Varget an all around miracle?

nastynatesfish

nastynatesfish

Active member
Ok, so im sitting here on a forced overtime Sunday and im actually day dreaming about being anyplace else. So im thinkimg about fishimg and shooting anf loading, and i start goimg through my powder shopping list of need to buys. I load for 223, 22-250, 308 and 7 mag. I run tac in my 223, varget in my 22-250, H4895 in my 308 and H4831 in my 7 mag. So im thinking, boy it woulf be awesome is varget wluld work in my 7mag because THENNNN i could get away buying one powder for everything! So now my mind is reeling. I recall on the varget lable it lists a load for 300HH. So why wouldnt it work for my 7mag? Has anyone tried it with ithe upper weight bullets? Can someone run a quik load for me and see what the all knowing has to say for me? Im gonna assume it wont get,he high velocities but im running about 2900 now with my 4831. I could stand to lose 100fps and not kill me at longer ranges. WOULDNT IT BE GRAT??
 
Powder is just a tool, and like tools, there are many to do different jobs.

If you buy a claw hammer, you can probably get by with your household jobs OK, but you would never see a skilled cabinet maker with one hammer.

Pick your place in the scheme of things, and follow it.
 
Understood, but. Im wondering why it wouldnt work. Seemslike you can stuff varget in all different cases and it shoots fine. I knowtneres no load info for 300wm either so im wondering why? It cannt be to much case capacity if theres aload for the HH. That was gonna be my next build too, a large ring 300Hh with a nice walnut monte carlo stock: ) this daydreaming is costing me money lol
 
In any .308 family case, Varget is a good choice, typically. But it's a bit fast for 7mag like cartridges and too slow for most 223 type cartridges.
 
It may "work" in all the cals. you have listed, however you will not achieve optimum velocity or accuracy by trying to run just a single type of powder. If these two standards are not your primary goal and you just want a powder that will work in all your chamberings you may have found your solution.
 
I agree that varget is not a good choice for the 7 mag but some of my most accurate loads with the 223 are with varget.
 
I keep a couple of 8# jugs of Varget around for my SHTF powder - very versatile in bottleneck cartridges. 4895 is another. That and a couple of jugs of Universal will may almost all of your guns go bang effectively. May only be "the" primo velocity AND accuracy powder in some, but things will still die quite nicely with it.

Looks like it is too fast for the big 7 [beeep] - Hodgdon doesn't even list for the 7RM in their online manual.
 
Yes, Hodgdon does list the 7 rm. It's just down the list a bit more, for whatever reason. And it lost Varget for loads up to 130 gr pills. Not any heavier, though.
 
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Originally Posted By: RandyDBI agree that varget is not a good choice for the 7 mag but some of my most accurate loads with the 223 are with varget.

Varget is my "go-to" powder for my .17 Rem as well as my .223 rifles. Shoots so well in all of them that I quit trying to find a better load years ago.

I usually use other powders in my .204 and my .223 AI, but if Varget was the only rifle powder out there I am pretty sure that I could manage pretty well.
 
Ok so my next question. I know i seen a chart somewhere but cannt find it now.
Where does Varget stand on the burn rate chart in between say:
rl19
rl22
h4831/sc
h4895
tac
 
I use varget in many different rifles. As far as a 7 mag, it would not be my first choice, but you might be surprised with results. Only one thing to do load some up and shoot away. Good luck.


Oh yeah here's some data if your looking

100 GR. SIE HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.150" 53.0 3193 39,600 CUP 59.0 3487 49,800 CUP
110 GR. SPR HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.250" 54.0 3174 44,600 CUP 58.5 3356 50,300 CUP
115 GR. SPR HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.200" 53.0 3068 44,800 CUP 56.5 3245 49,800 CUP
120 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.230" 53.0 3021 45,200 CUP 57.0 3218 50,900 CUP
130 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.185" 51.0 2877 45,700 CUP 54.0 2998 49,400 CUP
 
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Originally Posted By: chefpierreI use varget in many different rifles. As far as a 7 mag, it would not be my first choice, but you might be surprised with results. Only one thing to do load some up and shoot away. Good luck.


Oh yeah here's some data if your looking

100 GR. SIE HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.150" 53.0 3193 39,600 CUP 59.0 3487 49,800 CUP
110 GR. SPR HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.250" 54.0 3174 44,600 CUP 58.5 3356 50,300 CUP
115 GR. SPR HP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.200" 53.0 3068 44,800 CUP 56.5 3245 49,800 CUP
120 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.230" 53.0 3021 45,200 CUP 57.0 3218 50,900 CUP
130 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon Varget .284" 3.185" 51.0 2877 45,700 CUP 54.0 2998 49,400 CUP


You're right CP! I was looking from 140 and up or so, and it does have Varget listed for 7RM 130's and lighter - my bad! Won't be the last time this week, I'm sure!
 
I have an 8lb keg on hand for the 17rem. Now you got me thinking. And I have some 100gr hornady's hum? Might be time to hit the loading bench
 
Varget is great in my 22-250, couldn't find the hot spot in my 243. Shoots well in my 223 but lacking the speed for it. Tried it in several others as well, but something else seems to always nudge it out.
 
Now that I think about it, my uncles father in-law had a load for a 110 fmj and varget in a 300 h&h. It should work I guess?
 
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Originally Posted By: chefpierreNow that I think about it, my uncles father in-law had a load for a 110 fmj and varget in a 300 h&h. It should work I guess?
I'll bet that was a hot one!
 
Varget is a very versitile powder. I use it from .223 to 30-06. Don't really care if it is perfect for all of them. Velocity is overated. Accuracy is what counts. By playing around with Varget I have managed to fill all my needs except for the 30BR. It works in that cal, but 4198 is the king for that cal.
 
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