It's really real and not just a myth. I've been searching for it since last year, I stopped in to pick up a can of IMR3031 after work and they had varget as well.:cheer2:
Printable View
It's really real and not just a myth. I've been searching for it since last year, I stopped in to pick up a can of IMR3031 after work and they had varget as well.:cheer2:
What's a Varget?
What are you using it for? (as in what caliber?)
Every time I've tried it I always end up going back to 4064 or some other comparable burn rate powder. I think the stuff just doesn't like me.
H380, too. I hate that stuff.
Varget, that's my go to in quite a few cartridges. Love it and it loves me, not sure why it doesn't like you Frank, perhaps conflicting personalities?
I was glad I stocked up and bought about 12lbs before all this started and been able to snag a lb or 2 here of there.
+1 on Varget. Works fine in my rifles.......
My lgs owner asked me how I liked it and thought he might try it.......
ron
It been pretty easy to get in my area for the last 6 months.
it works well but it's not my favorite by any means.
hey Frank don't feel like the lone stranger. I went thru over 16 pounds of varget trying to get it to work in a 308 and finally got rid of all i had left because it didn't like me either.
Yep, I could not find a use for Varget, either.
Then I got a .308 and it's awesome! Just today I worked up a load of it with 45.8g and Sierra 168 Match Kings and Fed Match primers... 5 shots .257 inch at 100 yards.!
I was also getting solid, less than 1/2 inch groups with it and 150 NBT's out of that and another 308.
In my book it went from worthless to priceless in almost a month.
I was in a gun shop Wednesday that had 20 cans of Varget on the shelf. And I didn't even buy any of it. The shelves were weil stocked with most powders except Ramshot.
I'm glad I wasn't the only guy that Varget didn't like. It kinda reminded me of dealing with an irate ex- 'ol lady. Absolutely NOTHING I could do to make it happy.
Aside from that, 4064 was in abundance and it works well in my .308.
Funny how that works. Some guys can't live without it, some guys hate it. For me, it was very temperamental. Hot, cold, humid or dry I couldn't get any consistency from it.
I dunno Frank, I have found it to be the least temperature sensitive powder in my cabinet. Like you said, Some need it like air and others treat it like its the plague. My 308 and 243AI do great in hot or cold with it, so that's all that matters to me. At least you found a good abundant replacement. Sounds like you have done the same with the irate ex-ol' lady, ;).
This was a subliminal message post for DanSavage, seeing he lives close by. They have 100 lbs of varget ! I didn't buy any, not knowing what is going to happen next Friday except for the can of 3031 that I had already placed an order for. They said it would be in next Wednesday which must have been in code, meaning for this Friday. I gave Dan the wrong info days ago.........................:frusty:
Hey Ivan,
What are you using the 3031 in?
I have a full can that I can't seem to find a caliber it likes. It's been in the back of the cabinet for 2+ years. All alone. In the dark. Shoved in a corner. The other powders won't associate with it.
I think it might be a can of Varget in disguise...
Sarco in easton PA had 4lbs on the shelf yesterday... T&T reloading has a few on the shelf, check his website, you can order from them... They are in eastern PA as well
I'm specifically looking to use 3031 for 52-53 gr bullets for .223 Rem and later down the road, I plan on using it in a 6BR if I am able to get that far. What little I've done with it, I get the feeling I chose well for using it in the .223 but like an idiot,I signed up to work this weekend and it's put a damper to my putting time in on developing load data.....
Hey cranebird, I don't know nothing about any powder in the area! LOL
Dan
I've also found no good use for Varget??, 4064 is a much better powder!
The more people that find no use for it means there's just that much more for me. (evil laugh) ;)
I've been looking for a can of varget for what seems like forever. Now that I've found it, I've lost interest in wanting it for fear of not being able to find it again once they run through this order. IMR 4064 is all that and a bag of chips and it has been available on a regular basis......
VARGET is my go to powder for 223,308 and 30-06 !! Best thing about this powder is no change in pressure due to temp. swings.. I have used this powder in 204 and 260 but could not get the grouping to close up... It still did shoot under 1 inch though... I would diffinently recommed this VARGET to any beginner in reloading cause it can be used in lots of cartridges.. I would share my load data for specific guns ... load-em-up shooters !!!!
There is a small M&P gun shop in my area, and there is always one lonely can of Varget on the shelf, he always says it's my last one, so I buy it, even when that's not what I came in for, I am sure as soon as I leave he goes and gets another one, and gives the same sales pitch to the next guy.LOL
Dean
No, actually not in the sense that you mean, it isn't.
