Varget powder for .222 caliber

[dan2116]

Has anyone used or is using Varget powder for .222 caliber rifle? I have quite a bit of this powder and am looking to add a .222 to my collection. Will be using 50gr bullets .

 

[STP]

IMR4198 has been the "go to" powder for the .222Rem. Give Varget a try...who knows, your rifle may respond where others have not.

Regards,

Scott

 

[bheadboy]

The bulk will be the negative, the case will not hold enough to give the velocity, in my opinion,

Bob

 

[BoydAllen]

Too slow....4198, benchmark, 322, 133, 748, 2520, RL 7, RL 10, and probably more
Some of the slower ones make it because of their greater density (ball).

 

[MrMajestic]

Too slow....4198, benchmark, 322, 133, 748, 2520, RL 7, RL 10, and probably more
Some of the slower ones make it because of their greater density (ball).

What he said. N133 will have you shooting bugholes in no time!

 

[ReedG]

I just added a .222 to my stable and when doing load work-up last week, one of the smallest groups (.185") was with Varget. By all means give it a try. I am a Varget lover but was surprised to get good results in the .222. When chatting with shooters at our match this weekend, the common statement was that "there isn't a powder that won't shoot in the .222". Enjoy ...

 

[BoydAllen]

Reed,
I guess I was thinking of powders that give a good amount of velocity, which I would be surprised if Varget did. Did you chronograph your load? Having switched to a 6PPC some time back, my view of the deuce is colored by it being my favorite varmint caliber. I really like the 40 grain VMaxes in front of Benchmark, and Federal primers. HOWEVER, for punching paper a little loss of velocity is nothing if accuracy is gained. See what you have done. Now I have to try some.
Boyd

 

[ReedG]

Boyd, I'm a Varget-aholic and most of the guys at my range have a few jokes about me using it all the time. I did not Chrony any of them because I tend to not care what the speed is when I'm first testing. The only numbers I care about are the group sizes. Hodgdon data lists the load of 25.0 Varget with a 53-gr. Hornady at 3.097 fps which is second in speed only to their IMR8208 load. I hope to find a load that works with either H322 or H4198 as they both work well enough in my Harrell's measure so I don't have to weigh. Varget is just coarse enough that it'll "get ya" every once in a while. FWIW, I don't need my loads within .001 of a grain!

P.S. Most accurate load I've ever had in my .223 AI with factory bullets is 40-gr. V-Max over 28.1-gr. of Varget.

 

[BoydAllen]

Reed,
Current manuals are so lawyer edited as to be ridiculous. My old 52gr hp match load moved out at 3,250, and my 40 gr. varmint load probably exceeds that by 150-200 fps. I forget. I agree that for punching paper, at 100 yd. it does not matter, but since the advent of the PPC, the .222 has primarily done varmint duty, and for that, for me, velocity matters. Congratulations on your fine results.
Boyd

 

[ReedG]

I concur with all that, Boyd. This .222 for me is a plaything and fits into the "I never had one of those" category. It is nigh on impossible to win a BR match today with a .222 and getting there for the 6 PPC in the score game but, for those of us who only shoot for the fun of it, it's a blast. My will to compete is never as high as my disease of trying this and trying that.

 

[dan2116]

When you say 4198 is this IMR4198? I have H335 on hand and Hodgdon H332 is available at a good price.Or does it just come down to try them all and see which one works best in this particular gun (Remington 700BDL standard barrel weight 1-14 twist).Bullets using are 50gr Hornady Ballistic tips and Sierra 50gr Blitz Kings.

 

[BoydAllen]

either
yes

 

[bheadboy]

my experience, imr4198 and h4198 are simular but not the same, close enough but you may find one better than theother in your rifle,

Also,h322 works well and a close burn rate i found to work AA2015. both flow well and give good velocity for the small case.

Bob