Varget vs ??

[ggshoots]

I run a number of bolt guns as well as a couple of AR's but have never used Varget. Ive always used my old standby powders that have worked very well but as the powder supply situation has changed I have been open to trying other powders. I mainly shoot off the bench for fun but in the process of developing a better hunting load.

A couple years ago I decided to try some Varget in 223 etc but the supply had dried up. Recently I have been looking at some of the Shooters World powders and the Precision has caught my eye. While in a local gunstore I happened to be talking to another customer which said he has switched completely to the Precision and said it runs almost exactly the same and is very temperature stable. He shoots in local matches as well as for fun but does shoot a lot. This is one of his main powders for several of his cartridge's.

I've got a bad taste in my mouth about trying different powders then having them become extinct, Enduron powder as an example. I spent $$ working up some great loads to switch powders and next thing they drop the entire line, was really loving 4166 and 4451.

Any thoughts on the Shooters World powders and even more specifically the Precision powder?

Thanks

Glenn

 

[rijndael]

I use SWP in a lot of my rifles, it works great and I have no complaints.

 

[Laurie]

'Precision' (Czech Explosia's Lovex S062) is an excellent single-based short-cut tubular powder with similar performance to VarGet. It's very well suited to heavier bullets in the 223, 62gn and above. In this cartridge, it acts as a bit slower burning and you likely wouldn't get H4895 or VarGet MVs, especially if you're running at the magazine length 2.26-inch COAL.

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?p=3811

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?p=3856

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?p=3934

Other powders to look at are:

Viht N135, N140, and N540 (plus N133 if you're looking at 52-55gn bullets)

Alliant AR-Comp and Re15

Norma 201, 202, 203-B

Ramshot X-Terminator and TAC (ball powders)

SW Tactical Rifle and Match Rifle (ball powders)

 

[SecondsCount]

SWP has worked well for me in 223 behind 75-77 grain bullets.

 

[coldboreshot]

I have IMR 8208XBR running pretty well in several 223 loads.

 

[markm87]

Varget pops up fairly often. The price might be crappy, but it's out there.

I've seen ads for the shooters world powder, but don't know a thing about it. If running out of a flavor of powder is a concern, you have to buy at least 16 lbs at at time. 32 if you can swing it. You get the same lot, and don't have to rework your load for years.

 

[mdram]

varget is in stock right now
midway, grafs, powder valley, midsouth, and hodgdon

 

[js2013]

Everything Laurie said. I found SWP slower than Varget also. I’m still playing with it in 223 and 308. It has potential but if your looking for max velocity it’s probably not the hot ticket. Accuracy has been very good though and ES can be also.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

While Varget can be made with unobtanium from time to time the key reason to keep using it is the temperature sensitivity. Along with H4350, Varget is one of the powders that have the lowest sensitivity to temperature changes.

Check out the article in the bulletin for more information. If you are shooting lighter bullets you can try Benchmark Powder which is also less sensitive to temperature.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

SWP has worked well for me in 223 behind 75-77 grain bullets.

What primers you running? If I may ask

 

[Just Say Moe]

. I spent $$ working up some great loads to switch powders and next thing they drop the entire line, was really loving 4166 and 4451.

Thanks

Glenn

Same here for 4166. When mine is exhausted, I'm going to try StaBall Match in 6BR.

 

[SeabeeKen]

100% left Hodgdon over the enduron fiasco. Tired of spending money to develop loads for 4166, find many in different rifles, and then they drop the powder. Maybe it was too good. Adios!

 

[SecondsCount]

What primers you running? If I may ask

These 5 shot groups at 100 yards were with BR4 primers, and breezy conditions.

 

[Doom]

Two comments.

Don't think that 8208 is going to be any easier to find than Varget. It dried up before Varget.

N135 is a powder that I like in light 223 (52 and 53 gr) loads. Good velocity and a full case. Does well in 308 with 168s. Works great in my 20" 308.

 

[searcher]

If anyone is finding their way to Ventura County, Calif., I have Varget, 8208 and some 4166 I'd like to part with. I posted it a while back - but I guess no one locally needed it.

 

[Clancy]

Varget has been available every day since at least September, maybe earlier. It’s not hard to find.

For a substitute, N140 or SWP are the most readily available.

 

[Fern]

Too bad your not in Phoenix I have a sealed 8lb of 4166 I am getting rid of since I doesn’t develope load for anything.

 

[gnatmm]

'Precision' (Czech Explosia's Lovex S062) is an excellent single-based short-cut tubular powder with similar performance to VarGet. It's very well suited to heavier bullets in the 223, 62gn and above. In this cartridge, it acts as a bit slower burning and you likely wouldn't get H4895 or VarGet MV…omissis…

Hey @Laurie thanks for this. Not aiming to highjack the thread, but on a side node what powder would you primarily use for PRS shooting among the EU Varget clones available? Being cold burning, single based, temp stable the most important characteristic for the job. 6 Bra / Dasher calibers, 105-115 pills. Thank you.

 

[Fuj]

I gave up my lone lb. of Reloder 15.5 before testing to a good friend
that did. He's loving in in his Dashers, and he's picky ??

 

[ggshoots]

Thanks to everyone, a lot of great info. In my area 8208 has been very hard to find and I have just started to see Varget a little bit. To me it makes sense if switching or starting any new loads to stay with powders that have been available most through this whole powder shortage, if they work for the purpose.