Varget: Whats all the hype about? :-(

I started using Varget when it first came into Canada. It is all I use in my .308 and .223 target rifles, that I shoot out to 1000 yards. I usually do not care what my velocity is and have gone 2-3 years without shooting it over a chrony. Accuracy means more to me than ES or SD and it would just drive anyone nuts chasing these numbers. Find a load that works and stick with it.

Every .308 barrel that I have had on my rifles shot 46.0 gr of Varget with any 155 gr bullet very well. Lots of people talk about the lot to lot differences with Varget, I have not seen this. My elevations from 300 yards to 1000 yards remain the same or within 1 MOA from year to year.
 
ykkid said:
OKTREE, I saw your note that ES and SD were better with other powders. In most firearms applications, either velocity or the predictability and proximity of the bullet impact one to the other is what is important, not some theoretical statistical analysis of measurements of either.

While it might seem reasonable to infer that ES would predict consistency of POI, targets do not bear this out. And, SD, when listed beside group size, demonstrably has no predictive quality.

Repeatable groups in comparable conditions. The ONLY measure of a particular rifle or load.
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My rifles are sighted at 300 or 400m depending on application intended i.e. my targets are beyond 'typical' hunting ranges. I do not fire 1 shot groups, and in that respect vehemently agree with your statement that ES and sD have little to do with POI, sort of - ES and sD are both a statistical measure of load uniformity i.e. how well have I done in matching my brass, powder charge, bullet etc. to the firearm used in terms of creating the most consistent ammunition possible (assuming hand loads of course). Your favourite ballistics calculator predicts a POI based on a set of parameters assumed and/or input by the user. The smaller your load ES/sD, the more statistically likely that you are to remove or minimize an error(s) factor relative to the predicted POI, assuming all other factors equal. When using a ballistics calculator, I would argue that the smaller your ES/sD, the more statistically likely that you are to hit the predicted POI shot after shot, all other factors being equal. Of course the effect becoming increasingly exaggerated as range to target increases.

As in most everything firearms related, the largest factor affecting accuracy is the person pulling the trigger, however this is an excellent point of discussion and I would enjoy continuing the debate. The Vihtavouri manual discusses this aspect of accuracy quite well, in addition to select writings of Litz.
 
glockgrouptherapy said:
I tried vhirtouvi N-135 and that is similar to the granulars of varget but its a faster burn. In my 700 sps tac 20in 308, 37gr under a 168 smk all seated at 2.800 OAL or if I remember right 2.234 from the ogive (Id have to recheck my data), will put 5 on a dime. I tried several combos with varget and they did give me moa or just under with different seat depths but nothing close to what the N-135 produced. I used anywhere from 40-45 gr varget in most of my loads only goin up to 46 to find it I spiking my pressures.
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My OAL was 2.83" with the goal of getting the projectile as close to the lands as possible.

Sounds like I should put the varget in the back of the powder box for now and start playing with my N150. I bought a pound and I haven't opened it yet.
 
I use arget in my .223 reloads, .308 reloads, 338 Win Mag and 30-06 reloads for my 1919a4 belt fed. For me its the most versatile powder on the market that does every caliber I currently own and gives me the best results. Consistent every time, but I do weigh each and every charge exactly bang on every time.

The only concern I have ever had was with .223 rem. even with a minimum charge as per manufactures reload data. It seems I'm compressing the charge when I push the projectile in. They work every time with great result but still a little concerning.
 
ive used it in .223 and .303 british, currently have a good load for .303 with varget and 180 grain remginton core lokt boolits. accurate and feels just like factory ammo.
 
Varget is just one of the well known powders used by target shooters. It's not the best in every rifle any more than any powder is. I've always had good results with IMR4064.
 
AWOL said:
Try a Sierra 155gr Match King bullet.
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47.0 grs (others use 46.0 or 46.5) of Varget is all I use with that bullet in my 308 Target Rifle - seems to be "the powder" for that bullet and chambering. It's all I use Varget for.
 
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