Varget powder?

[44Blam]

Why is it super available... And then GONE for a while? I stocked up last time I saw it, but I'm running a bit low...

[jsizemore]

There are cartridges that are shot in competition that do their best with Varget. Single digit SD and extreme spread. When it's available folks buy all they can find and hoard. I got a bottle that says NEW on the label. You get one chance to be a winner or a chicken dinner (contributor). No whining allowed. Like scrounging for lead.

[Texas by God]

I have three lbs rat holed while I use up a lot of different older powders. Some MUCH older. Varget is a great powder.

[Burnt Fingers]

Varget comes from Australia.

All the powders coming from Australia are in short supply right now.

This from another website.

By late 2018 and 2019 demand was picking up again, especially for big case magnum powders. Unfortunately during this same period Hodgdon began experiencing supply problems from Australia. These problems are logistical and not related to production. Australia and steamship lines have new regulations concerning how much powder can be shipped on one vessel, how much powder can be in a container terminal at one time, and the hazard classification of the powder itself. Shipments were delayed and a few were even returned to the producer during 2019 due to these issues

Government is the problem.

[Chad5005]

our 4 local places are almost always out of varget,have to catch them on truck day or order from midsouth,they always have it

[jsizemore]

Varget and H1000 are always feast or famine.

[trapper9260]

Have any of you use IMR 4064 in its place, I do and happy with it. There was a old post on this the use of Varget and use IMR 4064 in it place .

[dverna]

It produces very accurate loads. It is also not temperature sensitive which is a real advantage in my area (I can be shooting in -20 to 95 degree temperatures). I was down to one jug during the last shortage but have rectified that.

For blasting ammunition in the AR's I am going to convert to AR-Comp as it seems easier to get. Bought a jug but have not tired it yet. Will save the Varget for the .308 and bolt action .223's

[Loudenboomer]

At the the Grand Forks gun show on Saturday A older gentleman was selling off what looked like left overs from the Obama frenzy. Primers were $25 a brick and He had about 40 pounders of powder at $20. The Varget didn't last long!

[poppy42]

There is the joker here in Virginia that has 1 pound jugs of Varget listed on a local website for selling firearms. The Post Reads something like this “1 pound of Varget $50 if you don’t like it don’t buy it don’t call me and try and bargain it down! I don’t care what powder Valley or anybody else sells it for!” Nice guy I hope he chokes on it

[Chad5005]

Have any of you use IMR 4064 in its place, I do and happy with it. There was a old post on this the use of Varget and use IMR 4064 in it place .

I keep a pound of 4064 on hand and it works good,i just like varget better when you can get it and its not temp sensitive

[unclemikeinct]

There have been a few Varget shortages.. Lots of reasons.. Try Shooters World "precision" variety. Nearly identical in performance to Varget. Powder Valley runs specials. $169.00 per 8 lb keg. Try it. uncle mike

[PAndy]

Shooters World Precision , yes.

[RU shooter]

For what I use it for 223 heavy weights and 308 I find Reloader 15 works just as well

[trapper9260]

I keep a pound of 4064 on hand and it works good,i just like varget better when you can get it and its not temp sensitive

Ok I did not know it was temp sensitive. It always works for when I do use when ever I do . but maybe not like someone else dose . It is good to know. Thank you

[The Dar]

For what I use it for 223 heavy weights and 308 I find Reloader 15 works just as well

I'll second that. I found a good load with 22-250 and 6.5 creedmore also with RL15.

[megasupermagnum]

Ok I did not know it was temp sensitive. It always works for when I do use when ever I do . but maybe not like someone else dose . It is good to know. Thank you

All powders are temperature sensitive. It's just that some are more than others.

[trapper9260]

All powders are temperature sensitive. It's just that some are more than others.

Ok thank you for clear this up better for me to understand .

