.223 loads using Hodgdon Varget

B

BWB

New member
Just curious to see how many of you out there have used or are using the Hodgdon Varget powder in your .223 loads. I'm shooting a DPMS AR with a 24" 1:9 twist barrel. Anyone have any good receipes to start with? Bullet recommendations for PD's?

Thanks for any help in advance
 
I have gotten better velocities with other powders until you get to the heavier bullets mentioned above if that helps any.
 
For about 3 years now the powder of choice for my 223 Rem and my 17 Rem as well has been Varget. The main load that I like that works very well on both my custom AR as well as my Savage is 26 grains of the stuff with either the 50 grain Vmax or the 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. I usually go with a bench rest cap, most often the CCI. I have shot many tiny groups with this combo. This is a long way from being a max load but I dont care. It shoots so well I dont mind giving up a couple hundred fps.
 
I am not trying to change your mind Rustydust but i was using Varget and getting those tiny groups too and then I tryed a few other powders and low and behold I got those same tiny groups and more than a couple hundred fps more speed with several different powders.But if I were going to shoot heavy bullets Varget would be my choice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I was just doing a little research and found that the Varget powder was the least affected by temp changes. So a load in the summer would shoot very similar in the winter months as well?? This was my main reason for wanting to try the Varget first.

Also, since I'm shooting an AR am I going to have to worry about lightening my loads a bit for functionality purposes??

Thanks for all the replies ALL!!
 
I've had some good results with bullets 55 grains and up with Varget in my AR-15, but not quite as good as with Benchmark. Benchmark is also not temp sensitive and has the same coating as Varget. Both powders are made in the same Aussie factory. I just don't like dealing with Varget's compressed charges in order to get to the higher velocities. Benchmark also meters better than Varget.

Varget is the best thing I've used in the .308 Win for bullets 165 grains and over.
 
Quote:
I am not trying to change your mind Rustydust but i was using Varget and getting those tiny groups too and then I tryed a few other powders and low and behold I got those same tiny groups and more than a couple hundred fps more speed with several different powders.But if I were going to shoot heavy bullets Varget would be my choice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



One reason that I like this load is that it is milder than factory .223 by a little. Most of the critters that I shoot with it are ground squirrels. Believe me, a .223 is way overkill for a squirrel anyway. I have killed thousands of them with a customized Ruger 10/22 and hundreds of them with a .22 handgun. I like the 17 HMR, the 17 Rem, and my cute 221 Furball on them too. That .223 load is such a favorite because on occasion 300+ yard shots are taken. These animals have a body size about that of a 6 oz juice can. I need all the accuracy that I can get for this! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I just started using Varget and it works great in my 16" AR. I've worked up a good load using the 60gr. V-Max, CCI BR primer and 26 grains of Varget. It groups well and is running about 2800 fps out of the 16" barrel.
 
Quote:
I am not trying to change your mind Rustydust but i was using Varget and getting those tiny groups too and then I tryed a few other powders and low and behold I got those same tiny groups and more than a couple hundred fps more speed with several different powders.But if I were going to shoot heavy bullets Varget would be my choice.



This has also been my experience.
 
I just worked up a load using 26.5 of Varget, CCI BR4 primer, and Lake City brass, and a 60gr. V-Max. I'm no bench rest shooter, but I was able to put 10 shots inside a 1" square at 100 yards. My gun has a 16" barrel with a 1-8" twist. Thats plenty good enough for me!
Jazzball
 
I just hate metering it. I haven't worked up any loads with it in my .223 yet, but it would have to be really good to replace the W748. That stuff is so much easier for me to work with and it performs excellent! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
So what kinds of loads do you guys have worked up for the Benchmark in a lighter bullet. I'm open to trying new things and I'm not set to only Varget /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 


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