If you actually read Hodgdon's own testing you can see in most cases, the "difference" isn't statistically valid. And while they would have you believe that being "extreme" is universal, that is certainly not the case. Western has been somewhat vocal on this, and testing by Dr. Denton Bramwell shows the same. The "magic" properties are designed for a very specific set of parameters. Varget in the 308 with 150gr bullets, shows the touted benefits. Varget in the 223 with any bullet weight, is a streaming pile.. Doesn't mean you can't get good groups.
Just because the TV says that for $19.95 + S/H, you can own a life changing widget, doesn't make it true.
I'll be going in with this load I worked.
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9978fa0.jpg
This is how I did yesterday at the Clyde 300 yard F class match, if it hadn't been for the one flier in the 3, I would have got 1st place.
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps87c15f2e.jpg
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5bbff7dd.jpg
been using Varget for close to 17 yrs.... Works for me...but so does 4064
DanSavage, you need to empty your pm box. I cannot give you the report of seeing 12 cans of 4064 powder available like I previously promised to.Sorry....
Ivan
Thanks cranebird!
No problem Dan, I might need your help, found a go gage available to buy, thinking of ordering 100 Lapua brass to start with. I ran across a smoking F class rifle deal but really bad timing right now. Maybe after Fridays results, I might become a metal flaked Rem shooter. God, help me !
I've got .308 go and no gauges if you need them,, I'd meet ya half way, or can bring them to a match or something. I also have all barrel swapping tools if you need them also.
lololo...actually, doing both. Overhauled lots of carbs, reset jettings, barrels, niddles etc in my 36 yrs of being a tech. nothing better than the smell of race 2 stroke oil comming out of my race ready KX-250 1st thing staurday morning.
As far as altitude and calculations of bullet drop?........... Inputting correct altitude into ballistic,s calculator is a must. Especially if your sending them to distance.
I shoot at 2 different ranges. One at a military range which is at 3800ft and 4400ft out in the Texas desert southwest mountain valleys.
I made the mistake of guessing at altitude and couldnt figure out why I wasnt hitting 6"x8" steel,s @ 1K. I quickly learned I needed to know correct altitude. I dont have a nice smart phone with all the apps to go with it so i oppted for a nice casio watch with temp/baro pressure/altimiter and last but not least...time....o.lo.ololooolooolol
yes it was a great day to see the bel ray smoken. I used Castor Bean oil for one race season and when it came time to pull the cylinder for new ris-pin/piston/brg,, I was extremely suprised as to see no wear at all on rod brgs, and thrust brgs incluidng the ris pin.
Man how I miss those days. It sadens my heart knowing I have to rid myself of one of my race bikes.........
Well I broke down and bought a can of varget today. I said previously that the 3031 was possibly for the future 6mmBR, this varget is also but in reality If I get the 6BR like I 'm hoping to do, Reloader 15 is all I'll need.So I bought a can of Varget powder to sit on the shelf and see if the wife notices another can added to the collection. Thanks for all of the responses.This thread has certainly been entertaining.
Ivan
Ok, so I reload 3 rounds of varget at 23.5 gr. to beat the thunderstorm coming in and shot this at 100 yards.
http://s20.postimg.org/jvqhmvlkd/DSCN2373.jpg
It was a cold bore start, first round took the higher right flyer route which is normal for this axis. This stupid stock barrel shoots well for a budget gun.I'm going to miss it when I put the .223 AI barrel on in its place. The sightron cross hair completely covers the white center ring at 100 yards being only a 9 x isn't helping. I need to get a better scope with fine crosshairs. I can't wait to work the powder up and get a barrel warm up for the test.23.3 is starting,I just threw 23.5 gr on the scale with the first dipper scoop out of the can and followed it with 2 more the same weight. What fun !
RL 15,17, 19 and 22 floats my boat for most everything. Oh and 4064 too.
Nice Cranebird, what bullet are you using?
52 gr Speer HPBT match bullets. I picked up the Hornady 52 gr match bullets as well but haven't tried them yet. Looking for the Berger as well but haven't sourced them yet. I got a email that my barrel is shipping out tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will be in Buffalo VA and then the surgery Friday morning. Hopefully things go well so I can pursue this f class competition. Thanks for all of your help.
Ivan
I can see dry heat reducing the density. But the more humidity, the more water molecules increasing density.
I consider myself really lucky to have the wide open mountain terrrains and elevations that go from 3800 all the way up tp 5000 due to our mountain valleys.
I'm no fizzics expert, but I believe hydrogen has less mass than oxygen or nitrogen (assuming temp is constant)--so the more water vapor is present in the air--the less dense it is. Remember the Zeppelins! : )