Alliant Varmint

[oldblinddog]

Any idea where Varmint falls on the burn rate chart? None of the charts I have lists it. Just wondering if anyone has called Alliant.

[John Boy]

Take a look ... http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp

[oldblinddog]

It is not on that list either.

[John Boy]

30-30 Win. Speer 170 gr FNSP Winchester 2.55 24 Fed 210 Varmint 33.1 gr 2,240

30-30
170 grain JFP (Hornady Jacketed Flat Point)
IMR 4895 31.5 gr. 2,045 FPS
IMR 3031 32.0 gr. 2,120
H4895 32.0 gr. 2,212
Reloader 7 24.0 gr. 1,910
Reloader 12 32.0 gr. 2,160
Reloader 15 34.1 gr. 2,330
H380 36.0 gr. 2,182
A2700 35.0 gr. 2,098
A2460 30.2 gr. 2,118
748 32.0 gr. 2,145
760 33.6 gr. 1,975

[waco]

It falls between Reloader 10 and Reloader 15
http://www.alliantpowder.com/resourc...er_Catalog.pdf
Page 11

[earlmck]

Loading for my AR I always liked WW748 but when that wasn't available during the "troubles" I went to Varmint. Takes about half a grain less of the Varmint to get the same velocity as my old 748 load (24.5 gr. Varmint vs 25.0 grains 748). So -- I rate it as "a scosh faster than 748". Is that close enough for your purposes?

[oldblinddog]

It falls between Reloader 10 and Reloader 15
http://www.alliantpowder.com/resourc...er_Catalog.pdf
Page 11

Thanks, I have that data on my iPad and on paper but didn't remember that list. (Duh!)

[oldblinddog]

Loading for my AR I always liked WW748 but when that wasn't available during the "troubles" I went to Varmint. Takes about half a grain less of the Varmint to get the same velocity as my old 748 load (24.5 gr. Varmint vs 25.0 grains 748). So -- I rate it as "a scosh faster than 748". Is that close enough for your purposes?

Yes! And thanks, that is the sort of info I was looking for. Next question is, "Have you used it in .308?"

[John Boy]

Next question is, "Have you used it in .308?"

Call Alliant

[Eldon]

As close to 308 as you'll come:

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...0&cartridge=78

IME fast burning non stick/flake powders are not winners w/cast boolits.

I bought a big jug for 5 bucks a pound. Use it in 223 AR, works fine. Not the best but for laying down cheap fire it works fine.

[CraigOK]

I used it for 243win and a 58gr vmax and hit accuracy nodes at 36.5 & 40 gr. If you use it 308 it will likely need to be with light bullets

Also had great luck with 52 speer hp in 223 rem.

Not sure how it might perform with a boolit

[oldblinddog]

That is likely true for jacketed bullets. Maybe not with cast. I have used 10X successfully with 180 cast in the .308. What with shortages and discontinuances, I have developed a curiosity about what works with what. A call to Alliant revealed that it is "between 10X and AR Comp" and "on the same line as H335 and W748". That sounds like RL12, but I take it they are not the same.

[Buckshot]

.............I bought a 8lb jug maybe a year and a half ago, and had yet to see much load info. I haven't used any of it yet. The Alliant handout only had 2 listings for it using the 223. Seems they spec it in that cartridge for lighter slugs (ie: less then 55 gr). I even called Alliant, and that's the 2 loads they quoted me.

My 'Go to' load for varminting in my (1992 vintage) single shot Savage M112 w/26" bull barrel was 28.5 grs of 748, but I was out, and that was during the Big Scarcity . Was very happy to see the last issue of 'Handloader' magazine. Brian Pearce has a large article featuring "Varmint" and has quite a few loads using it.

................Buckshot