New substitute for Varget?

[jelenko]

Here's what my understanding of 'hoarding' is: excessively save items that others may view as worthless.

Keeping a supply of parts to ensure 'production' is good inventory management.

 

[JimSC]

We all know that reloading supply fluctuates on the political situation of the moment. Critical supplies such as powder and primers become scarce as politicians threaten the 2nd Amendment. Those who keep their head in the sand and can't foresee the need to stock up when supply is plentiful and prices are reasonable will sit home and wish they were at the range, when others will enjoy range time.

I agree, I learned my lesson 12 years ago. I still remember moving a workbench looking for a dropped primer. Unless the present shortage lasts several more years that won't happen again

 

[rjtfroggy]

By the way. Still shooting one of your "pet" loads for 223 that were over at savageshooters...24 gr. IMR 4895 with 60gr Sierra....I substituted a 60gr Nosler for the Sierra.[/QUOTE]

Wbm, how does it shoot, I was shooting five in a dime when shooting it. I still have a couple of hundred loaded and ready to go, and about 350 sierras ready to load if need be.

 

[Michael C]

Recently I have started to change my thinking about buying powder. I am looking at powder in terms of barrel life. I mostly shoot palma and NRA/CMP xtc, and my barrels last longer than you F type guys. However, I think buying enough powder to cover the life of one barrel makes sense. The other day I looked at my powder supply and said, “ok, that is about three palma barrels.” The powder is actually three different types but all suitable for a 155g bullet in a 308 case going 3020fps. I wish it was all Varget, but, its not. No big deal. Lots of powders work for what I do. It’s not hoarding, it’s planning. I shoot about 3k rounds of palma a year, maybe a bit more. I shoot about 2k rounds XTC, but, most of that is 200 reduced. I just decided last week that the powder I am using in my service rifle and space gun can change to a ball type powder and save the good stick powders for long range shooting. So, I purchased some CFE223. I have never used it before but think I can make it work in my 223 serve/match rifles well enough.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Nothing wrong with CFE223. The only draw back is it smells like hell when firing it at the range. I think has ammonia added to cut down on brass fowling.

 

[USMCDOC]

Varget.

it's the accent

 

[coldboreshot]

I have used VV140 grain-for-grain in my .308 loads. Works great for me. Came in handy several years go when Varget was almost non existent.

 

[Catgunguy]

I agree with "coldboreshot," N140 seems to duplicate Varget with Peterson brass and 155gr.Nosler custom competition in my DPMS LR-308.

 

[Nature Boy]

N140 is a 1 for 1 with Varget for my .308 165g Nosler BT hunting load. 44g gives me the same speed and accuracy

 

[majohnson]

Another post for IMR 4064 as a substitute for Varget, the other plus is availability. Varget supplies seem to dry anytime there is negative gun press in the news, or like now when it election season. It shoots great in 308 for F-Class.

 

[wbm]

WBM how does it shoot, I was shooting five in a dime when shooting it. I still have a couple of hundred loaded and ready to go, and about 350 sierras ready to load if need be

Shot a 10 shot group a few weeks ago and letting the barrel cool while shooting another rifle. Took about half an hour to shoot the 10 but it ended up in a .50" group. Not too shabby.

 

[RossL]

The last time I had a hard time finding Varget it was back in 2009. I happened to see an Accurate shooter article on IMR 8208 XBR. I found some and haven't gone back to varget for my 30 BR, 6 BR or 308.

In the article Hodgdon say: " exhibits exceptional stability with virtually no change in velocity at temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to 165+ degrees F."

Hodgdon Releases Impressive New IMR 8208 XBR Powder « Daily Bulletin

Hodgdon Powder Co. has unveiled a brand new powder, IMR 8208 XBR. From early reports, this is an exceptional new propellant that may change the way the game is played in short-range benchrest.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Jtate]

I believe that Varget = N140. The funny thing is when you look at the powder companies load Data, Vihtavuori is very conservative compared to Hodgdon. In a 308 win pushing a 168 gn. projectile max 41.8 gn VS 45gn.

