Varget powder

TJ Freak · February 1, 2007, 08:58 PM

I'm new to reloading. I'm reloading .243, 7mm Rem Mag, and .22-250. I chose Varget because it seemed to have decent velocity and would work on all 3 rounds. I would like to know if anyone has had good or bad experiences with this powder. It seems a bit like long kernals (for lack of a better description). Any advise of viewpoints would be greatly appreciated.

I'm loading 55 gr sierra for the .243, 120 gr sierra for the 7mm, and 40 gr speer for the .22-250. I plan to use the .243 and .22-250 for coyote hunting. I'm planning to use the 7mm for White tails and Mule deer. I'm staring with mid range powder loads for all three. I use a Lee single stage press, and collet dies.

mrawesome22 · February 1, 2007, 09:23 PM

It has worked very well for me in .243Win and .22-250Rem. Benchmark gives better velocity and accuracy for me though. H4895 is a very close third. I don't have any reloading experience with 7MMRemMag.

arkie2 · February 1, 2007, 09:35 PM

Varget is a good powder and in fact I've had my best results in my .270 with it vs. other powders. The big selling point for the powder is that it's supposed to perform well in extremes of temperature. I recommend you try a variety of powders. I buy 1 lb lots initially until I find the one I want just so I'm not stuck with a lot of powder I don't like.

mrawesome22 · February 1, 2007, 09:39 PM

Yeah, any "Extreme" powder from Hodgdon has the same temperature stability. All their "stick" powders have this. Their ball powders do not.

roc1 · February 2, 2007, 10:30 AM

Suoer accurate in my 22-250,just now trying to load 243 so I have not develped the right load yet.I load Varget and Hornady V-Max bullets great combo.
roc1

TJ Freak · February 2, 2007, 01:52 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking seriously about my next .22-250 bullets being Hornady. I noticed that they make a 35 gr bullet also. I can't find any load data in my Lee or Hodgon books. Maybe a 35 gr bullet is just overkill anyway. 4000 fps is fast enough, maybe even less velocity when I test for accuracy.

Zak Smith · February 2, 2007, 03:28 PM

Varget is not an optimal choice for cartridges much more overbore than .308, and all of those three cartridges are.

For example, for 7RM, the speed range of H4831SC /H1000/RL22 is a better fit.

mrawesome22 · February 2, 2007, 03:47 PM

My most accurate loads have come from the V-Max 50gr. I'd give them a try. The 40gr are not long enough for me to get close to the rifling, yet still have enough bullet down in the case neck. Plus, with Benchmark, I'm getting 4000fps with the 50gr V-Max

Man I love this powder. Fast, accurate, clean, super short sticks, what more could you ask for?

squirrelsniper · February 3, 2007, 06:49 AM

For whatever reason, Varget seems to like CCI BR-2 primers (in applicable calibers) in everything I've tried it in. Other shooters commonly report the same thing.

Lot-to-lot consistency has been a problem with some shooters getting a "fast" or "slow" lot that requires a significant deviation from common charges. However, I've been using Varget for several years and haven't had that problem (keeping fingers crossed

)

cdoc42 · February 3, 2007, 08:44 PM

In my 22-250 Browning A-Bolt, 37.5gr of Varget delivers a graphed 3600 fps using a Sierra 52gr Match King HP with a CCI 200 primer. I use it for ground hogs even though Sierra doesn't recommend Match bullets for hunting. I never had a hog survive, although some bullets never exited, others blew the hog open like a zipper. Groups under an inch at 100 yards and my longest shot on a GH was 300 yards. He was just walking along and suddenly stopped afater I shot. Didn't move an inch.

February 1, 2007, 08:58 PM	#1
TJ Freak Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2005 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 143	Varget powder I'm new to reloading. I'm reloading .243, 7mm Rem Mag, and .22-250. I chose Varget because it seemed to have decent velocity and would work on all 3 rounds. I would like to know if anyone has had good or bad experiences with this powder. It seems a bit like long kernals (for lack of a better description). Any advise of viewpoints would be greatly appreciated. I'm loading 55 gr sierra for the .243, 120 gr sierra for the 7mm, and 40 gr speer for the .22-250. I plan to use the .243 and .22-250 for coyote hunting. I'm planning to use the 7mm for White tails and Mule deer. I'm staring with mid range powder loads for all three. I use a Lee single stage press, and collet dies.

February 2, 2007, 01:52 PM	#6
TJ Freak Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2005 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 143	Varget powder Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking seriously about my next .22-250 bullets being Hornady. I noticed that they make a 35 gr bullet also. I can't find any load data in my Lee or Hodgon books. Maybe a 35 gr bullet is just overkill anyway. 4000 fps is fast enough, maybe even less velocity when I test for accuracy.

February 2, 2007, 03:28 PM	#7
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Varget is not an optimal choice for cartridges much more overbore than .308, and all of those three cartridges are. For example, for 7RM, the speed range of H4831SC /H1000/RL22 is a better fit. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

February 3, 2007, 06:49 AM	#9
squirrelsniper Member Join Date: July 30, 2006 Location: Caneyville, KY Posts: 61	For whatever reason, Varget seems to like CCI BR-2 primers (in applicable calibers) in everything I've tried it in. Other shooters commonly report the same thing. Lot-to-lot consistency has been a problem with some shooters getting a "fast" or "slow" lot that requires a significant deviation from common charges. However, I've been using Varget for several years and haven't had that problem (keeping fingers crossed ) __________________ http://www.geocities.com/squirrelsniper/index.html

February 1, 2007, 09:23 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	It has worked very well for me in .243Win and .22-250Rem. Benchmark gives better velocity and accuracy for me though. H4895 is a very close third. I don't have any reloading experience with 7MMRemMag.

February 1, 2007, 09:35 PM	#3
arkie2 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2006 Posts: 475	Varget is a good powder and in fact I've had my best results in my .270 with it vs. other powders. The big selling point for the powder is that it's supposed to perform well in extremes of temperature. I recommend you try a variety of powders. I buy 1 lb lots initially until I find the one I want just so I'm not stuck with a lot of powder I don't like.

February 1, 2007, 09:39 PM	#4
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Yeah, any "Extreme" powder from Hodgdon has the same temperature stability. All their "stick" powders have this. Their ball powders do not.

February 2, 2007, 10:30 AM	#5
roc1 Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2005 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 560	Suoer accurate in my 22-250,just now trying to load 243 so I have not develped the right load yet.I load Varget and Hornady V-Max bullets great combo. roc1

February 2, 2007, 03:47 PM	#8
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	My most accurate loads have come from the V-Max 50gr. I'd give them a try. The 40gr are not long enough for me to get close to the rifling, yet still have enough bullet down in the case neck. Plus, with Benchmark, I'm getting 4000fps with the 50gr V-Max Man I love this powder. Fast, accurate, clean, super short sticks, what more could you ask for?

February 3, 2007, 08:44 PM	#10
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	In my 22-250 Browning A-Bolt, 37.5gr of Varget delivers a graphed 3600 fps using a Sierra 52gr Match King HP with a CCI 200 primer. I use it for ground hogs even though Sierra doesn't recommend Match bullets for hunting. I never had a hog survive, although some bullets never exited, others blew the hog open like a zipper. Groups under an inch at 100 yards and my longest shot on a GH was 300 yards. He was just walking along and suddenly stopped afater I shot. Didn't move an inch.