What’s your experience with Varget temperature sensitivity?

M

MartyK2500

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
278   0   0
Location
Quebec
What’s your experience with Varget temperature sensitivity?

I have been shooting Varget for 15 months, but just got a labradar this summer.
Had data for 70F, 80F, and 90F that i accumulated through the summer.
At 70F my avg is 2700fps spot on, at 90F my avgs are 2705fps.
I just taught that varget was heat tolerant.

Did some test this early this morning, at 50F, and my avg on chrono was 2697fps.
It’s as if that powder will not care for weather.

Do you guys have similar experiences?
If so, what temperature intervals do you set your drop charts at?
I feel like it’s unnecessary to have a coloumn for every 10F, or even every 20F now that i have data.

Edit : just to be clear i am impressed with this powder, just making conversation to hear about other similar experiences
 
Last edited:
The number to the right of the type powder is the fps change for each degree of temp change.

33XPgx3.jpg
 
Thanks biged!
The 0.13FPS per 1F of change is constant with my chrono readings.

If i should want to build my drop chart for 0F and 30F, it gives me an idea to put me in the ballpark.
 
Our American military long range 7.62 sniper ammunition changed powders from RL15 to IMR-4064. (see chart I posted)

The change in powder was due to the temperature extremes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Australian made extreme powders sold by Hodgdon's are some of the most temp stable powders made today.

And the double base powders are more sensitive to temp change as you can see in the chart.
 
I did some testing with that last winter to prepare for a 3-gun match in Arizona with .223 rounds loaded with 69gr smk's and varget. I didn't get that scientific, I warmed up rounds on the dash of my truck in mags and worked fast to keep them hot and let the other box sit on the concrete shooting bench and chill in the -20 air. My results were 2756fps cold with a 34fps spread and 2797fps with a 32fps spread in 10 shot strings. I did this a few times with similar results.
 
MartyK2500 said:
I have been shooting Varget for 15 months, but just got a labradar this summer.
Had data for 70F, 80F, and 90F that i accumulated through the summer.
At 70F my avg is 2700fps spot on, at 90F my avgs are 2705fps.
I just taught that varget was heat tolerant.

Did some test this early this morning, at 50F, and my avg on chrono was 2697fps.
It’s as if that powder will not care for weather.

Do you guys have similar experiences?
If so, what temperature intervals do you set your drop charts at?
I feel like it’s unnecessary to have a coloumn for every 10F, or even every 20F now that i have data.
Click to expand...

I hope this is sarcasm? IMO, an 8 fps change in muzzle velocity over a 40 degree temperature differential is really very little. I'm not sure what distances you're shooting at, but I doubt the change is going to be noticeable. Velocities will swing way further with many other powders.
 
Varget was my go to hunting powder for many years... load testing and zeroing done during the summer, POI confirmation in October with no changes, and deer shot in November and December with impact right where I was aiming... IMO, if there is temperature sensitivity, it is marginal.
 
No i think we have what we call here language barrier.
My original post was intended to show how impressed i was, as in being less sensitive than expected.
And was reaching out to see similar experiences to mine.

Sorry my french brain sometimes translates literally on the go,
My English range partners have a good laugh once in a while, as i can end up saying something perverse or rude but with the best intentions!
 
In my experience with Varget I've has velocity swing with temperature variance of 15°c (15°c to 30°c+) from about 25fps-30fps powder from the same lot from no pressure signs to stiff bolt lift. I've shot a lot of Varget over the years and the thing you have to be the most weary of is when you switch lots. Sucks to have to do load confirmation every time you switch a jug of a bottle. What I've found is the chart that was posted above in real life doesn't hold true for Varget or N150. With Varget I could never get the SD below 10fps or ES below 15fps. N150 is very consistent from lot to lot and produces low single digit ES and SD.
 
I've tried most of the common powders in 308 (IMR 4064, IMR 4166, CFE 223, IMR 4350, Winchester 760) and Varget is my go to. It' just performs so well, meters decently, it's just been an amazing powder. Need to find another 8 LB jug for a good deal, I'm down to like 5 pounds.
 
MartyK2500 said:
No i think we have what we call here language barrier.
My original post was intended to show how impressed i was, as in being less sensitive than expected.
And was reaching out to see similar experiences to mine.

Sorry my french brain sometimes translates literally on the go,
My English range partners have a good laugh once in a while, as i can end up saying something perverse or rude but with the best intentions!
Click to expand...

Funny, I re-read your post, but attached a French accent to it in my head, and I can now see exactly what you were saying. Funny how my English brain always reads things so literally.
Yes Varget has very little temperature sensitivity. I would agree with others that there is more variation from lot to lot of powder than their is with changes in temperature.
 
cbh560 said:
Funny, I re-read your post, but attached a French accent to it in my head, and I can now see exactly what you were saying. Funny how my English brain always reads things so literally.
Yes Varget has very little temperature sensitivity. I would agree with others that there is more variation from lot to lot of powder than their is with changes in temperature.
Click to expand...


On the forums i can re-read my posts before posting, in person i don’t get that chance, i only hope i don’t sound as bad as certain politicians haha!

When i finished a 8# jug, my last loading session produced 20 rounds.
So when i opened the new jug, i did 20 rounds, and could compare both loads.
Lucky enough my avg velocity didn’t move more than 1-2 and my zero was still good.

Will make a note on the new unopened jug though, to check zero and velocity just in case.
 
MartyK2500 said:
No i think we have what we call here language barrier.
My original post was intended to show how impressed i was, as in being less sensitive than expected.
And was reaching out to see similar experiences to mine.

Sorry my french brain sometimes translates literally on the go,
My English range partners have a good laugh once in a while, as i can end up saying something perverse or rude but with the best intentions!
Click to expand...

You may want to add a little subnote in that you're being sarcastic/joking, and actually admiring how stable it is. Reading your post made it sound like you were serious and were actually concerned about a .3% change in average velocity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom