Alliant Varmint in your 30-30?

[TedH]

I was looking up some load data last night and came across a new powder from Alliant called Power Pro Varmint. I don't know if it's actually new, but this was the first that I've heard of it. Alliant RL15 has long been a favorite of mine for the 30-30 and 30-30 Ackley Improved, but this Varmint powder, at least in their load data, give quite a bit more velocity than any of the others. It's listed as a spherical powder, which I like for metering purposes, but all the other ball powders I've tried fell short of RL15 in the accuracy department. Anyone have any experience with this powder?

[Griff]

New one on me. I'm still stuck on RL7 for my .30-30s.

[earlmck]

Got one of those "good buys" a while back so I've been using it for a couple of years, seems real close to WW748 in my applications (35 Rem and .223). In the 30/30 I use LVR for full-power loads and neither RL-15 nor "Varmint" can quite equal LVR there. That said, WW748 is a fine 30/30 powder and Varmint should be real similar.

Meters like a dream. I haven't made any real accuracy difference tests -- it has worked fine for my applications with pretty average sort of rifles (accuracy-wise).

[TedH]

In the 30/30 I use LVR for full-power loads and neither RL-15 nor "Varmint" can quite equal LVR there.

That's interesting, because I've tried LVR with high hopes in my Ackley and standard 30-30's, and it has been a dismal disappointment for me. Groups more closely resemble a buckshot load rather than a rifle, and speeds don't even approach my RL15 loads. Wonder what I'm doing wrong? I've tried standard and magnum primers, and even bought a LEE FCD to make sure I was getting a good burn with the LVR. Nothing makes it work for me. I'm about to just dump it on the garden.

[Griff]

Ted, bullet size?

[TedH]

I mostly shoot the Speer 150 in my Ackley. I get 50 fps more velocity with the Sierra 150 gr. bullet, 2500 fps, but it's not quite as accurate as the Speer in my rifle, so I settled for 2450 fps from the 18.5" barrel of my rechambered Marlin 30TK.

I recently got a box of the Hornady 160 gr. FTX to try in the Ackley, and was equally disappointed in the LRV with that combo. Next time out, I'll try some of those Hornadys with RL15, and if I can find any, that Varmint powder too.

[ollogger]

Don't know bout varmint, LVR shoots real well in a old 1899 with 150 Hornady & real bad with
the 170 speer, also real good in a couple of 25-35s



Brad

[earlmck]

Wonder what I'm doing wrong? I've tried standard and magnum primers, and even bought a LEE FCD to make sure I was getting a good burn with the LVR. Nothing makes it work for me. I'm about to just dump it on the garden.

Don't dump it, Ted. Surely we can find something to burn it in...

I just checked my reloading notes -- I didn't get accuracy in the standard 30/30 until I got it somewhat compressed at 36.5 grains (I think that's half a grain over Hodgdon's top recommended) and got a very firm crimp with the Lee FC die. Remington 170 grain bullets, CCI 200 primer. Marlin 24" bbl 30/30 gives 2350 fps; the Remington pump 30 Rem 24" bbl gives 2420 fps. The Remington gave me it's best group ever (1.5") with this load but the Marlin is just average (3"). But I really haven't shot a lot of groups with these rifles -- they mostly shoot cast bullets at tin cans. I have packed them a few times elk hunting but never got a shot those times.

Yeah, at the rate I am using it my jug of LVR will end up being a legacy for the grandkids. But -- I wonder if it wouldn't be a pretty fine powder for the 22/250 or the Improved Zipper? Maybe heavy bullets in .223? (It is pretty similar to H380 after all) Not gonna' pour it on the garden, though.

[harry]

Wonder what I'm doing wrong? I've tried standard and magnum primers, and even bought a LEE FCD to make sure I was getting a good burn with the LVR. Nothing makes it work for me. I'm about to just dump it on the garden.

Don't dump it, Ted. Surely we can find something to burn it in...

I just checked my reloading notes -- I didn't get accuracy in the standard 30/30 until I got it somewhat compressed at 36.5 grains (I think that's half a grain over Hodgdon's top recommended) and got a very firm crimp with the Lee FC die. Remington 170 grain bullets, CCI 200 primer. Marlin 24" bbl 30/30 gives 2350 fps; the Remington pump 30 Rem 24" bbl gives 2420 fps. The Remington gave me it's best group ever (1.5") with this load but the Marlin is just average (3"). But I really haven't shot a lot of groups with these rifles -- they mostly shoot cast bullets at tin cans. I have packed them a few times elk hunting but never got a shot those times.

Yeah, at the rate I am using it my jug of LVR will end up being a legacy for the grandkids. But -- I wonder if it wouldn't be a pretty fine powder for the 22/250 or the Improved Zipper? Maybe heavy bullets in .223? (It is pretty similar to H380 after all) Not gonna' pour it on the garden, though.

Earl according to the Hornady #9 reloading manual:
Winchester M94 / 20" 1 / 12" barrel, Fed 210, Max COL of 2.550"
140 gr monoflex 35.1gr(max) leverevolution = 2300 fps
160 gr flex tip 37.0gr (max) leverevolution = 2300 fps
170 gr inter lock FP 36.5(max) leverevolution = 2200 fps
They don't have data for 150gr bullets and leverevolution.

[TedH]

Earl according to the Hornady #9 reloading manual:.....
160 gr flex tip 37.0gr (max) leverevolution = 2300 fps........

This may be part of my problem. Hodgdon's load data center shows 35.5 gr. of LVR as max with a 160 Hornady FTX. Using this data, I maxed out my Ackley load at 37.5 gr. That has been my normal practice of limiting my charge to 2 grains over standard 30-30 data. If Hornady has 37.0 gr as max, then I was only a half grain over that in my Ackley, and it would have been a pretty mild load with the extra capacity of the AI case. From what I've gathered, the LVR powder operates similar to H110/W296 in that it needs a heavy charge combined with a firm crimp/good neck tension for best performance.