Varget for cast bullets.....

[leadhead]

Anyone ever use Hodgdon Varget powder in cast bullet rifle loads?
Denny

[Hogokansatsukan]

Yes, for 45-70

[Outpost75]

65-70% of a normal jacketed bullet rifle charge with a GC cast of same weight in any .30 cal. from .30-30 up through .30-'06.

[Wolfer]

Works better than I expected in my 40-65 roller. Gun was made in 1869 and I don’t like to push it too hard with smokeless. Ive always felt Varget did best under higher pressure. Actually I’m sure it does.
It’s certainly a very versatile powder.

[leadhead 500]

I use lots of Varget for different cast bullet loads and have had outstanding luck with it and some amazing groups, some of the best groups I have ever shot with cast has been with Varget! I use it in
25-06
270
308
30-06
35 Whelen

[44Blam]

I like the 45-70 with varget. I push a 405 grain boolit around 1800 fps with it and get excellent accuracy.
I've compared faster burning powders at similar speed/pressure and I find faster powders like 4198 tend to have a kind of jarring recoil impulse while slower powders like varget have more of a push recoil impulse.
However, a top end load of Varget in the 45-70 will certainly have enough recoil that it hurts at both ends.

[ole_270]

Using it on a worn, oversized 308 with the NOE copy of Saeco #315 now. Running around 2150 or so depending on charge level. Working great.

[JMax]

Good information as I was given two pounds and was wondering what to do with it. I have a sporterized 01A1 that I picked up several years ago for $200 when I lived in CA. It shoots my NOE 314202 bullets sized to .311” very accurately using both 2400 (1500 ft/sec) loads and IMR4895 with loads at ~ 2000ft/sec. I will try some in that rifle using the 65% guideline. And no I did not sporterize the rifle, it even still has the Lyman 48 rear sight base screwed on the receiver and came with a Denver Redfield 3x9 scope on it and came with a Timney trigger.

[brewer12345]

I use it solely for a 30-06 j word elk load that will also be used for antelope this fall. A very forgiving powder, IME. That said, if I am shooting cast I generally default to a different powder (in 30 cal cast loads that is mostly 2400 and 4198).

[uscra112]

Met a guy a while ago who was shooting military cast bullet competition. Using a Krag, loading Varget, and doing well. Sadly my health since 2015 has limited me to backyard shooting with small game cartridges that need faster powders, so no personal experience. So it goes.

[Tom W.]

I use it in both of my single shot rifles, the 30/30 a.i. and the 30-06 a.i. for both cast and jacketed loads. It's my "go to" powder for the 180 gr GameKings in the 30-06 a.i.

[osteodoc08]

I like the 45-70 with varget. I push a 405 grain boolit around 1800 fps with it and get excellent accuracy.
I've compared faster burning powders at similar speed/pressure and I find faster powders like 4198 tend to have a kind of jarring recoil impulse while slower powders like varget have more of a push recoil impulse.
However, a top end load of Varget in the 45-70 will certainly have enough recoil that it hurts at both ends.

This is my exact experience as well.

[megasupermagnum]

Using it on a worn, oversized 308 with the NOE copy of Saeco #315 now. Running around 2150 or so depending on charge level. Working great.

Can you post the charges please? Just last week I loaded up the NOE Saeco 315 in 308 with varget from 32 to 36 grains, I hope that's not too fast. I'm just waiting for a nice day to try them.

[popper]

varget from 32 to 36 grains IIRC the 60% rule works for 4895, don't know if that is valid for varget! typical 160ish varget bottom load is 42gr.

[megasupermagnum]

I don't remember offhand, but I think the Lyman cast bullet handbook had a similar max charge for 1950 fps with another 180 grain bullet. Hodgdon shows a starting load of 41 grains for a 180 grain at 2470 fps. I figured 32-36 must be in the 1900-2200 ish range.