RE15 or Varget?

[NoahbodyImportant]

RE15 or Varget with SMK 80gr (and/or 75/77gr)

I have used Varget and I am pleased with the results.

Any advantage or possibility to switching to RE15?

I know I should test... but what are you experiences?

Thanks

 

[Leaddog]

Good info here:

John Hollinger: http://www.whiteoakprecision.com/info-reloading.htm

NJ Hipower: http://www.njhighpower.com/cart_tech.htm

 

[Josh11]

I am actually doing to opposite, Im switching to Varget. RE-15 is dirty. Good accuracy though.

 

[XTR]

The big factor for me is temperature stability. If you are loading at the high end of MAX you don't want tha tload you worked up in the spring in the mid 60s getting too high while you wait for that last relay in 96F heat.

 

[Leaddog]

The big factor for me is temperature stability. If you are loading at the high end of MAX you don't want tha tload you worked up in the spring in the mid 60s getting too high while you wait for that last relay in 96F heat.

You need to chrono your loads and keep a logbook. Slight adjustments may or may not be necessary throughout the shooting season. You need to know where you are and the chrono will tell you. Also be sure to chrono new lots of powder. Don't wait until you start blowing out primers.

 

[nra-for-life]

I am actually doing to opposite, Im switching to Varget. RE-15 is dirty. Good accuracy though.

according to the link by charlie watson (White Oak Precision), RL-15 is cleaner...

under the first load with varget...
"Also, Varget powder burns dirtier than Reloader 15. "

not saying he is correct, just pointing out another opinion.

To the OP, what caliber is this for?

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

.223 Bushmaster DCM

I shoot in XTC matches and will load for 600yards this year.

Next year, I will load 75/77gr for 200 and 300 yards.

 

[johara1]

The problem with RL-15,none. problem with Varget, varies lot to lot to the point i gave up on it. THat BS. about temp. sensitive,they all are......jim

 

[K22]

I've been shooting Varget for several years out of my 308 and 223. Several shooters report lot to lot variation and while I'm not disputing their assertions, I haven't seen any more lot variation with Varget than any other powders I've tried. Also, I find Varget one of the cleanest powders I've ever shot, after brushing it only take me 5 to 6 patches and I'm comining out clean.

The truly amazing thing for me is that I have several 223 rifles from light weight sporters to heavy varminters and they all shoot Varget very well. However my experience is with 50 and 55 grain bullets.

 

[RStewart]

I use Varget in my .223 for 75 and 80 grain bullets. I have not seen the variation from lot to lot that people talk about, but that is just me. We shoot in Louisiana, so we have more issues dealing with heat than we do cold.
I know many HP and F-class shooters that swear by RL-15. But, I know just as many that swear by Varget. They are very close in characteristics, so I think it comes down to which one ypu think performs best.
I'm experimenting now with 8208 XBR. It is very clean and runs faster with less powder than Varget.

 

[lloydx2]

Tomato Tomauto. They will both clean an MR target. I don't know where John comes up with RE15 being cleaner. Between 223 and Dasher Ive switched back and forth so many times I cant remember. Varget is what I shoot now. I think. If you like it and you will. Go buy a bunch 16 24 lbs the same lot, work it up, and shoot it.

 

[fpskills]

Ive used both and my money is on RL 15. Every time I try both I get better numbers through the chronograph, so it's not for the lack of trying!
As far as the whole temp sensitive issue I haven't seen it, although I've only shot it in the warm months I've only had great results. I think where people are seeing the temp thing is somebody maybe using it for hunting and doing load development in the summer at 80 degrees and expecting it to not change in the cold like say around 20 or 30 degrees?? I've also shot a lot of RL22 in the cold and never had a problem with that either, maybe I've been just lucky??
Good luck

Adam

 

[jimbo88mm]

I've read elsewhere on the internets that double base powders are harder on barrels and that RL-15 is a double base powder.

Any truth to this harder on barrels bit?

 

[Taildrag15X]

Varget gets my vote, use it for 69gr. all the way up to Berger 90gr.'s...I'll never go back to R-15 for Competition loads unless Varget becomes extict.

I used N-135 and R-15 prior until after a load worked up over winter didn't group in the sping......I had to load for the weather with either.

 

[RStewart]

I've read elsewhere on the internets that double base powders are harder on barrels and that RL-15 is a double base powder.

Any truth to this harder on barrels bit?

Many of our HP shooters have well over 2000 rounds down their barrels using RL-15 and still going strong.

 

[tomswede]

I have shot 4000 rounds through two barrels (White Oak 223's) using R15. First one replaced to be safe, the second one still doing OK.

 

[amlevin]

I've used both and if I didn't have 24 lbs of Varget sitting under the bench I'd go to something else. It meters as if I'm feeding presto-logs through the powder measure.

I've recently done some playing around with 8208 XBR to see if it will flow through a Dillon powder measure better than Varget. So far, so good. Now all I need is a couple of days where the wind is less than 25 mph and less than three inches of rain per day (or what seems like that much) to shoot some more.

 

[Shynloco]

IMHO, the choice of powder depends on the performance when choosing between the Varget or RE15. Varget works better for me in 6mmbr, but RE15 works better in my .308. So perhaps caliber also has some input into which is better. But I have to say that in my experiences in using both powders extensively, Varget is easily the dirtier of the two powders. And I have never found RE15 to eat barrels and in fact would expect Varget to be more adverse to barrels because of the higher pressures reached for better accuracy.

 

[1shot]

According to QuickLoad the "heat of explosion" and I take that to mean the temperature of the burning of the powder, not the burn rate as it compares to the speed of the burning is as follows: Varget 4,050kg and RL-15 3,990kg. If these numbers are correct, then one could assume Varget to be harder on throats than RL-15. Personally, I have never been able to get the speed from Varget that I do with RL-15 in several different cartridges. BTW, I also find Varget to be a lot more "sooty" when I go to clean it.
If I’m way of base on the "heat of explosion" definition, I’m sure someone on here will correct me.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd