Varget & SW Precision

[SSchnd]

I just finished a batch of Varget in a Win M70 chambered in 6BRAi and a 8 twist Kreiger with some miles on it. 30" barrel has been set back once by Northridge and its a shooter.

Good friend let me borrow this rifle and eventually sold me it and two lots of Lapua brass.
I had been shooting (stealing more like it) Berger 105 hybrids and loading those Lapua brass with H4895. Known loads and going MR to LR with some success. Sling shooter as its in a Anshutz stock.

As I got it now, I am loading that same brass with SMK107' Using his known Varget load for a SMK107 30.1 gr Varget
I had to go up to 31.0 grains to reach the same mild velocity of 2848 fps in the same brass. Both he and I run a CCI 450.

This brass is about 5 and now 6th firing and I have been to two matches this year. Xero data is solid with low SD/ES.2850, SD 7.4 ES 12-14

My questions are, is Varget lot to lot different? And would more firing make a difference on the brass? I doubt that! but I am using a LE Wilson Die not Whidden.

Chamber is a .272 no turn. Like I said his known load and his Varget seems to be faster than what my lot of Varget was.

Next question for anyone familiar with the Varget and the SW Precision.
Should I start low at 29.8 - 30.1 gr of SW Precision or would one think as I am using 31.0 gr Varget now would you just roll up 5 rounds at 31.0 SW Precision and test it? I think I know the answer, but I guess i am looking to some insight from those with experience of this same conundrum.

This rifle again is 6BRAi not a straight BR and the SW load dates max for a BR is

6mm BR Norma

Norma

107

107 GR. SIERRA MK

2.295

24.0

2,299

29.3

2,692

58,475

24"

Thanks in advance and sorry about beating this horse more.

 

[Rick300]

I have seen some pretty wild lot to lot variations in Varget. It's always a crap shoot when you buy some on how it's going to perform. I tried SW Precision in a 6 BRA and it pressured out before I could get to any respectable velocity.

 

[SSchnd]

Thanks Rick, it was a free lot of 4 lbs so I hope its good for me. I do have N135 in reserve if my results are the same as yours.

 

[rockhound78]

I tried it and had to go up .2 grains over my Varget load, to match my Varget load. That said, I was only shooting 80 gr bullets

 

[Gunnut26]

I tried SW Precision in a BRA and found same thing as Rick. Hit pressure before I ever reached a speed I was happy with. Shot good and grouped great tho.

 

[Bob3700]

I purchase powder in 8 lb jugs. By the case when available. That keeps lot to lot variations to a minimum. I have not found Varget to vary wildly between different lots.
That said, I have converted from Varget to VV140. More available n better price on the jugs n just as accurate.

 

[Fuj]

I shot some Precision when it was first available and claims were out
about how close it was to Varget. Varget was unobtanium so why not ??
It did mimic Varget but It did get peaky on the upper end. $24.50 was
what i was paying per pound. Varget at the time was $36.50.

 

[SSchnd]

Thank you all so far, great info. I will not start at 31.0 gr then. As always, I will run a few from the low end to see where it hits on the chrono. Interesting part is I have N135 and was using it in place of H4895 in a 223 30" F TR barrel and with the same charge of 29.8 in this rifle I was hitting the H4895 velocity
The New 107;s were at touch for this brief testing

Old Open Tip SMK 107
29.5 N135 Old 107 SMK (open tip) 2816 fps
29.8 N135 Old 107 SMK (open tip) 2850 fps
30.1 N135 same old SMK 107 2865 fps
30.4 N135 Old 107 SMK 2875 fps

Bore allowed to cool between tests

New SMK107 (pointed, or closed meplat)
29.8 N135 New SMK 107 2840 fps
30.1 N135 New SMK 107 2861 fps

I was just testing for velocity that day running short tests of 5 shots loading at the range

I can get more velocity from the N135 with a grain less powder and then some.
I was not jump testing that day. But looking for a speed preference around the mid 2800 fps area. Headed to Sierra Cup with this old gal and the varget in two lots of brass . Maybe I try the SW powder maybe I go right to the N135 and see how my Base to Ogive measurement shoots with that. Or just try both and compare. its only bullets poweder and primers right?!

My buddy says to just switch to N135 or buy 140/150.

I thought Varget and SW Precision were close in to each other so I very much appreciate the real world knowledge you guys are sharing.

I had to move the scope and stock settings and that made me rezero the optic, a quick validation string of ten shots from sling early Saturday morning at 100 on the MR31 target. Lot 1 brass. 31.0 varget 107. We shall see if I can keep em centered at Sierra Cup.

 

[CaptainMal]

One of my BRA'a likes 108 Bergers with 31.5 gr. of SW Precision. I average 2948 fps with it.

