Varget vs H4895....

[Judd]

In regard to temp consistency. What are the differences between Varget and H4895? Is there somewhere where a temp sensitive and powder scale listing is published?

 

[FroggyOne2]

Never had a problem either, till the temps were 100 degrees and the humdity was through the roof! And then it still shot well, just flattened the primers a bit!

 

[DHD]

I am not aware of any chart regarding temperature sensitivity, but who knows?

I use a lot of Varget, Re15, and H4895 in my rifles. I have never seen any difference in normal loads between Varget or H4895. Saw some really flattened primers in a 6mmBR w/Re15 (95+ degree heat) that was fine in the spring, but a drop in charge weight brought it back in line. That was one load in one rifle, so........

H4895 is my favorite in 308 and 223, but I will grab the other two and not be unhappy.

 

[Judd]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

 

[Win94ae]

Is there somewhere where a temp sensitive and powder scale listing is published?

Hodgdon: EXTREME RIFLE POWDERS
"Extreme Velocity Spread
For Temperatures Between
0º - 125º"

Varget, 8fps
H4895, 20fps
​

I use both powders and have a summer and winter load for both powders.

 

[Judd]

Exactly what I was looking for...thanks!

 

[300 RUM]

H4895 is what I buy the most, a couple of 8lb ers at a time. here is an example of loads v. temps 0-80deg = 41.7gr, 80-108deg = 41gr ... 108 is the highest temp I have shot in. Not much difference is the charge weight and if I do not bump the charge weight when it's cold out I only loos about 30-40fps

 

[amlevin]

Is there somewhere where a temp sensitive and powder scale listing is published?

Hodgdon: EXTREME RIFLE POWDERS
"Extreme Velocity Spread
For Temperatures Between
0º - 125º"

Varget, 8fps
H4895, 20fps
​

I use both powders and have a summer and winter load for both powders.

Both of those temperatures shown are too "extreme" for any shooting I do.

 

[Xedefoplop]

This posts is very informative. Thank you!

 

[Brians356]

Hodgdon refers to both powders as being of their "Extreme Extruded" line which implies they both have the same temperature insensitivity properties. I would pick the one with the highest load density for the bullet weight you prefer, or try them both and let the rifle and components indicate the winner.

Brian

 

[K22]

I used both powders extensively in the 223, 243, and 308 and 22 250 and both are fairly consistent. Both are excellent powders in my experience.

However, I still have to make sight adjustments from winter predator hunting to summer varmint hunting. The reason I believe is due to the difference in air density between cold vs warm air. Regardless, I do have a noticeable difference, in some rifles it as much a 3/4 moa.

 

[amlevin]

Hodgdon refers to both powders as being of their "Extreme Extruded" line which implies they both have the same temperature insensitivity properties. I would pick the one with the highest load density for the bullet weight you prefer, or try them both and let the rifle and components indicate the winner.

Brian

Another determining factor might well be "which powder you can find" 8) I've been able to buy H-4895. Varget? What's that?

 

[Brians356]

Another determining factor might well be "which powder you can find" 8) I've been able to buy H-4895. Varget? What's that?

A few pounds of H-4895 showed up at my local Sportsman's Warehouse last week, lasted two hours. Also H-322 and 7828. A little Superformance showed up a couple months ago and I snagged a pound. Have not seen any Varget locally for a long, long time, but neither have 4895 or 322 come in, so things could be improving.

Brian

 

[Brians356]

This morning I queued up outside Sportsman's Warehouse to be able to grab powder from the weekly store allotment which (if any) hits the shelves on Friday morning. Two IMR powders were available - 3031 and 4895, so I grabbed a bottle of the latter. I had used H-4895 before, but the IMR version seems to be at least as good in certain cartridges, so I gladly grabbed some.

Incidentally, its the first time I've seen IMR powder in the dark brown plastic bottles Hodgdon has used for years - I've only ever had IMR in the rectangular steel cans before.

Brian

 

[amlevin]

Incidentally, its the first time I've seen IMR powder in the dark brown plastic bottles Hodgdon has used for years - I've only ever had IMR in the rectangular steel cans before.

Brian

I sure miss those rectangular cans. They took up less room on the shelf or in a cabinet. Darn round bottles take up twice the room.

 

[Brians356]

I sure miss those rectangular cans. They took up less room on the shelf or in a cabinet. Darn round bottles take up twice the room.

I have often wondered if the steel cans do not better protect the powder from air? I always assumed plastic is more permeable than metal. But I have decades-old powders in plastic which still seem fine. The cans are certainly a lot more space efficient, that's for sure. And in the case of ball powders, half the bottle is empty space.

Brian

 

[johnu]

Local shop had some Varget today - first time in 6 - 8 months. $35 per pound + sales tax? Those are VV prices!

John

 

[amlevin]

I have often wondered if the steel cans do not better protect the powder from air? I always assumed plastic is more permeable than metal. But I have decades-old powders in plastic which still seem fine. The cans are certainly a lot more space efficient, that's for sure. And in the case of ball powders, half the bottle is empty space.

Brian

I believe the plastic does as good a job as metal for keeping air away from the powder. Let's face it, plastic is just cheaper when producing containers. Would be nice if they had just made the plastic containers the same shape as the rectangular cans.

 

[amlevin]

Local shop had some Varget today - first time in 6 - 8 months. $35 per pound + sales tax? Those are VV prices!

John

Get used to it. These prices are the "New Normal" for powder prices. Just wait until the next container load of VV powders arrives. Do you think they'll be keeping the prices the same?

I laugh. In 1971 I bought a brand new car for $2200. Same sized car today-------$35,000.

First house $22,950 in the same year. A SMALLER house 10 years go, $250,000.

It's amazing how little our money is worth today.

 

[johnu]

Just wait until the next container load of VV powders arrives. Do you think they'll be keeping the prices the same?

No, but the prices on the N140, N150 and N160 at PV the other day weren't too bad, and I imagine that was from a recent shipment. The price for the Varget by comparison was a 40-50% increase from a year ago. We'll have to see how the online vendors price Varget - if and when they ever have any!

John