Opened my last pound of varget tonight.

[Swamp Fox]

I haven’t been reloading or shooting much this year, since I’m not willing to use what I can’t replace. But I’m going hunting next week and needed to make a few rounds. It was kind of depressing when had to open my last pound of varget. That stuff was hard to find before the current ridiculousness, now I’m wondering what I’m going to do next. Hopefully I’ll have some fresh meat to enjoy while mulling it over!

[Stopsign32v]

I know how you feel. I do not even ask my buddies if they want to go shooting because I know every bang is stuff I can't replace right now even if I wanted to.

[Texas by God]

My last 3 pounds of Varget is the newest powder I have. I'm using up my assorted older powders to save the Varget. It's a handy powder.

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[centershot]

I feel your pain! I still have a couple pounds of Varget and 4320 so mid-range burning rate is covered for now. There's probably a few tons of powder in some of those ships laying at anchor, be nice if they'd get them into port and unload them!

[JimB..]

I haven’t been paying attention, what’s the going rate for Varget?

[megasupermagnum]

Varget always was in short supply since it came out, and always seemed to be the most expensive powder there was. I can't recall ever seeing a surplus of Varget jugs, only people asking where to find any at all. It never seemed worth it to me. I had good luck with Varget, but I see nothing that makes it any better than 4064. The long-range guys who need perfect performance over a range of temperatures seem to appreciate it more than me.

[44Blam]

If you can find Shooters Precision Rifle powder it is nearly identical to Varget... It looks the same, smells the same and I use it with the same load data with very similar results... Just sayin'...
In fact, I am also down to around a pound or two for varget, but I have a pretty full 8 lb keg of Precision Rifle...

[toallmy]

A few years ago I picked up a few pounds of Varget to work with , but decided to give it to a younger brother , that loves it rather than finding out how wonderful it was - simply because it would drive me crazy chancing the supply .
I stick to 4064 , 4350 , & 4831 they have just always worked for me .

[Helka]

I switched from Varget to 4895. There is a supplier here in Canada that makes 5lb jugs of different powders. Called Dominion. It states to use H4895 load data less 10% and work it up. I have had great results with it. And with tax/shipping it worked out to $40/lb. I also picked up a 5lb of 8208br from them. Haven’t cracked that open yet.


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[RogerDat]

Between one shortage (maybe Sandy Hook) and the next one I bought some 8# jugs of "staples" I use the one pounders but knowing there is 8# of Varget, Unique, and 4895 on the shelf. From then on have bought 1# when required or finances allowed. Was in great shape. Then started shot shell reloading.... whole different supply needed. Had just started on trying some 1# jugs when this latest panic shortage started.

When this one ends I expect some "dot" powder(s) or other shot shell powder will be my target. I'll find a pound here and there. Eventually decide I need a bulk supply of one or two and target that. Casting and reloading is my main hobby, I would say gardening too but that many weeds would make it hard to claim I garden at all.

I feel bad for the casual shooter who was accustomed to buying a pound and a box of primers when they were needed. I got caught that way in my annual "go to gun show and buy ammo I'm low on" one time, and it made me a dedicated reloader. I know a lot of folks just make a box or three once in a while for a range trip, or when hunting season approaches. They are getting caught badly in the recent shortages.

Components can make ammo, ammo has a bigger and more profitable market. I think when stores have ammo is when we will see component shortages end. As long as one can sell all the 9mm and .38 special ammo one can make at almost a buck a round there is little reason to divert SP primers to the reloading market. Same with pistol powders. It can't help the supply of Varget that one of the sanctions on Russia blocks import of ammo. Lot of .223 isn't coming in from there, meaning domestic manufacturing is drawing on that supply of Varget or similar.

[dverna]

I was lucky and got stock up on Varget and it has performed well. I have decided to try 4064 as i believe the supply of Varget will be iffy for a long time. This article got me to considering 4064:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/practicalriflerfr/imr-4064-and-varget-in-sub-zero-temps-t2334.html#p15839

Living in northern MI, we do not get a lot of really hot days and I tend not to shoot when it is over 90* anyway. But we can get some low temperatures so that is a bigger issue to deal with.

But I screwed up and did not order the 4064 when I should have. 44Blam, thanks for the info on Shooters Precision Rifle powder. I will look at getting that if I can find it. Nice to have options.

[Swamp Fox]

I’ve read about 4064 but never tried it out. I’d gladly buy some of that or anything else I thought I could use, if I could find it. I really got caught with my pants down on this shortage; when it started I wasn’t too concerned as components had never been very short before and I usually just buy a pound or two when I need it.

[Hanzy4200]

I tried Varget out when I started reloading. Ended up focusing on other powders like 4064 for the most part. As a result, I still have a full 8lb keg and partial. Very glad I bought it as the stuff is unobtainable now days.

[CastingFool]

Way back when I started reloading metallic cartridges, 748 was recommended to me for 308 w, 4064 and 3031 for '06. Been using those since 1980 or 81.

[John Boy]

Jim, the Internet will tell you the current prices for Vargent

[444ttd]

in my rifles, varget was alright but it wasn't 4064 or 4320. i have 1/2 lb of varget and when my son and the 45-70 cases and bullets shows up(he's in another state), then i'll will load them up.

[JimB..]

Jim, the Internet will tell you the current prices for Vargent

This is the Internet, so apparently not.

[charlie b]

I really like Varget in my .223 loads. Also works well in the .308 jacketed loads. Even before Covid it could be difficult to find. I frequently had to drive to several stores to find some.

I also have some 4166 that performs closer to 4064. Haven't seen any of it lately either.

I had also stocked up on 4198 since it is my favorite for cast bullets in the .308. But, I am getting low so have been using up some 3031.

Same problem with primers. At first the local Sportsmans would get at least some primers in every month. Same with powders. Now they rarely get any. The ammunition is starting to build up on the shelves but primers and powders remain scarce.

I also wonder how much of the 'difficulty' is being caused by Hodgdon's acquistion of Western Powders. Are they still all running up to speed or is there some reshuffling going on that is reducing output? Same with the sale of the Remington ammunition line. Right now they only list shotgun primers.

[Butzbach]

I haven’t been reloading or shooting much this year, since I’m not willing to use what I can’t replace. But I’m going hunting next week and needed to make a few rounds. It was kind of depressing when had to open my last pound of varget. That stuff was hard to find before the current ridiculousness, now I’m wondering what I’m going to do next. Hopefully I’ll have some fresh meat to enjoy while mulling it over!

What do you reload with Varget?

[Swamp Fox]

45/70 and 300 savage. I know there are other powders that are good in both, but I’ve had my best luck with varget. The 300 savage seems to do pretty good with most powders I’ve tried, but lately midway has kept loaded ammo in stock, so I’ve bought some of that to save what supplies I have, and dedicate all the varget to the 45/70.

[robg]

TAC is pretty close to Varget and easier to get over here.

[ShooterAZ]

I'm down to my last pound of Varget too, but have an eight pounder of IMR4064 to get into when that one runs out. They both work equally for what I use them for.

[redriverhunter]

Fear of not having powder in the future, has caused me to do something I did not think I would ever do again. I purchased factory rifle ammo for hunting season.

[cwlongshot]

Same here... 1/2 bottle left.