Reloader 15 or Varget Cast Boolit Loads in 308?

[davidheart]

Howdy, I've got a bunch of 1 pound cans of powder and I'd like to consolidate my life. I would like to figure out which single powder might be a good do-all for me for both 223 and 308. After finding good loads I'd like to purchase a larger amount of powder to last me a while... I'd like to lean toward Reloader 15 or Varget, but I never hear of those powders with cast boolits.

Anybody use Varget or RL-15 for cast?

[Bazoo]

I'm interested to know if anyone uses RX15 in 30-30 with cast. Bartlett has it cheap, which would lean me heavily in that direction.

[truckjohn]

If I had to pick one powder for almost everything - it would be IMR4895.

But - the I use 2400 more than anything else with cast....

[Conditor22]

Lyman CB shows a Varget load for 308 win - 200grn boolit 28-34 also saw Varget for 45/70 I have some Varget but haven't got to play with it yet.

[davidheart]

Lyman CB shows a Varget load for 308 win - 200grn boolit 28-34 also saw Varget for 45/70 I have some Varget but haven't got to play with it yet.

What's the fps for that charge? Is that the only load?

[Conditor22]

the only load for the 308 the 30-40 Kraig has Varget loads for 160,170, 180, 173, 190, 210-grain boolits

[davidheart]

the only load for the 308 the 30-40 Kraig has Varget loads for 160,170, 180, 173, 190, 210-grain boolits

Awesome! Thank you. That's perfect cast velocity too.

[tomme boy]

RL15 does not like to be reduced from what I have tested. Varget works well.

[Texas by God]

Great to know, gotta lotta Varget.

[ole_270]

I've been playing with some PC, water dropped from the oven #315 (180 gr) loads in an old worn 308. Was pushing them up the velocity ladder just to see what I could get away with. Some of the better loads were with Varget and H4350 at 2200-2400 fps. H4831sc wasn't bad (I was told that with lead loads you don't have to worry about downloading the H4831, it wouldn't detonate like with jacketed). The alloy was roughly 1.5Sn, 3Sb. It water dropped to near linotype hardness. With a bit harder base alloy I could probably go up a bit from there, but that's enough for my uses. With a load chrono'ed at 2100 or so last spring, sighted in 1" high at 100 it landed 5.5" low at 200 this week. Don't think it will come up short on deer this fall.

[MT Chambers]

30 grains of Varget is kinda my std. in the .308 with cast bullets from 160 grs. to 230 gr.

[winelover]

Could never get Varget to work with cast in my AR-10 carbine. Tried three different weights of conventionally lubed cast bullets, 200, 180 and 160 grains. I would start with moderate loads, just enough to cycle the action, progressing to near maximum charges. Mostly shotgun patterns, were the end result.

Reloader 15, on the other hand, I shot my best 10 shot (100yard) groups with.





Winelover

[Ramson222]

Varget launches 60gr vmax 223 from my custom ar15 at an average of 3000fps and will shoot 10 shot groups that measure under 1/2 inch outside edge to outside edge at 100yrds. Over a 1000 prairie dogs can attest to the above claim.

[davidheart]

Varget launches 60gr vmax 223 from my custom ar15 at an average of 3000fps and will shoot 10 shot groups that measure under 1/2 inch outside edge to outside edge at 100yrds. Over a 1000 prairie dogs can attest to the above claim.

Same here with a 65gr Gameking for deer and hogs, but I'm looking for cast boolit info.

[Sig556r]

Howdy, I've got a bunch of 1 pound cans of powder and I'd like to consolidate my life. I would like to figure out which single powder might be a good do-all for me for both 223 and 308. After finding good loads I'd like to purchase a larger amount of powder to last me a while... I'd like to lean toward Reloader 15 or Varget, but I never hear of those powders with cast boolits.

Anybody use Varget or RL-15 for cast?

Varget is more versatile & comparatively lower pressure/velocity ratio than most. YMMV.

[robg]

Tac works well in 308 and 223 .even lists reduced cast boolit loads in 3030 .personal I use 2400 for lead in my 308 .

[Pablo 5959]

I would love to hear more on the OP’s question. I recently acquired some of both from a fellow reloader thats moving out of state.
Pablo

[goryshaw]

Any powder in that burn rate will work for cast in both .223 and .308, as long as it is spelled H4895. I burn a lot of RL-15 in .223 and some Varget in 7.92x57 and occasionally in .308, but both are used with jacketed, I wouldn't use either for cast as I haven't had good results with them with reduced loads.