moosie, let me attempt to put your mind @ ease & say that , in general, 'no' you are not putting your rifle
or yourself @ risk by shooting the 45grs of Varget. In the Dec. issue of Handloader, Gary Sciuchetti wrote
an excellent article entitled "Developing an Accurate .308 Load", & in his research he decided on 45grs of
Varget for all of his loads, which numbered in the hundreds. Of course, as he should, he warned us to begin
with starting loads & work up looking for warning signs of high pressure as we go.
But I, like you, have been confused for some time about this disparity between load data among the major
reloading sources. I think I pulled the handle on my first reload about 1960, & , although my experience is
not continuous, I have a good bit of it. I have always been very conscious of safety when approaching max
loads & have been comfortable with my approach. But then I hear about the dangers of "light" loads & how
shooters have blown up their rifles from "detonation". And this is where the problem arises, whose data is too low ? As you pointed out, Hodgedon lists 165gr Hdy SP-42/46C gr of Varget & Sierra lists 165gr SBT-
38.5/43gr of Varget. I think the stories of detonation mostly pertain to light loads of slow burning powder in cases larger than the 308, like a 30-06, where the powder lays on the bottom of the case below the primer ? I don't consider Varget a slow powder as I use it, but I do use IMR 4350 in my 30-06 & @ some point a low charge with it could become a problem.
GB gave what I took as very good advice sometime back when he advised - when in doubt, go with the powder manufacture data. I have never had any problem with Hodgdon data, which now includes IMR & Winchester. I have shot max Hodgedon loads but always find best accuracy 1 to 2 grs below max. If I want
to explore the lower end of the velocity range, I start @ Hodgedon low & go DOWN into Sierra & Speer data
with the same caution I would approach a max load. This approach has worked for me with no ill affects.
Loading for the 308 is a generally safe proposition, probably because the case is near capacity with most loads & this may contribute to making it so inherently accurate. I have heard many explanations as to how
this disparity of load data makes sense, like different testing equipment etc., but this data is being sent
out to you & me who are shooting real rifles with 22" barrels.
I, & I'm sure moosie, would like to hear from anyone who could shed more light on this subject.BeSafe Jim
