Varget and H380

[3leggedturtle]

Bought 1# of H380 for the 250Savage, and a very well informed gent told me I should be using Varget cuz it has no reaction to Temperature extremes. That H380 became "erratic" below 60 degrees. HHmmm, Am I missing something or does that sound like alot hoo-haw to y'all too ?

[Moondawg]

H380 is a ball powder. Varget is a stick powder and treated to be insensative to temprature change. This treatment was developed by the Aussies for ammo to use in military auto and semiauto weapons that had to operate in climates from the artic in winter to deserts in summer. Temprature induced changes in pressure change the port pressure in these weapons and affect their operation (example cycle to fast in heat and don't cycle at all in cold). Part of the reason for malfunctions of American small arms during the Korean winter in Korean war was powders that lost their punch due to extreme cold. Most all of Hodgen's stick powders are now manufacutred to be relatively external temprature insensative. it's no hoo-haw. Many ball powders are temprature sensative.

[Chuck 100 yd]

What Moondawg said +1.
I have used Varget with great results.
It was almost impossible to find for a while.

[Don McDowell]

Go ahead with your 380, there's a lot of hype on varget , but it's nowhere neare the second coming as some would have us believe.

[Dave]

Varget is supposed to be unaffected by temperatures. I love Varget. It is the only rifle powder I load now. I use or have used it for 30-30, 308, 243, 32 Special, and 223. It has given me great accuracy in every case. Having one powder makes life easier.

[Moondawg]

Varget is like the Unique of rifle powders. It is not perfect, but really close. I now only keep three rifle powders, H4198, Varget and H4350. One of the three will cover everything from benchrest 6ppc through all but the heaviest magnum load. I have used H380, it is accurate but the same load does not work well for cold weather and Texas summer heat

[L_Kilkenny]

Go ahead with your 380, there's a lot of hype on varget , but it's nowhere neare the second coming as some would have us believe.

Big plus 1. I've been using H380 in .22-250 and have zero issues from -10deg thru 50 deg. I've also done load development and sighting in when the temps are substantially warmer with zero issues. I have heard, and it's just that "heard", that if you work up and use a load in for cold/cool weather you can have pressure problems if you then take that same load out for a summer time prairie dog shoot. But below 60? Not anywhere even close to a problem and H380 pours thru a powder measure like water.

BTW, I've been trying Unique too, still like BlueDot better. Much better.

LK

[TedH]

I have tried Varget because of all the hype in a few rifles. In my rifles I never got the amazing accuracy that was always claimed by others. I don't use it at all now.

[Old Savage]

I have used H380 a lot in the 7-08 - very accurate there and no issues from about 40 deg to 105 deg. Very consistent in my experience.

[Nath]

Don't worry about it

Nath.

[Lefty Dude]

My 1894 Springfield Krag 30US loves Varget.