Lee PrecisionWidenersMidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackbox
RotoMetals2Reloading EverythingLoad DataInline Fabrication
Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Varget for cast 8x57?

  1. #1
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334

    Varget for cast 8x57?

    Have any of you tried Varget in the 8mm Mauser with cast boolits? I have weights from 175 to 220 grs. I'm wanting around 1800 fps.
    Thanks
    Thomas

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,313
    I've been TOLD, by a guy who shoots Krags in military rifle CB matches, that Varget is an excellent substitute for 4895. I don't shoot bottleneck cartridges anymore, so I can't confirm from direct experience. Looking at it in Quickload, around 30 grains gets you 1800 fps with a 200 grain boolit from the 8x57 case and a 24" barrel. Pressure calculates to 18,644 psi, which seems a bit low for that speed of powder, but try it and tell us what you get.
    Cognitive Dissident

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master 303Guy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    9,078
    I have tried Varget in a 303 Brit under a heavy boolit. The group I got was as good as the movement due to my heartbeat. I'll look up my load. Of course the 8x57 is considerably larger than the Brit so pressures in the 8 may be too low or velocity too high. I may have used a filler.

    Found the load data;

    Boolit - 220gr smooth side cast with gas check
    Powder - Varget 35.5 gr
    Load density - 77%
    Boolit seated in paper towel cup in unsized neck
    Seated boolit dipped into molten 'waxy-lube'. Lube soaked into paper towel cup to hold boolit.
    Accuracy at 45m - 1.15 MOA

    No mention of filler but I might have used cotton wool.
    I have loaded 200gr cast over 30 gr Varget with cotton wool filler. Be careful using cotton wool. It is possible to set the countryside on fire with it. It doesn't always burn though - it depends on the load. Rather use dacron.

    It's always best to double check against other sources and to proceed with caution.
    Last edited by 303Guy; 05-30-2018 at 05:21 PM.
    Rest In Peace My Son (01/06/1986 - 14/01/2014)

    ''Assume everything that moves is a human before identifying as otherwise''

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check