Powder choice
- Thread starter hnusz
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There's no good answer to the original question, but I would lean to 4895 for versatility. Varget generally produces less change in velocity per grain of powder, so it is more immune to charge weight errors and temperature changes which is why it is a good target accuracy powder, but that also means you often don't get as wide a range of velocities out of it, and for some guns that turns out not to let you tweak loads far enough to find an accuracy sweet spot. So you find some folks who just love Varget and some who are frustrated by trying to get it to perform. Varget is a temperature-compensated powder, which 4895 is not (you might want to look at IMR's newer powders, like 4166 that are temperature-compensated), but testing has shown that compensation works best in .308 and .30-06 but doesn't seem to do much in .223. So here, again, you see Varget tending to be the best choice in some guns but not others.
If you could shift your choice to Hogden 4895 its more happy with low loads.
I had some TAC from my 223 days and saw it was listed for 308 and tried it.
Lights out load, best one by far.
You never know. I have H4831, IMR4350, H4350, Varget, TAC, R17 (going to wind that one down) just so I can try various combo with various bullets.
Smattering of others in 1 lb but I buy the others in 8 lb.
Lowers the price per pound and ensures a stock of powder.
I had some TAC from my 223 days and saw it was listed for 308 and tried it.
Lights out load, best one by far.
You never know. I have H4831, IMR4350, H4350, Varget, TAC, R17 (going to wind that one down) just so I can try various combo with various bullets.
Smattering of others in 1 lb but I buy the others in 8 lb.
Lowers the price per pound and ensures a stock of powder.
I use Varget in my .223 bolt gun with very good results; really like it (discovered its use just a little over a year ago). I also, just this past hunting season, found a Varget load with a 165 grn. Hornady Interlock SP that I used for mulie hunting. Got a decent 4X4 with that load combo @ 168 yds. (via my range finder) with great results. That's what I used in my M700, ADL, in 30-06 for propellant and bullet. I'll stick with that loading in that particular rifle for deer. I'm sure it would work equally as well on elk, too.
But for my elk rifle, another ADL in '06, I've used IMR 4350 and the 190 grn. Hornady B.T.S.P. (now discontinued) for too many elk producing years to change anything there. Still, as well as Varget has worked so far in my other rifles, it could possibly be a single "go-to" propellant if need be...maybe.
But for my elk rifle, another ADL in '06, I've used IMR 4350 and the 190 grn. Hornady B.T.S.P. (now discontinued) for too many elk producing years to change anything there. Still, as well as Varget has worked so far in my other rifles, it could possibly be a single "go-to" propellant if need be...maybe.
Good choice. It's the most versatile powder for my rifles, though I've not used it in 303 British nor in 30-06. I get better results with it vs. IMR4895.
I started off liking Varget for .223 and Garand .30-06, and then experimented with many other powders and got good loads with BL-C2, H4895, H335, CFE223, 8208XBR and others. In the last year I did more testing and Varget keeps popping up as the best in several bullet weights and a close second in others. So, now I REALLY like Varget for my most accurate loads in .223 77BTHP and .30-06 168BTHP loads.
As UncleNick mentioned, Varget does not have wide swings in velocities so ladder work up show a gradual change in groups and you end up with several good charge weights and one or two fantastic ones.
As UncleNick mentioned, Varget does not have wide swings in velocities so ladder work up show a gradual change in groups and you end up with several good charge weights and one or two fantastic ones.