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Author Topic: Varget 308 loads.  (Read 5424 times)

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Offline Coalminer7

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Varget 308 loads.
« on: September 09, 2009, 04:22:24 PM »
Had a tear out page from Shooting Times on 308 Winchester using Varget and Hornady 150 or 165 bullets, must have lost it.  Any use Varget in a 308, what results did you have?
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2009, 04:32:21 PM »
Fantastic with 168A-Max. Start at 44gr & work up slow.
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Offline securitysix

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 07:24:04 PM »
Only load I've tried with Varget so far was 41 grains pushing a 175 grain Sierra Matchking.  Shot .75" at 100 yards out of my heavy barrel Savage, but between 1.5" and 2" at that same distance through my Remington 788.  I'll be trying it with some 155 grain A-Max and 165 grain SST Hornady bullets next. 
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Offline chutesnreloads

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2009, 03:01:38 PM »
One of my three best loads  is varget and  a 150 partition.
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Offline gjn

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2009, 03:34:06 PM »
I have had excellent accuracy with 42 grains of Varget and 168 Bergers.
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Offline GeorgiaDave

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Gotta Love That Varget !
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2009, 04:32:03 PM »
Hello from Georgia,

   I have loaded many powders through the years for my favorite cartridge which is no doubt the .308 WIN. I began using Varget about 5 years ago and have used nothing else since. I have numerous .308s including auto loaders, bolt actions, pumps, and the old push button single shot. Every one of them like Varget. It does take a bit of time and effort to find the precise recipe, but with match brass, match primers and bullets, I have never found a more CONSISTANT powder. I hand weigh each charge and am very pleased with the burn I get. It seems to be clean and very predictable. The old 3031 has been replaced. I am sure there are those who may have some negative opinions, but as far as I am concerned, I think they should sell it in 20 pound jugs !! The smallest groups I have ever produced with a firearm were propelled with Varget. Kinda hard for me to try anything else. Good Luck !

Dave
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Offline ccoker

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2009, 03:28:31 AM »
two different Tikkas (light barrel and varmint) have both loved Varget and 165g Sierra BTSPs
my load was .5 under max
both shot one ragged hole and worked great on deer and hogs
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Offline saltydog

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2009, 02:41:20 AM »
Varget is a good choice - in the 40's depending on bullet weight - go here for info - http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
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Offline nilescoyote

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2009, 12:29:40 AM »
For 165-168 weight the high accuracy node for varget is around 45.5 +or- a tenth or two depending on the brass you use. The lower velocity node is between 42 and 43 grains

175 is 44.5 + or -
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Offline ccoker

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2009, 01:22:01 AM »
update:
in my LTR 308, 44.5 is the sweet spot, one ragged hole at 100 yards, touching at 200 and 1" at 300
45.5 the groups opened up
Lapua brass and CCI BR primers
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Offline saltydog

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2009, 05:27:09 AM »
Varget and H4350 are my primary rifle powders. As suggested you will find the sweet spot for your rifle. Most of my rifles using Varget like to be pushed towards the higher velocity loads in the manuals. Brass type (mil spec vs commercial) and action type of rifle (semi, bolt, breakopen) are the main determining factors of the best load for your 308 WIN.
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Offline lucky guy

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2009, 06:33:54 AM »
Quote from: nilescoyote on December 02, 2009, 12:29:40 AM
For 165-168 weight the high accuracy node for varget is around 45.5 +or- a tenth or two depending on the brass you use. The lower velocity node is between 42 and 43 grains

175 is 44.5 + or -

Same here.  There's another node for mine on the 175's  little higher too but I'm hesitant to post it and suffer the criticism for shooting a 308 that hot.  I have Varget loads that work great in the cz 223 too so I'm able to shoot Varget for both, that's 90% of my cf shooting.
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Offline MZ5

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2009, 07:03:26 AM »
Oddly enough, my brother used to use lots of Varget in his 308 and 204.  He's since switched to 748 because it's proven to be far more temperature-stable for him, plus of course it meters better.  Odd, and the opposite of what we're led to believe, but the results have been what they've been.
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Offline lucky guy

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2009, 05:47:40 PM »
Today I tried the Barnes TTSX 150's with 48 gr of Varget, looks good enough to be my hunting load  (max load in some books - work up.)  I didn't have much luck with the 168's.  Just didn't find the magic combo I guess.  I had to seat them a good bit shorter than the .050" off the lands to fit the magazine.  Wondered if that was the problem.
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Offline DKA

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2009, 12:41:14 AM »
I use 43.5 Gr Varget under 165 Gr Nosler Ballistic tips. Very accurate loads in my Remington 700 SPS.
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Offline Tom W.

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #15 on: December 20, 2009, 01:44:17 PM »
45 grains of Varget with Federal brass and my  Savage  Model 12 has issues with the bolt opening 42 Grains will do wonders all day long with any Hornady 165 -168 gr bullet.
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Offline Oldshooter

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #16 on: December 20, 2009, 02:29:27 PM »
I'm itching to try the Hornady ftx 160 grains in my 308  Has anyone tried them yet?
Hornady Data for Varget:
            2100    2200     2300      2400    2500     2600
VARGET 32.6 gr. 34.9 gr. 37.1 gr. 39.4 gr. 41.7 gr. (44.0 gr.)max

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Offline kenscot

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #17 on: December 20, 2009, 04:48:25 PM »
This load of 45grs under a 165 gr Ballistic Tip has worked real well for me on paper and in the field flattening two whitetails

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Offline Birddog 1

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #18 on: December 22, 2009, 10:26:09 AM »
NO wonder I cant find any Varget for my Garand all you 308 shooters are hoging the stuff up ;)

Birddog 1
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #19 on: December 22, 2009, 01:32:09 PM »
Quote from: Nim on December 22, 2009, 10:26:09 AM
NO wonder I cant find any Varget for my Garand all you 308 shooters are hoging the stuff up ;)

Birddog 1

Yes & I use it for 223 also & those are my 2 volume rounds.
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Offline ccoker

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #20 on: December 22, 2009, 03:10:29 PM »
LTR 308
44.5g Varget
virgin Lapua brass
CCI BR primer
Sierra 165g BTSP
2.80 COAL

100 yard group (200 yards had rounds touching and 300 was 1" center to center)
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Offline kyhareraiser

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #21 on: December 26, 2009, 05:40:55 AM »
44.5 gr varget pushin; 165 grain barnes triple shock..    dee ;Dr dropper for sure
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Offline ccoker

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #22 on: December 26, 2009, 05:53:42 AM »
that would drop anything in North America
haven't used Barnes in my 308 but seeing how wicked they are in a 6.8 and 243 I have no doubt they would work for anything in the lower 48 with no problem
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Offline kyhareraiser

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Re: Varget 308 loads.
« Reply #23 on: December 29, 2009, 03:01:01 AM »
worked for me for the past 4 seasons ,now since i have a t/c in 30-06 that's what i'm gonna try feedin it first ;D
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