1

I do see a LOT! more poi shift with temp change. I would use H4895 in all 308 loads, but it is just way to temp sensitive in my expereince. Great powder in the right use.

[email protected] · June 15, 2007, 11:52 AM

I was using 45-45.5 grains varget under 168 moly'd amax in winchster brass. At 100 yards I shot my first true 1 hole group.

jstoots · June 16, 2007, 10:06 PM

I have found that the CT bullets shoot better in my rifle after a couple of groups. With a clean barrel, my groups from a heavy barrel .223 (my most accurate rifle) run 1"-1.5". After a couple of groups, they shrink to .5".

Zippy06 · June 17, 2007, 03:41 PM

I tried Varget in a Savage 10FP .308. 2#. Various bullets. Cheap Win. PP 150 gn shoot the best.
Then tried H-335. Then H-322. Now I am on IMR 4064. 1-2" groups @ 200 yds. SMK 168 HPBT.

81 in the morning. 94 by 2 pm. Same same.
The Varget would seem fine, one day. And the next wouldn't.
A guy on Savageshooters recommended it.
making some more, here shortly.

rrp · June 18, 2007, 01:08 PM

I just worked up loads for my new rem 700 varmint rifle. It loves 43 gr of varget with 168 Hornady bthp match bullets. I tried several different loads from min. to max. and got the tightest groups at 43 gr. They averaged .5 and under. God I love this rifle!! It's a rem 700 sps varmint with a Bell and Carlson aluminum bedded stock under a swfa super sniper scope.

Zippy06 · June 19, 2007, 12:26 AM

rrp.
Some other people, have mentioned Remingtons like/love Varget.
So I tried it.
The IMR 4064 and Varget are made by Hodgdon. They look similar. 4064 fills the case quicker. 42gn at the neck. Varget was 43.5/44gn.
43gn of 4064 feels like your crushing the powder.
According to the burn chart, in the Lee book, 4064 burns slower.
And some people say "every barrel is different".

It's all good.

If you don't mind my asking. How much was the Model 700 Varmint?

Bullet94 · June 19, 2007, 01:05 AM

In my 308 I’ve had good luck with VV N540 shooting 175gr SMK’s Moly. VV N540 is listed by Sierra as the accuracy load for 175gr SMK’s. I get 1½ inch groups at 300 meters. This load doesn’t give the fastest velocities so it might not be good for long range. Here’s a link to Sierra’s data –

http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

And a link to some interesting 308 info –

http://www.6mmbr.com/308win.html

Tim R · June 19, 2007, 04:36 PM

42.0 grs. of IMR 4064 is hard to beat with a 168 SMK.

btmonnat · April 1, 2008, 05:07 PM

I recently purchased a Remington 700 VLS in a 308 with the new x-Pro trigger.I own several browning,ruger,and weatherby accumark rifles.I am very impressed with the trigger on the rem.It in my opinion is the best trigger out there.I worked very little on this gun to make it shoot very well.I can shoot a 1 hole 5 shot group with this gun any day if I do my part@ a 100 yards.The load that worked the best was 43gr. varget,168gr. sierra match king bullets,fed. match or cci BR-2 primers it makes no differnce on the primer and fed. brass.I recently purchased some nosler brass but I think it is going to be hard to beat this load.Varget also was the best I found for my 22-250.This by far is my favorite target rifle and I have the least amount of money in it.

June 13, 2007, 08:05 AM	#1
piercfh Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2006 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 183	.308 Varget loads I was given some varget powder by a friend to try. I was wondering if anyone has had success with this powder. I will be shooting 168 and 175 grain BTHP. The rifle is a savage 10fp. recipes anyone? thanks

June 13, 2007, 04:37 PM	#4
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	I use 44.5gr varget with 168gr and 43.5 with 175. both shoot about .7" for 5rd from my 700vs. I load to 2.790" col as the lawyer throat on a rem 308 doesnt allow for a reasonable bullet jump anyway, so I load for a reliable mag feeding rd. __________________ Will work for brass. I apologise in advance for spelling errors.

June 14, 2007, 04:42 PM	#7
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	4895 maybe the next runner up to varget +1 I do see a LOT! more poi shift with temp change. I would use H4895 in all 308 loads, but it is just way to temp sensitive in my expereince. Great powder in the right use. __________________ Will work for brass. I apologise in advance for spelling errors.

June 16, 2007, 10:06 PM	#9
jstoots Junior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Posts: 10	Combined Technology bullets I have found that the CT bullets shoot better in my rifle after a couple of groups. With a clean barrel, my groups from a heavy barrel .223 (my most accurate rifle) run 1"-1.5". After a couple of groups, they shrink to .5".

