My M1 Garand likes Varget

[Heat]

Just went to the range today..found a load that seems to match milsurp BALL 2 specs pretty darn close..48grs Varget, 150g Hornady FMJ/BT and greek brass..and CCI large rifle primer..very accurate, shoots same place as the surplus and prints well...good thing for me on Varget as it is ideal for 06, .308 and 8mm Mauser...streamlined!!!!

[shlomo]

Outstanding, Heat!

A large part of your success is that bullet. It hammers in every Garand I've tried it in. Shoots pretty well in the FAL, too, but to a completely different point of impact from the milsurp in that rifle. :(

Don't know if you've experimented with seat length yet, but an OAL of between 3.275 and 3.290 has been the zone for best groupings in my rifles.

[Heat]

"Don't know if you've experimented with seat length yet, but an OAL of between 3.275 and 3.290 has been the zone for best groupings in my rifles."

Im getting ready to reload some more, will check the OAL before I seat..right now I am loading right behind the cannelure per recommendation from others that have used the bullet in the '06..seems this bullet was designed with the .308 OAL in mind..thanks shlomo!

[mj2evans]

I keep hearing very good things about Varget - sounds like its an updated IMR4064 (my Garand and 308 bolt gun like 4064 but its a pain to throw those long sticks). Is Varget a short kernel or a stick powder?

[davedude]

Hey dude,

Don't forget, Varget works for .223 as well. BONUS! I believe i been using 26 grains (don't use that without checking first) which fills the case almost all the way. Regular 55g SP cheapo bullets, commercial brass, cci sr primer.

I haven't done lots of testing but it is looking ok so far in my CMMG bargain bin 20" standard rifle.

Have you noiticed any heat (no pun intended) problems with varget? I think it has a high flame temp. But I am not sure and would like to know if there is a powder that burns with a lower temp. I think my .223 gets too hot after too few rounds been put down the tube propeled by varget....any thoughts?

Dave Dude

[Heat]

Originally posted by mj2evans
I keep hearing very good things about Varget - sounds like its an updated IMR4064 (my Garand and 308 bolt gun like 4064 but its a pain to throw those long sticks). Is Varget a short kernel or a stick powder?
Its stick powder..only pain is sometimes, if you dont tap the side of the funnel to make sure it all goes down, it may clog and you have powder all over..does this maybe every 15-30 times..I heard that it is less temp sensitive so the military likes it..it performs equally well in hot-cold weather

[Heat]

Originally posted by davedude
Hey dude,

Don't forget, Varget works for .223 as well. BONUS! I believe i been using 26 grains (don't use that without checking first) which fills the case almost all the way. Regular 55g SP cheapo bullets, commercial brass, cci sr primer.

I haven't done lots of testing but it is looking ok so far in my CMMG bargain bin 20" standard rifle.

Have you noiticed any heat (no pun intended) problems with varget? I think it has a high flame temp. But I am not sure and would like to know if there is a powder that burns with a lower temp. I think my .223 gets too hot after too few rounds been put down the tube propeled by varget....any thoughts?

Dave Dude
Wierd you would ask...in 308 bolt rifle the brass is not hot after firing..but with the 06 in the garand I fire off a round, go to pick it up and it is VERY hot to the touch..so I now let them sit for a few minutes so I dont scorch my fingers

[Tailback]

When I was on the ORNG shooting team, we used Varget with CCI BR primers, Winchester brass, and 75gr Hornady HPBT match bullets. (this was for .223)

The ammo was never the weak point.

I don't anticipate ever buying anything but Varget for .223, .308, and 30/06.

Hopefully it will work for 7.62X39 Russian, that's the only other caliber I can anticipate loading for. If anybody has tried it let me know.

Cheers,

Tailback

[Brass Rat]

06 in the garand I fire off a round, go to pick it up and it is VERY hot to the touch..

The heat comes from the friction of the brass being extracted while still gripping the chamber walls. The heat from the burning powder is generally in front of the case.

The bullet generates a lot of friction going down the bore also.

[Heat]

Originally posted by Brass Rat


The heat comes from the friction of the brass being extracted while still gripping the chamber walls. The heat from the burning powder is generally in front of the case.

The bullet generates a lot of friction going down the bore also.

Good to hear that its normal..I was afraid maybe I had a bad thing going on with this powder..now I remember these things just get hot..hasnt seemed to affected the brass, still reloading it repeatedly

[Brass Rat]

that's the only other caliber I can anticipate loading for

You obviously have not been doing this sort of thing for very long or you'd know better that to make statements like that.

You've jynxed yourself now, you might as well start making room on the loading bench for 3 or 4 differant rounds. ;)