[Starsizer]

I used a lot of Varget when I was shooting NRA high power. It comes and goes. Best thing to do is buy several 8 lb. jugs when it becomes available. I used accurate 2230 in my 223 rifles too and it disappeared back in the day. Switched to Hodgdon Benchmark which was always around. IMR 4064 always seems to be available. Long little logs of powder that usually need to be weighed for accurate charges though. I like it. I stick with the old powders and haven’t experimented with all of the new flavors out there. Same for pistol powders.

[lotech]

Consider H4895, though it's a Hodgdon Extreme powder, like Varget , and may also be in short supply at the moment. I use Varget but have found H4895, overall, to be more useful and provide somewhat better accuracy in some instances when compared with Varget. You may give up a little velocity, but H4895 is worth trying.

[44Blam]

Consider H4895, though it's a Hodgdon Extreme powder, like Varget , and may also be in short supply at the moment. I use Varget but have found H4895, overall, to be more useful and provide somewhat better accuracy in some instances when compared with Varget. You may give up a little velocity, but H4895 is worth trying.

I've got some H4895... I was going to try it in the 1895, but never got around to it. Maybe that's the next adventure.

[charlie b]

There are several of the Hogdon 'Extreme' powders that work well for many applications, at least for me. IMR4198, IMR4895, and H4895, although Varget is my go to powder for jacketed bullets in my .223 and .308 (I tend to shoot heavier bullets in both).

When using cast bullets in the .308 I would easily pick H4895 or IMR4895. IMR4198 has also been good but in a narrower velocity range, at least for me.

[The Dar]

Consider H4895, though it's a Hodgdon Extreme powder, like Varget , and may also be in short supply at the moment. I use Varget but have found H4895, overall, to be more useful and provide somewhat better accuracy in some instances when compared with Varget. You may give up a little velocity, but H4895 is worth trying.

H4895 can also be downloaded by up to 40% of a maximum load. Great if you have a youngster or a beginner that wants to shoot a rifle that would normally be painful to shoot or make them shy away from shooting. Info here:

https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf

I still use Varget, but I've found loads just as accurate using H4895 or Reloader 15.

[Loudenboomer]

I think I've heard the words "temp sensitive" more times in the past 3 years than in my previous 40 years of reloading. Varget is an excellent powder. Many loads produce low ES and yes it is fairly temp insensitive. I have plenty of Varget on hand but life goes on just fine without it.

[Burnt Fingers]

I think I've heard the words "temp sensitive" more times in the past 3 years than in my previous 40 years of reloading. Varget is an excellent powder. Many loads produce low ES and yes it is fairly temp insensitive. I have plenty of Varget on hand but life goes on just fine without it.

It's a real thing.

Some powders are reverse temperature sensitive. WST is a great example. The hotter the temperature the slower it is.

[charlie b]

Temp sensitive is only important in a few areas

1. You load to max velocity/pressure. If temps go up too much you will be over max.

2. You need precise velocity session to session. Such as some precision shooting where you need to be able to hit targets at long range without sighters.

3. Different temps means different velocity which means different vibrations in the barrel. Some cases it will be enough to make groups larger. Probably only important if you are after those less than 1/2MOA groups.

If you load to moderate pressures and can take some sighter shots then temperature variation is not an issue. Probably not even for hunting since sub-MOA performance is probably not necessary.

[Mitch Harrington]

If you can get it, IMR 8208xbr is another great choice for .308 or heavy .223. It also meters EXTREMELY well through powder drops.

[winelover]

For jacketed, I prefer AA 2520, for cast it's Reloader 15, in 308 Winchester.

Winelover

[murf205]

Ditto for trying ReL 15. It is Varget's 1st cousin and my LGS usually has it in stock. If you find a load that works as well, send the joker who wants $50 a lb for Varget a message thanking him for letting you find an alternative powder.

[charlie b]

I second RL15 as a backup for Varget. Produces some really accurate loads, but, is more sensitive to temperature. My .308 loves it.

[JWFilips]

All the bench rest shooters on my range swear by it...I never have tried it