June 17, 2007, 03:41 PM	#10
Zippy06 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 117	I tried Varget in a Savage 10FP .308. 2#. Various bullets. Cheap Win. PP 150 gn shoot the best. Then tried H-335. Then H-322. Now I am on IMR 4064. 1-2" groups @ 200 yds. SMK 168 HPBT. 81 in the morning. 94 by 2 pm. Same same. The Varget would seem fine, one day. And the next wouldn't. A guy on Savageshooters recommended it. making some more, here shortly. __________________ Zippy06. U.S.N. Vet. NRA. Lee Turret(circa 1986). 9mm, .357 Mag., .40 S&W, .223 Rem., .30-30 Win., .308 Win. G17, S&W 686, G22C, Colt H-Bar, Marlin, Savage 10FP. Be safe. Be happy

June 13, 2007, 08:36 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	My current 1000 yard F-T/R load is .308 Lapua brass, CCI BR primer, 175 gr SMK and 44 gr Varget. That is one grain less than the Hodgdon maximum. I have shot the maximum of 45 but it does not give much more velocity and is not quite as accurate as 44. Rifle is a Savage 12 BVSS-S but now with Pac-Nor barrel. I don't use 168s but if you go a little under the maximum you should do OK. If you read the fine print you should start lower and "work up" but I have gone by what experienced target shooters use and not had any trouble.

June 13, 2007, 12:09 PM	#3
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	I'm presently using Combined Technologies Ballistic Silvertip 168 grain in front of Winchester brass charged with 44 grains of Varget and Winchester primers. 1/2" groups at 100 yards are the norm. I have also used it on bullets as light as 110grains and as heavy as 180 grain with no problem at all. Stay with the book minimums and work up, until you find the charge your rifle likes to swallow, and you should be OK. I use my rifle exclusively for hunting and don't get much opportunity for really long shots (mostly under 100 yards) but I am sure what Jim says is right as rain about distance. The Varget powder is fast becoming a favorite of mine because of the versatility and performance in quite a few calibers.

June 14, 2007, 08:08 AM	#5
piercfh Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2006 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 183	Thanks for the help guys. The combined tech bullets looked very apealing to me, but after some experimenting I determined that my rifle doesnt like em. I was shooting something like 1MOA with the ct's. I loaded the rest of them in 30-06 for my roomates cheap savage combo and the gun shoots 1/2 MOA . I guess some barrels just dont like em, and some do. With 4350 and 168s the rifle has shot .6, but I was told it may like other powders better. The best groups I have turned out were .5 with factory remington loads with the 168BTHP. Im pretty new to reloading, and pretty scared of blowing my face off so any load reccomendations are very appreaciated. Other than varget what other powders have yall had good luck with? thanks Frank

June 14, 2007, 11:05 AM	#6
MrGee Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2005 Location: NC Posts: 260	varget hands down it is not temperture sensitive as others imr-4350 works but at its best in a compressed load in the 308 imr - 4895 maybe the next runner up to varget

June 15, 2007, 11:52 AM	#8
[email protected] Junior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Posts: 13	I was using 45-45.5 grains varget under 168 moly'd amax in winchster brass. At 100 yards I shot my first true 1 hole group.

June 18, 2007, 01:08 PM	#11
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	308 varget load I just worked up loads for my new rem 700 varmint rifle. It loves 43 gr of varget with 168 Hornady bthp match bullets. I tried several different loads from min. to max. and got the tightest groups at 43 gr. They averaged .5 and under. God I love this rifle!! It's a rem 700 sps varmint with a Bell and Carlson aluminum bedded stock under a swfa super sniper scope.

June 19, 2007, 12:26 AM	#12
Zippy06 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 117	rrp. Some other people, have mentioned Remingtons like/love Varget. So I tried it. The IMR 4064 and Varget are made by Hodgdon. They look similar. 4064 fills the case quicker. 42gn at the neck. Varget was 43.5/44gn. 43gn of 4064 feels like your crushing the powder. According to the burn chart, in the Lee book, 4064 burns slower. And some people say "every barrel is different". It's all good. If you don't mind my asking. How much was the Model 700 Varmint? __________________ Zippy06. U.S.N. Vet. NRA. Lee Turret(circa 1986). 9mm, .357 Mag., .40 S&W, .223 Rem., .30-30 Win., .308 Win. G17, S&W 686, G22C, Colt H-Bar, Marlin, Savage 10FP. Be safe. Be happy

June 19, 2007, 01:05 AM	#13
Bullet94 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 723	In my 308 I’ve had good luck with VV N540 shooting 175gr SMK’s Moly. VV N540 is listed by Sierra as the accuracy load for 175gr SMK’s. I get 1½ inch groups at 300 meters. This load doesn’t give the fastest velocities so it might not be good for long range. Here’s a link to Sierra’s data – http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf And a link to some interesting 308 info – http://www.6mmbr.com/308win.html __________________ PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT - Live Free or Die

June 19, 2007, 04:36 PM	#14
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	42.0 grs. of IMR 4064 is hard to beat with a 168 SMK. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

April 1, 2008, 05:07 PM	#15
btmonnat Member Join Date: March 9, 2008 Posts: 19	308 load I recently purchased a Remington 700 VLS in a 308 with the new x-Pro trigger.I own several browning,ruger,and weatherby accumark rifles.I am very impressed with the trigger on the rem.It in my opinion is the best trigger out there.I worked very little on this gun to make it shoot very well.I can shoot a 1 hole 5 shot group with this gun any day if I do my part@ a 100 yards.The load that worked the best was 43gr. varget,168gr. sierra match king bullets,fed. match or cci BR-2 primers it makes no differnce on the primer and fed. brass.I recently purchased some nosler brass but I think it is going to be hard to beat this load.Varget also was the best I found for my 22-250.This by far is my favorite target rifle and I have the least amount of money in it.