Varget contaminated with Trail Boss?

[LCazador]

Great customer service! I'll add that hopefully they will contact everyone that bought that lot number.

 

[tommeboy]

So you have seen this possible contamination on numerous occasions?

I was quoting the guy that had varget and ball powder mixed. It works very well to get ball powder out of extruded powder. People screw up at times at home and sometimes you don't have to throw something away if you can fix it.

 

[SecondsCount]

Free donuts with every bottle!

 

[OldM1Shooter]

go to walmart and get a SS mesh collider strainer. The holes are large enough for some types of ball to fall through but not varget.

I have seen several people try this and has worked each time

Mmmyeah...maybe 30 years ago I saw an article somewhere about people sieving W-W 748 into coarse, medium, and fine particle size. Don't remember the claimed accuracy/velocity spread improvements though. These nuts of course were using different mesh sizes. So I join that recommendation mainly because the TB is so much larger.

 

[Hipshoot]

Funny, I just found an Unk. brown Beetle in a 1 lb. can of Reloader 22 yesterday.

Hip

 

[morpheus]

Just as another data point, my 8.8# kegs of Varget (lot MEM7779) do NOT contain any Trail Boss contaminants. I purchased these two kegs from Scheels in Overland Park, KS on 28-Sep-2025.

 

[greatlakespilot]

I picked up two 8.8 jugs this weekend. I only opened one and it has trail boss contamination. Contacted Hodgdon, they had me send in some pics, waiting to hear back. Lot number MEM7792 both jugs. I’m only seeing very very very minimal pieces mixed in. Like if I had to guess, one piece per half pound but haven’t dumped any out. Just shaking it up and looking at it. Sucks cause I got these on sale with price match for 383.

 

[rwj]

I picked up two 8.8 jugs this weekend. I only opened one and it has trail boss contamination. Contacted Hodgdon, they had me send in some pics, waiting to hear back. Lot number MEM7792 both jugs. I’m only seeing very very very minimal pieces mixed in. Like if I had to guess, one piece per half pound but haven’t dumped any out. Just shaking it up and looking at it. Sucks cause I got these on sale with price match for 383.

I have a jug from the same lot number that has yet to show signs of contamination. The unique shape of the different powders makes it relatively easy to detect contamination in this instance. Makes one wonder how often stick shaped powders, having different burn characteristics, become commingled and are not detected?

 

[David Conder]

I don’t buy powder that has been open!!! I use on my loading bench only 1powder at a time. A put it a way before I use anything other powder. I have seen people mix two powders together. Bad news

 

[topclass2017]

Crap! Just opened my 8.8# jug of Varget, Lot MEM7792...and it, too, has the little roundies in it. Not alot, but visually identifiable using a flashlight into the jug hole. Don't remember where I got it (recently).

I'll be following along to see what the consensus is on this, and will contact Hodgdon in the meantime.

 

[chop house]

I got these on sale

Well, there ya' go. always a catch, eh.

 

[greatlakespilot]

Hodgdon got back to me. Told me to dispose of the jugs, and not use the 200 rounds I already loaded. They will send out two new jugs once I sign the release form. No sorry for the inconvience or wasted ammo.

 

[greatlakespilot]

And for the record these were sealed new, bought form bass pro.

 

[greatlakespilot]

I have a jug from the same lot number that has yet to show signs of contamination. The unique shape of the different powders makes it relatively easy to detect contamination in this instance. Makes one wonder how often stick shaped powders, having different burn characteristics, become commingled and are not detected?

Did you shoot any of the lot number? Curious to see if you noticed anything unusual about it? And why is this not being recalled. Kinda assume if it was very unsafe that would force a massive recall. But since it’s minor contamination, they are just replacing on a case by case basis?

 

[bugman]

Hodgdon got back to me. Told me to dispose of the jugs, and not use the 200 rounds I already loaded. They will send out two new jugs once I sign the release form. No sorry for the inconvience or wasted ammo.

That release form is a corporate cover-your-ass.
FWIW, this is a serious safety issue, and lawsuits have been filed for a lot less......but that is your personal decision
The no apology form letter from a tech would piss me off. If nothing else, you should consider going directly to his boss, and asking about the time and hassle of loading (and unloading) 200 cases.

 

[rwj]

Did you shoot any of the lot number? Curious to see if you noticed anything unusual about it? And why is this not being recalled. Kinda assume if it was very unsafe that would force a massive recall. But since it’s minor contamination, they are just replacing on a case by case basis?

I’ve not loaded any rounds from the lot in question. A visual inspection was performed by pouring a large amount onto a sheet of 18X48 paper after reading this thread. Only powder sticks were observed, no little donuts.

We can only guess if there will be a recall. Commingled powder is definitely not a good thing and I will not use this lot pending Hodgdon’s response. Fortunately, I have a wide selection of powders to use… including other Varget lots.

 

[bozo699]

Hodgdon got back to me. Told me to dispose of the jugs, and not use the 200 rounds I already loaded. They will send out two new jugs once I sign the release form. No sorry for the inconvience or wasted ammo.

I guess it’s a good thing they replaced it but I agree with you and another response to your post that a heart felt were very sorry and here’s a 3rd 8 pounder for all your trouble with our product!……we all know that they probably have $10 out of pocket per jug which is very cheap compared to the lawsuit your wife would have filed if the bolt ended up in your brain pan!… very poor customer service at best!… I have many 8 lb and 1 lb jugs of Varget I better check my lot numbers!
Wayne

P. S good luck to all of you with bad lots

 

[Rickhem]

I can remember reading an article in a magazine, this was long before the internet, about the little yellow flakes in 700X powder. The author claimed to have separated those yellow flakes from a jug of powder, in sufficient quantity to load a few 12 gauge shells, with his usual load, and then he went out and shot them. He claimed they worked exactly the same as the regular 700X loads. From my recollection, he didn't offer any guess as to why they were yellow colored, just that they worked exactly the same for him.

 

[Leo_B]

I'll go unpopular and say they did ok because many wouldn't even give you new product. Not saying anyone here, but there are people out there who would combine a small batch just to get the two free jugs of powders. After recent failure experience with Safariland and the Bianchi speed strips Hodgdon gets high marks on this.

 

[dixiecricket]

Ive seen stray Trailboss donuts in my Varget last weekend. The 1lb can is several years old. I loaded and shot with it anyways and dont believe that a donut or two poses a real safety hazard to me or my 308W.