Problems with Vargot

[kbstenberg]

I just started loading the .223 with Vargot, and I am having problems.
My loads are 14 -15 -16 -17 grains of Vargot / NOE 225107 6 WW to 1 Lino sized.225 , Ben's Red Lube , Win SRP , Gater GC. All bullets had there bases wiped clean after sizing/Lubing
Gun was a Savage Axis.
Every round I shot had some unburnt powder granules that were a lite cream or yellowish color. There were anywhere from 12 to 24 granules in each fired case. After each cartridge was fired I caught the case before it was ejected from the gun to check for unburnt granules. That is why I know that every case had some. They weren't clumped but loose.
Thanks for any help Kevin

[tomme boy]

Put a crimp on the boolit or bump the charge up another grain an see what happens.

[Larry Gibson]

Varget is a powder that needs a certaain psi to burn efficiently. Most often with cast bullets it only works well with medium heavy and heavy cast bullets for the catridge at useable top end loads. Your 225107 is a light for cartridge (.223) bullet and you are using low end loads.

Suggest you try 2400, 4227, Blue Dot, 4759, 4198 or 5744 if you want to push velocities. If a 9" twist barrel I suggest even a faster burning powder such as Unique or something similar.

Larry Gibson

[kbstenberg]

Larry I was afraid I was going to hear something like that. My accuracy was to good to be true. The Velocity was a little slow though.

[Ed in North Texas]

Your problem is your can is labelled Vargot. It is non-standard powder made in China, not Hogdon's Varget. In fact it is 6 keys and one hand different than Varget.

:kidding:

Just couldn't resist...

Ed :bigsmyl2:

[303Guy]

Here's my take on it, Varget will not burn too well at those levels but burn it will. ignore the partially burnt granules and have fun. I do however, agree that more of it should be used but not at the price of accuracy. You could try a bulk filler but that would raise the pressure earlier which has no gain over more powder. But, that's just my take on it.