Why not Varget for the 7-08?

[Wannashootit]

Finished fabbing the stock and made my first trip to the range with handloads for a Savage in 7-08. I wanted to see what the factory barrel could do in case I got lucky...

I use a lot of Varget for other calibers-.308 included- so figured it should work fine for the 7-08. Same case, right?

I tried 150 grain SMK's and they shot well, with near max loads of 40.5 and 41 grains printing some decent groups from a 20" factory contour barrel. 8 out of a 10 shot group went into an inch, and I suspect the other two were me...one of those days when I just couldn't keep the crosshairs dead still...

But when I look at loads others use, Varget is rarely mentioned. Slower powders, like H4350 and RL-19 seem to be preferred.

Is the reasoning behind this to fill the case more to capacity?

Think I'd get better results with a slower burning powder?

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

I think Velocity/Pressure issues are why other powders are used but the Varget will probably shoot good groups, just not as much velocity.

You'll have to play with it and see what happens.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

We tried quite a few different powders in our short barrel 7-08 and 44gr of IMR4064 gave best velocity and also superb accuracy out to 1000 yards. Varget shot well but speed was down and with a 15" barrel we needed to keep velocity up as high as we could get it. With a 140 Berger it was running 2725fps.

Topstrap

 

[Grand]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

I run Varget in my 7-08AI with 120g pills and think it would work fine in the parent cartridge with lighter bullets.

 

[JGorski]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finished fabbing the stock and made my first trip to the range with handloads for a Savage in 7-08. I wanted to see what the factory barrel could do in case I got lucky...

I use a lot of Varget for other calibers-.308 included- so figured it should work fine for the 7-08. Same case, right?

I tried 150 grain SMK's and they shot well, with near max loads of 40.5 and 41 grains printing some decent groups from a 20" factory contour barrel. 8 out of a 10 shot group went into an inch, and I suspect the other two were me...one of those days when I just couldn't keep the crosshairs dead still...

But when I look at loads others use, Varget is rarely mentioned. Slower powders, like H4350 and RL-19 seem to be preferred.

Is the reasoning behind this to fill the case more to capacity?

Think I'd get better results with a slower burning powder? </div></div>
I shoot 39.5grs Varget with the 150NBT, very very good accuracy, the 150MKs shoot better with 38-39grs RE15, Varget didnt work well with the MKs. Varget works very well with 139 Hornadys also.

 

[JGorski]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

I feel med burning powders work best with the 708.

 

[spot69221]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

I used Varget with a 162 AMAX / 175 SMK, yes you can get more velocity with other powders. My Varget loads were within 70fps of other powders. I would use Varget.

 

[M855]

Re: Why not Varget for the 7-08?

I have a 708 I use for hunting 22 inch barrel 120-130gr pills and out of the powders I have on hand it likes Tac the best