Varget lot to lot veriation

[Billy 30-06]

I ran out of Varget and got a new 8lbs that's much slower. I load almost a grain more to get the same velocity in my .308 but not the same accuracy. I've loaded 42grs. behind the 175gr SMK for 2601 fps @ 54*F up to 44grs for 2741 fps @55*F 1/2 gr at a time with out seeing the accuracy I got with the older powder. 42grs of the old powder shot great with low SDs. With the new powder the SDs are 17.63 fps @42grs and lower to 6.33 @ 42.5grs. SDs stay low from 42.5grs up to 44grs.
Another bad thing is my AR likes Varget behind the 77gr SMK and with this slower lot my velocity may be lower. You can't get but so much Varget in a .223 case.
Some folks get better accuracy with IMR 4064 in their .308s so I'm going to work with that next.
Billy

 

[Bart B.]

Your lot differences are normal.

4064 was and still is an excellent powder for 168 to 190 grain bullets in 308 cases. Same charge weights for each weight across several barrels did well across all powder lots.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have seen this in the past with some Hodgdon powders. I now try my best to figure out barrel life and purchase the amount needed of the same lot up front. This works for me....May not for other.

 

[Bill K]

Variations are a fact of life with powder from lot to lot. All the manufacture's and loading manuals advise of that fact and to take it into consideration when you change lots of the same powder.
All you really can do is re-work your load if you notice a difference.

 

[DRNewcomb]

I made the mistake of not rechronographing my loads after changing lots of Varget and wasn't even on the paper at 600.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I ran out of Varget and got a new 8lbs that's much slower. I load almost a grain more to get the same velocity in my .308 but not the same accuracy. I've loaded 42grs. behind the 175gr SMK for 2601 fps @ 54*F up to 44grs for 2741 fps @55*F 1/2 gr at a time with out seeing the accuracy I got with the older powder. 42grs of the old powder shot great with low SDs. With the new powder the SDs are 17.63 fps @42grs and lower to 6.33 @ 42.5grs. SDs stay low from 42.5grs up to 44grs.
Another bad thing is my AR likes Varget behind the 77gr SMK and with this slower lot my velocity may be lower. You can't get but so much Varget in a .223 case.
Some folks get better accuracy with IMR 4064 in their .308s so I'm going to work with that next.
Billy

Been seeing this for years . I shoot Palma 45.5 to 46.7 to get the same Velocity .

 

[BenPerfected]

Consider taking all your Varget lots and mix it all together. In other words, you make your own lot. My current ”lot” is made from (2) 8 lbs jugs of Varget & it will last my shift. I just put it all 16 lbs in a big bucket, stirred it and put it back in the jugs.
Ben

 

[Billy 30-06]

Consider taking all your Varget lots and mix all together.

I don't have any Varget to mix. I may try some different bullets like 185gr Juggernauts and see if the slower powder works with a heavier bullet.
Billy

 

[Bart B.]

I don't have any Varget to mix. I may try some different bullets like 185gr Juggernauts and see if the slower powder works with a heavier bullet.

185 and 190 grain bullets over 42 grains of IMR4064 or 44 grains of IMR4320 in 308 cases won a lot of matches and set records some years ago. As did 48 grains of IMR4350 under 200 grain bullets. Prolly do the same now.

 

[Bart B.]

I made the mistake of not rechronographing my loads after changing lots of Varget and wasn't even on the paper at 600.

Never had any different lot of same powders cause a 3.6 MOA vertical zero change at 600, about 1 MOA at most.

 

[JamesnTN]

185 and 190 grain bullets over 42 grains of IMR4064 or 44 grains of IMR4320 in 308 cases won a lot of matches and set records some years ago. As did 48 grains of IMR4350 under 200 grain bullets. Prolly do the same now.

Ok how temp stable is 4064 and 4320?

To my understanding that federal is using it in their Gold medal match ammo for the 308 and 175 grain Bullets. So it must do well.

 

[Bart B.]

Ok how temp stable is 4064 and 4320?

To my understanding that federal is using it in their Gold medal match ammo for the 308 and 175 grain Bullets. So it must do well.

I've shot both in 20 to 100 degrees F and had no significant problems if rounds are not laying out cooking in sunlight.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Never had any different lot of same powders cause a 3.6 MOA vertical zero change at 600, about 1 MOA at most.

There could be other reasons. Maybe the scope got bumped. Hard to isolate all the possible unknowns until I load some more and drag the chronograph to the range.

 

[BenPerfected]

I don't have any Varget to mix. I may try some different bullets like 185gr Juggernauts and see if the slower powder works with a heavier bullet.
Billy

My input was based on the Bill K post. If you settle on one powder, mix the lots together so you don’t have to start over. I have been mixing my own lot Varget that has lasted 2-3 years.
Ben

 

[rsmithsr50]

now you know why some br shooters buy a bunch of ONE lot of powder

 

[bozo699]

now you know why some br shooters buy a bunch of ONE lot of powder

I always try to buy at least enough for the season and the life of the barrel if possible.
Wayne

 

[Dub]

I bought 16 lbs of one lot. hope that does it but I am willing to rework my load if not

 

[T-shooter]

I ran out of Varget and got a new 8lbs that's much slower. I load almost a grain more to get the same velocity in my .308 but not the same accuracy. I've loaded 42grs. behind the 175gr SMK for 2601 fps @ 54*F up to 44grs for 2741 fps @55*F 1/2 gr at a time with out seeing the accuracy I got with the older powder. 42grs of the old powder shot great with low SDs. With the new powder the SDs are 17.63 fps @42grs and lower to 6.33 @ 42.5grs. SDs stay low from 42.5grs up to 44grs.
Another bad thing is my AR likes Varget behind the 77gr SMK and with this slower lot my velocity may be lower. You can't get but so much Varget in a .223 case.
Some folks get better accuracy with IMR 4064 in their .308s so I'm going to work with that next.
Billy

I've see slightly better accuracy with IMR4064 but it's more sensitive to temperature than Varget.
Here are some loads that seem to work with the .308. Slower works better for me. I have a 22" 1/10 barrel and set the jump to .025". These , if I do my part, will shoot at or under 1/2" at 215 yards.

Hornday 168g Match or Sierra 168 M/K:
IMR4064 41.7 grains (about 2,570 fps)
Varget 42.2 grains (about 2,580 fps)

Hornady 208g A-Max or ELD
41.5 grains Varget (2,430 fps)

 

[Dub]

IMR4895 is my alternate to Varget

 

[rsmithsr50]

I shoot n140 with lapua 185's and imr4064 with 175's