Varget for .223

You're correct that you won't gain a lot of capacity, but you will gain some extra space. Enough for at least an extra .5 grain of powder, which in a 223 is often 25% more than the entire recommended charge range from min to max. Also, some powders deal better with compression than others.

I've not used Varget in the 223, when I got the rifle it was unobtainium, and now the price means it can stay on the shelf as long as I can get Vihtavuori.

With N140, light compression in the form of a very slight "crunch" as the bullet seats isn't a deal breaker in my experience. Any more than that, and I've had problems.

I can eliminate the "crunch" completely with a drop tube, and still have a case that's nearly full of powder, which is ideal.

A barrel with a long throat and bullets seated long to suit that situation help also. A SAAMI-spec chamber is fairly restrictive compared to a chamber cut with a reamer designed for long- for-calibre bullets like the 90 Match Kings or 85.5 Bergers.
 
Varget is excellent for 223. A load that is as close to a full case as possible, or even slightly compressed, will likely give you the best results.
 
24-25gr Varget with Hornady 68gr BTHP shoots ragged holes in everything I've got, mildly compressed.
Use it in 222Rem as well with a little less grains and 55's, tack driving load.
Get the same results with IMR4064 with 1 grain less in both, also slightly compressed.
 
I switched from Varget to CFE for my .223 loads... ain't going back... I get much better consistency AND more velocity... winning combination.
 
hoytcanon said:
I switched from Varget to CFE for my .223 loads... ain't going back... I get much better consistency AND more velocity... winning combination.
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If your happy with the CFE loads, give leverevolution powder a whirl, even lower pressures and higher velocities with the same powder charges, start low and work up. I use that stuff in everything
 
yodave said:
If your happy with the CFE loads, give leverevolution powder a whirl, even lower pressures and higher velocities with the same powder charges, start low and work up. I use that stuff in everything
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Interesting to me because it is ball powder and would meter well...By everything what are you talking for cartridges and where did you find data...Hodgdon only gives data in a very limited number of cartridges and advertises it as only works in a few cartridges but where it works it really works.

Guess a guy could experiment using the burn rate chart...
 
Lastgun said:
Interesting to me because it is ball powder and would meter well...By everything what are you talking for cartridges and where did you find data...Hodgdon only gives data in a very limited number of cartridges and advertises it as only works in a few cartridges but where it works it really works.

Guess a guy could experiment using the burn rate chart...
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just use CFE-223 data and start low and work up, lower pressure and higher velocity in most cases, accuracy is all you have to look for
 
yodave said:
If your happy with the CFE loads, give leverevolution powder a whirl, even lower pressures and higher velocities with the same powder charges, start low and work up. I use that stuff in everything
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I use LVR for my single shot .30-30's and for double jacking M94's with the 150 NBT... that is a whole new cartridge with that load... definitely NOT your grampa's .30-30!
 
hoytcanon said:
I use LVR for my single shot .30-30's and for double jacking M94's with the 150 NBT... that is a whole new cartridge with that load... definitely NOT your grampa's .30-30!
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Double jacking? ..... One in the chamber and one in the magazine?

Will that feed ok with that bullet?
 
SuperCub said:
Double jacking? ..... One in the chamber and one in the magazine?

Will that feed ok with that bullet?
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It does feed but you have to seat the bullet fairly deep... the LVR more than makes up for the loss in case capacity. We shot quite a few deer like this when the kids were young. You gotta get them to 2.600" to feed.
 

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hoytcanon said:
I switched from Varget to CFE for my .223 loads... ain't going back... I get much better consistency AND more velocity... winning combination.
Click to expand...

9.3 Hunter said:
Used Varget for years, now I'm using CFE223 for .223 and 35 Whelan. Game changer for both, as in much higher speeds, efficiency, consistency, flatter shooting.
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Good to hear, I'm just making the switch over myself.
 
9.3 Hunter said:
Used Varget for years, now I'm using CFE223 for .223 and 35 Whelan. Game changer for both, as in much higher speeds, efficiency, consistency, flatter shooting.
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Can you elaborate on the consistency? What specifically is more consistent?

For reference, I use Varget in heavy 223 loads (75/77) grains. A big part of my decision is temperature stability. Consistent velocity across different ambient conditions is important to me. Varget is reported to have 0.13 fps/degree Fahrenheit change whereas CFE223 is reported at 1.70. Assuming the reported info is correct, that could represent 100fps change for CFE223 whereas Varget would experience 8fps.
 
I use CFE223 in my 224 Valkyrie.
Excellent velocity, but it is super sensitive to temperature. Going from +28c to -10c my velocity dropped just over 100fps. I'll be changing powders to something more stable this spring.
 
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