Powder Shortage Frustrations!!!

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Forced_Induction

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Ok, i know im not the only one in this situation, but this is really frustrating. I am just starting to reload for my 223, and i have narrowed down my bullets to a couple i want to try. But now i am having problems trying to figure out which powder to use. I was originally sold on what everyone was saying about Varget. But the lack of availability is a problem, along with h322. It seems like every powder i decide on, i call WSS or someone else and no one has it! So help me out guys. I was considering H335 or maybe BLC2, but im also worried about temperature variations, considering the weather here in Alberta.

So what should i give a try? i wont mind trying 2 or 3 powders right away. Im shooting a new savage 12FV in 223 with a 1in9 twist. The bullets i want to try are berger 50gr varmint match and sierra 69gr HPBT match, and maybe 50gr v-max; going for best accuracy.

What do you think?
 
H4895 will work as well as and perhaps even better than Varget. And will have temperature characteristics similar to Varget.

I heard today that Hirsch Precision might have some in stock (OK what I actually heard was that their web site indicated that Varget was sold out, but it did not indicate that H4895 was sold out - for what it's worth).
 
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I had great success with 27g of Win 748 behind a 50g V-Max in my .223 Ruger Stainless Target. It is also a great powder for my .308 with a 168g Sierra Matchking.
 
But are these powders redily available? I live near edmonton and I would prefer not to pay shipping. I've already talked to Higginson and he doesn't even have varget. What's the availability of H4895 right now?
 
Win 748

I tried 5 different powders behind 69 MKs and the best 2 were WIN 748 and BLC2. Works great for me and 748 seems to be everywhere (haven't had much trouble finding BLC2 either). Victoria is a long way from the cold though if you're really worried about that. I was also shooting a savage with a 1:9 twist but mine was a 10FP.
Cheers,
Ahlsy
 
Powder

Forced_Induction said:
But are these powders redily available? I live near edmonton and I would prefer not to pay shipping. I've already talked to Higginson and he doesn't even have varget. What's the availability of H4895 right now?
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F I

What gr weight of bullet are you looking to load? What are your shooting plans, varmints?
Tell you what, if you come to Edmonton, you and I will make deal and you will go home with some Varget, some H 335, some Winchester 748, and just maybe some WC 735. Then you can load up some rounds and see which one works best in your rifle, for your sake I hope it isn't Varget. FS
 
down to last half pound of varget as well and have been switching powders

from availabity standpoint is how i have been picking
i found a good steady supply of Ramshot Tac and shows good promise with the Seirra 69 HBPT
 
Powders

Fassteel said:
F I

What gr weight of bullet are you looking to load? What are your shooting plans, varmints?
Tell you what, if you come to Edmonton, you and I will make deal and you will go home with some Varget, some H 335, some Winchester 748, and just maybe some WC 735. Then you can load up some rounds and see which one works best in your rifle, for your sake I hope it isn't Varget. FS
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Kind of surprises me that I never heard back from this fellow? FS
 
Shot lots of gophers and punched lots of paper across the prairies using 50,52,55,and 69gr bullets with BLC2,H335,W748 and Higginson Olin ball X2924 (somewhere between BLC2 and W748 in burn rate according to ex-CIL ballistician who used to work with Higginson) with no temp/pressure difficulties in three .223s. I stay below max loads and measure ball powder charges when loading for high volume gopher shoots.Rem 71/2 BR primers work well with all of these ball powders and give good accuracy as well.
 
what you may want to start doing is find a powder that you wish to use, then start hitting all of the smaller stores, and buy all of the 1 pound bottles that you can find. When you have about 6-8 pounds, find a large plastic container that is "perfectly" clean; and I mean perfect, no dust, oil, or anything. Find yourself a plastic measuring spoon that meets the same criteria as the plastic tub. Pour all of the aquired powder (ALL OF THE SAME TYPE, I.E. H322) into the tub, and mix it with the plastic spoon, in a very dry room, ensuring not to get any contaminants into the powder; do not touch the powder withy your hands as they can transfer moisture and oil to the powder. Mix it slowely for about a half of an hour to ensure that all of it is properly mixed together. Return the mixed powder back to the origonal bottles, b lack out the lot number on the bottle, and write the date that you did the mix beside the blacked out lot number. You have now created a supply of powder that is all of the same lot, and you can develop loads for such.
Mike
 
mike shickele said:
what you may want to start doing is find a powder that you wish to use, then start hitting all of the smaller stores, and buy all of the 1 pound bottles that you can find. When you have about 6-8 pounds, find a large plastic container that is "perfectly" clean; and I mean perfect, no dust, oil, or anything. Find yourself a plastic measuring spoon that meets the same criteria as the plastic tub. Pour all of the aquired powder (ALL OF THE SAME TYPE, I.E. H322) into the tub, and mix it with the plastic spoon, in a very dry room, ensuring not to get any contaminants into the powder; do not touch the powder withy your hands as they can transfer moisture and oil to the powder. Mix it slowely for about a half of an hour to ensure that all of it is properly mixed together. Return the mixed powder back to the origonal bottles, b lack out the lot number on the bottle, and write the date that you did the mix beside the blacked out lot number. You have now created a supply of powder that is all of the same lot, and you can develop loads for such.
Mike
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I did more or less the same with Blue Dot.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I found a small store near me that had a couple pounds of varget and bought 2 pounds. That should last me a while. I might be looking to something else very soon though!

Thanks again!
 
IMR 4895 works well for me with 55 gr. bullets, and seems to be more commonly available
tahn other types (Varget) Plus it is very versatile, I use it to load for several different calibers.It gets to be too damn expensive for e to buy one type of powder per caliber/load.Looking for performance + versatility.I like BLC-2 for .223 as well, but is very scarce in my area.
 
Forced_Induction said:
Thanks for all the replies guys. I found a small store near me that had a couple pounds of varget and bought 2 pounds. That should last me a while. I might be looking to something else very soon though!

Thanks again!
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Keep looking in the smaller stores, and buy every pound that you come accross. Blend the two that you have if they are of a different lot, and when that is all used up you may have enough to blend a large lot. If your using it in a 223, you have enough in 2lbs for 600 rounds.
Mike
 
I was rooting around in my cabinet and found 2lbs of 4895 and 2lbs of Varget I forgot was even in there...:runaway: Now have ~8lbs of each, should last me a whiile... :D
 
I use Varget, H4350, and Imr4064 in my 22-250. But none of these are available in my area right now so I'm try H380. I guess you shoot what you can find these days.
 
Thid powder thing is crazy, I don't get it, economy is down and manufacturers are creating such demand with supply shortage. I've tried so many small shorp and nothing... :kickInTheNuts:

when will my obsession with firearms end.....when????
sorry bout the last one :jerkit:

just fuming
 
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