 

[hoz53]

At yesterday's match I overheard some folks talking about a new powder that's a cheaper, readily available, competitor to Varget. I was shooting at the time and just picked up bits and pieces of the chatter through my electronic ear muffs and didn't think to ask around afterward. Any idea what the chatter was about?

Varget is in the rear view mirror for me to.
This thread is a good one helping people identify alternatives- Thanks

 

[JimSC]

I have a feeling all of the extruded powders made by ADI and marketed by Hogdon/IMR will be scarce for a while. I recently read about shipping container regulations for smokeless powder being tightened and dock worker strikes in Australia.

Varget, Clays, H4350, Retumbo, 4831SC, 8208 XBR, Benchmark, H322, H1000, H50 BMG, H4198, and Trail Boss may all be awhile getting back on the shelves in any quantity.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The last time I had a hard time finding Varget it was back in 2009. I happened to see an Accurate shooter article on IMR 8208 XBR. I found some and haven't gone back to varget for my 30 BR, 6 BR or 308.

In the article Hodgdon say: " exhibits exceptional stability with virtually no change in velocity at temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to 165+ degrees F."

Hodgdon Releases Impressive New IMR 8208 XBR Powder « Daily Bulletin

Hodgdon Powder Co. has unveiled a brand new powder, IMR 8208 XBR. From early reports, this is an exceptional new propellant that may change the way the game is played in short-range benchrest.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

11 years and it still hasnt changed the game

 

[Laurie]

11 years and it still hasnt changed the game

I don't think it (Hodgdon Powder Co) can short of chartering freight flights or ships from Australia to the US. Everything I've heard / read over the years on this issue says that the Australia to USA shipping link is the choke-point in ADI product supply to northern hemisphere markets. To be precise, it is the New Zealand call that the sole shipping line on the route makes as its harbour has restrictive maximum dangerous goods tonnages set on some berths and a ship's master may therefore find himself moored offshore for lengthy periods waiting acceptance if no suitable berth is available. Ships masters therefore limit what they load to the lowest common denominator giving immediate berthing. With fixed supply ceilings and rapidly growing demands for some Hodgdon / ADI products, shortages and rationing are inevitable.

Remember too, that as of last year, none of this range can be imported to Europe, so what we got until early last year has been diverted (or you could say 'returned') to North America ..... and that's barely dented the under-supply situation for you. (The Sales & Marketing Director of the Europe distributor told me maybe four, five years ago what the VarGet back-order figure had reached. I can't remember exactly, but it was either 10,000 or 12,000 plus pounds.)

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I don't think it (Hodgdon Powder Co) can short of chartering freight flights or ships from Australia to the US. Everything I've heard / read over the years on this issue says that the Australia to USA shipping link is the choke-point in ADI product supply to northern hemisphere markets. To be precise, it is the New Zealand call that the sole shipping line on the route makes as its harbour has restrictive maximum dangerous goods tonnages set on some berths and a ship's master may therefore find himself moored offshore for lengthy periods waiting acceptance if no suitable berth is available. Ships masters therefore limit what they load to the lowest common denominator giving immediate berthing. With fixed supply ceilings and rapidly growing demands for some Hodgdon / ADI products, shortages and rationing are inevitable.

Remember too, that as of last year, none of this range can be imported to Europe, so what we got until early last year has been diverted (or you could say 'returned') to North America ..... and that's barely dented the under-supply situation for you. (The Sales & Marketing Director of the Europe distributor told me maybe four, five years ago what the VarGet back-order figure had reached. I can't remember exactly, but it was either 10,000 or 12,000 plus pounds.)

If you meant to quote me i was saying the xbr8208 was touted by hodgdon to be a game changer in the benchrest game but i was saying its been out for 11years and hasnt yet. Before this shortage it was readily available at every store

 

[59FLH]

Varget with a Maryland twang gets you ”Vargat”

That's Vargat - Hon, he's from Rowsdale.

 

[David Milisock]

Nothing wrong with CFE223. The only draw back is it smells like hell when firing it at the range. I think has ammonia added to cut down on brass fowling.

I believe that's Akardite (urea) which is used as a burn control if I'm not mistaken.