Varget how much difference in Lots ?

[hothead]

How much difference has there been found in different lots of varget ? i'm working on a 6mm br and there seems to be quite a bit. think i'm going to mix it all together and go for it.
HH

 

[338 Mollett]

I don't recommend it .You wont blow up your action but I don't think you can mix lot's evenly enough to get a true blend for a less es spread.If the lots are that different especially !Unless accuracy is not a concern.

 

[Old Navy]

I haven't found much difference in my BRX loads. Blending has been a topic her a few times. I do and so do a lot of others. Later!

 

[savagedasher]

I have found as much as 40FPS . After mixing I found no more the normal difference. Larry

 

[hothead]

Thanks Larry and all

 

[Mega]

If I am not mistaken isn't "Blending" and "Mixing Powder Lots" two entirely different things. Blending to me indicates mixing different breeds of powder not from the same manufacturer or even powder type.

Mixing lots of the same powder type or even comparing lot to lot of powders and saying they give differences I would think has a multitude of variants like how old is each powder lot, how long has it been stored and under what conditions which any one would possibly change the aspects of the powder in one container.

A friend of mine tests all powder lots that are manufactured by ADI here in Oz ( ADI = Hodgdon USA) and AR2208 (Varget) is one he personally uses a great deal in precision shooting, I'll have to ask him what is the standards they achieve in producing a new batch (lot) of a particular powder. Unfortunately he is in the USA at present on holiday plus doing some work with Hodgdon.

 

[savagedasher]

He ask about different lots of the same powder. Many of others have a pound of one lot or another lot the best thing I have found is mix them. If they are mixed properly together the will shot the same. I have 3 - 8 pounders and a half of a one pounder. I mixed them together and the shoot fine . Never mix a different powder with another. Larry

 

[WyleWD]

How much difference has there been found in different lots of varget ? i'm working on a 6mm br and there seems to be quite a bit. think i'm going to mix it all together and go for it.
HH

That is the reason I won't use Varget anymore. I gave it up 7 years ago.... Too much variation in it from lot to lot.

And in the last 3 months since it became more available I've had 5 different shooters tell me that they have had to reduce their pet loads by as much as 5-15% due to what they believe is that it is very fresh or rushed through the manufacturing process.

I'm not bashing it, as I know a LOT of people use it with great success and that is fine. But reloaders that are new to using it should keep some of this kind of stuff in mind. JME. WD

 

[markm87]

And in the last 3 months since it became more available I've had 5 different shooters tell me that they have had to reduce their pet loads by as much as 5-15% due to what they believe is that it is very fresh or rushed through the manufacturing process.

Good to know. I do remember reading accounts of this hear well before the recent panic.

Next time we stock up, I'm going to test specifically for this.

 

[lrgoodger]

I just opened a new 8# and ran a new ladder test (5/11/14) on one of my custom 6BR barrels to find out exactly this question. The previous ladder test was run 5 days before (5/6/14) with my old powder lot. I fired 5 shots per load across 6 incremental loads increasing by .3 grains each load from 29.8 to 31.3. The new batch is definitely hotter. Velocities increased from 25 fps faster on the lowest charge to 50 fps faster on the highest, increasing progressively with each charge. Ambient conditions were essentially the same.

 

[amlevin]

And in the last 3 months since it became more available

Are you kidding? Varget? More available? Where?

 

[Larryh128]

I bought some Benchmark last week at a local shop & he had lots of Varget. Also at some places that didn't have Benchmark. All in Central Michigan

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My local shop has had Varget in stock for a year, hes got h4831, h4350, h4895 and most others, but he cant get Alliant. I guess we dont have the panic buyers.

I have had issues with Varget. I have found some lot wont shoot. There not just different velocities. I have switched lots and did load development all over to find it wont shoot anywhere close to a different lot. I sure wouldnt mix a good lot with a bad lot. My opinion is to shoot all 3 lots, if they all shoot well but you need to adjust charges to make them shoot, mix em all together. If you find some lots shoot better, then obviously keep that lot pure. JMO.

 

[WyleWD]

And in the last 3 months since it became more available

Are you kidding? Varget? More available? Where?

Most local gunshops around here have had it in 1# in good numbers for several months now. Several shooters have told me that local stores are the only place they've been able to get it. WD

 

[Mega]

So, here it is from the "horse's mouth" so to speak. My friend that tests ADI Batch Lots.

The criteria from one batch to another is +/- 35 FPS to meet standards. In my mind that can possibly be a maximum difference of 70 FPS and that from the way the friend talks is a much tighter standard than most other powder manufacturers.

Batch lots that Hodgdon order from ADI can be from 2-5 Tonnes shipped in plastic bags od a few hundred kilograms.

Batch numbers manufactured for AR2208 (Varget) run in sequence and Hodgdon use those same batch numbers, SO, if your batch numbers are not in direct sequence you have a big variation in batches.

Temperature, moisture and the amount of time you, yourself store powder will have a big affect on the end velocity figures.

Once a bottle is opened it will change.

 

[letronshootit]

+1 Savagedasher blend them works for me