Varget, IMR4895 and H4895

[Joe R]

Hi Guys,
I'm a newbie shooting F/TR (mid-range and long-range) I have decided to switch from IMR8208xbr. I'm testing Varget and I'm very pleased with its performance (but it's difficult to find). I am using a 180 grain JLK through a 30" barrel.

While looking for H4895 I found a pound of IMR4895. Does anyone here have any experience with this powder? Should I buy it or keep looking for H4895?


If anyone has experience with all 3 powders (a difficult request, I know) I would really be interested in your opinion on your favorite.

All advice is greatly appreciated.

Joe

 

[jim_k]

IMR 4895 will get the best velocity of any of those powders, and its accuracy is excellent. There is no reason to use the other powders if you have a good supply of IMR 4895.
Jim

 

[ballison]

I've got all three, and tried H4895 and Varget in my 308. Varget was the winner hands down, especially if you're shooting heavier bullets (incl 180gr). Varget is impossible to find for a reason, everyone shoots it and it works. If all you can get is H4895 or IMR 4895, it's better than nothing, and worth trying. One thing to consider between the two is temp sensitivity. Hodgdon extreme powders (H series) are supposed to be much less temp sensitive than the IMR powders.

Best of luck

 

[nastynatesfish]

I ran all 3 in my savage ftr 30". I shot 175s. If you've been loading for it mine had a short throat. I could load at 2.79 and be touching lands. H4895 gave me best accuracy but not velocity that 4007 gave me

 

[Joe R]

I really appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to my question. You've come through again and provided the necessary info I needed.

I'm confident that Varget is an improvement over IMR8208 (I've been using it for a year), but I've also heard good things about H4895. Thanks to the information you've given me, now I can proceed with confidence.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[Dgd6mm]

Joe, I load the 185 Berger Juggs over H4895 and have winning accuracy at 1000 yards. I was going to try another powder or two, but have not. IMR 4064 interest. me.

 

[Macropod]

We use AR2206H (H4895 in the US) and AR2208 (Varget in the US) both Thales ADI powders manufactured over here (Australia). Varget has the optimum burn rate for maximum velocity but H4895 isn't far behind and I have found a lot cleaner.
I prefer AR2206H as it tends not to carbon foul as much. Both can shoot extremely well, but AR2206H I have found to be exceptionally accurate.

 

[Joe R]

Wow guys, good stuff, keep it coming.

Dgd6mm said:
IMR 4064 interest. me.

Don, I thought I would give IMR4064 another look also, but QuickLoad is telling me that there isn't enough case capacity to get a 180 grain bullet to around 2,740 fps. But I don't know that as a fact. I haven't tried it recently, but I do remember that it has very long sticks and it didn't measure well. Having said that, it was a tack driver for Sierra's 168 grains HPBT.

Macropod said:
We use AR2206H (H4895 in the US) and AR2208 (Varget in the US) both Thales ADI powders manufactured over here (Australia)

Lucky you, close to the source of good powder and you don't have to deal with President Banana shenanigans.

Joe

 

[Macropod]

We have our own morons in politics as well Joe .

Although the powders are made here, they are stupidly expensive. 4 kg jugs of AR2206H are around $320...

We also have supply issues as well sometimes even though it is made here. Go figure ???

 

[padom]

Not sure about the 180's but 42g IMR4064 with 175smk shoots sub 0.50" 5 shot groups all day long and chronos at 2646fps out of my 5R 24" barrel. 43.5g with the 175smk chronos at 2768.

Recently installed a new scope on my 5R, laser bore sighted at 50yds then zeroed at 100yds with this load then shot a few groups. Accuracy was same as always.

 

[Joe R]

padom
Not sure about the 180's but 42g IMR4064 with 175smk shoots sub 0.50" 5 shot groups all day long and chronos at 2646fps out of my 5R 24" barrel. 43.5g with the 175smk chronos at 2768.

Wow, this is good to know. How long (OAL) are you loading your rounds with the 175smk?

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[padom]

padom
Not sure about the 180's but 42g IMR4064 with 175smk shoots sub 0.50" 5 shot groups all day long and chronos at 2646fps out of my 5R 24" barrel. 43.5g with the 175smk chronos at 2768.

Wow, this is good to know. How long (OAL) are you loading your rounds with the 175smk?

Kindest regards,

Joe

Sorry but I don't measure COAL as it is so inconsistent from bullet to bullet, I measure off the ogive. This load is seated to 2.2155" Ogive using Hornady bullet comparator gauge with digital calipers. Pretty sure COAL is in the 2.805-2.810" range but don't hold me to that as I don't log COAL data.

My AR10 loves 42.4g H4895 with the 175smk and that same load shoots very tight groups in my 5R but its slower than my 4064 load. 42.4g H4895 chronos at 2587 in 38F temps. I'm currently looking for high node with H4895/175smk for my 5R. I need it to be in the 2675-2725fps range. I regularly shoot out to 1100 and want as much velocity as I can get within reason while staying accurate to help minimize the wind factor as much as possible.

 

[Joe R]

Padom,
Good shooting. I believe those are very nice groups considering they are from an AR-10 in 15mph wind. I'm impressed.

Joe