Think my BRA with Varget and 103's get about that with 31 gr.

 

[Aero]

I bought a bunch of the Shooters World powders back in 2020 when Midway had a sale going on ($167 for 8# jug). 2 jugs of Precision were in that order.

I tried a little in a straight 6BR and it worked fine. 223 as well with heavy bullets. What I really got it for was a cheaper alternative and maybe better availability to the Varget I was using at the time to feed my Palma rifle.

Using the exact same charge weight of Precision as the lot of Varget I was using at the time produced nearly identical velocities/sd/es. Groups were a toss up also, but for whatever reason the Varget load would shoot a little less vertical at 1K. At 600 it was a toss up.

SW Precision always seemed to shoot dirtier as well, but I didn't see accuracy fall off after a day of shooting.

I've since moved over to VV for my Palma loads as well as a lot of other stuff and with SW Precision now 3 1/2 times the price as just 4 1/2 years ago, it has become much less attractive for my uses.

 

[Texas Solo]

I've always found much variation in lots of Varget. I've been buying 8lb jugs to minimize that. But when my current jug of Varget is gone, I'm thinking I'll try N140.

 

[garapan]

Thank you all so far, great info. I will not start at 31.0 gr then. As always, I will run a few from the low end to see where it hits on the chrono. Interesting part is I have N135 and was using it in place of H4895 in a 223 30" F TR barrel and with the same charge of 29.8 in this rifle I was hitting the H4895 velocity
The New 107;s were at touch for this brief testing

Old Open Tip SMK 107
29.5 N135 Old 107 SMK (open tip) 2816 fps
29.8 N135 Old 107 SMK (open tip) 2850 fps
30.1 N135 same old SMK 107 2865 fps
30.4 N135 Old 107 SMK 2875 fps

Bore allowed to cool between tests

New SMK107 (pointed, or closed meplat)
29.8 N135 New SMK 107 2840 fps
30.1 N135 New SMK 107 2861 fps

I was just testing for velocity that day running short tests of 5 shots loading at the range

I can get more velocity from the N135 with a grain less powder and then some.
I was not jump testing that day. But looking for a speed preference around the mid 2800 fps area. Headed to Sierra Cup with this old gal and the varget in two lots of brass . Maybe I try the SW powder maybe I go right to the N135 and see how my Base to Ogive measurement shoots with that. Or just try both and compare. its only bullets poweder and primers right?!

My buddy says to just switch to N135 or buy 140/150.

I thought Varget and SW Precision were close in to each other so I very much appreciate the real world knowledge you guys are sharing.

I had to move the scope and stock settings and that made me rezero the optic, a quick validation string of ten shots from sling early Saturday morning at 100 on the MR31 target. Lot 1 brass. 31.0 varget 107. We shall see if I can keep em centered at Sierra Cup.

That’s some impressive accuracy and consistency. Looks ready for the Sierra Cup.

 

[SSchnd]

Thread drift for the Ole M70. Sort of. Changed powder to H4895 Saturday. Ran a quick bench test for Powder Ladder using same 1.880" BTO length. Lovely mid day with WNW Winds.

I am not a bench shooter so bare with me, but this will be used for the next match.
Short tests for group and velocity run same case, mandrel, 450 primer and bullets but H4895 in place of Varget at 31.0 gr that was about 2848

H4895 charges
29.6 gr 2811 fps
29.8 gr (usual charge for B105 hybrid) 2838 fps
30.0 gr 2857 fps the group got flat

Nothing really impressive group wise yet

30.2 gr 2874 fps very vertical
30.4 noted play with seating depth

30.6 the group came alive for this very small sample test 2896 fps
I will try this in a match. Brass had no pressure signs. Primers were good.

 

[Hoosier]

Thread drift for the Ole M70. Sort of. Changed powder to H4895 Saturday. Ran a quick bench test for Powder Ladder using same 1.880" BTO length. Lovely mid day with WNW Winds.

I am not a bench shooter so bare with me, but this will be used for the next match.
Short tests for group and velocity run same case, mandrel, 450 primer and bullets but H4895 in place of Varget at 31.0 gr that was about 2848

H4895 charges
29.6 gr 2811 fps
29.8 gr (usual charge for B105 hybrid) 2838 fps
30.0 gr 2857 fps the group got flat

Nothing really impressive group wise yet

30.2 gr 2874 fps very vertical
30.4 noted play with seating depth

30.6 the group came alive for this very small sample test 2896 fps
I will try this in a match. Brass had no pressure signs. Primers were good.

Are these loads for 6mm BR?

 

[SSchnd]

Are these loads for 6mm BR?

Win M70 chambered in 6BRAi and a 8 twist Kreiger with some miles on it