Varget in 30-30

[bonusmarple]

I have been playing around with reloads in my Winchester 94. I worked up a nice load with Leverevolution and the Nosler Partition bullet. Clocks about 2350 out of the 24" barrel and has 3-shot groups at 1.5".

I was curious what could be done with other powders and a less expensive bullet so I got some of the Sierra 170s and 6 powders to try. I got 3031, 748, H4895, BL(C)-2, Varget, and IMR 4064. I loaded up some rounds at different powder levels for H4895, Varget, and 4064 and went to the range. No chrono but I had some interesting results at the 100 yard mark.

H4895 had 1.5" groups at best at 100 yards. 4064 had had 1" groups at best at 100 yards. Varget turned in 0.8" groups at 100 yards. I haven't gotten anything like this from other ammo, factory or otherwise. Up to this point the best ammo I had used was factory Winchester Power Point 150s which would give 1" to 1.25" groups.

I will load for 5 shot groups and tune, but it is interesting to see that the Winchester 94 was capable of "sub-MOA" groups. Personally, I don't care as I don't plan on shots over 200 yards and off hand is a whole other ballgame. But still, Varget was pretty impressive. Also, based on QLoad and the Hodgdon site, the charge was probably giving me velocity of around 2120. This is basically the same as factory ammo but really much more accurate. This Varget looks like good stuff. No wonder everybody buys it like it is going out of style. IMR 4064 was pretty good as well.

Also, clearly the viewpoint that 94's are "not accurate" is complete cow extract.

[Larkbill]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I picked up some Varget at the LGS to try in my 6.5X55, but looks like I need to shoot it in the .30-30s too. I have a 94, 14" Contender, and two bolt guns.

[big bear]

I have been playing around with reloads in my Winchester 94. I worked up a nice load with Leverevolution and the Nosler Partition bullet. Clocks about 2350 out of the 24" barrel and has 3-shot groups at 1.5".

I was curious what could be done with other powders and a less expensive bullet so I got some of the Sierra 170s and 6 powders to try. I got 3031, 748, H4895, BL(C)-2, Varget, and IMR 4064. I loaded up some rounds at different powder levels for H4895, Varget, and 4064 and went to the range. No chrono but I had some interesting results at the 100 yard mark.

H4895 had 1.5" groups at best at 100 yards. 4064 had had 1" groups at best at 100 yards. Varget turned in 0.8" groups at 100 yards. I haven't gotten anything like this from other ammo, factory or otherwise. Up to this point the best ammo I had used was factory Winchester Power Point 150s which would give 1" to 1.25" groups.

I will load for 5 shot groups and tune, but it is interesting to see that the Winchester 94 was capable of "sub-MOA" groups. Personally, I don't care as I don't plan on shots over 200 yards and off hand is a whole other ballgame. But still, Varget was pretty impressive. Also, based on QLoad and the Hodgdon site, the charge was probably giving me velocity of around 2120. This is basically the same as factory ammo but really much more accurate. This Varget looks like good stuff. No wonder everybody buys it like it is going out of style. IMR 4064 was pretty good as well.

Also, clearly the viewpoint that 94's are "not accurate" is complete cow extract.

So what were the loads you used? I am aware of all the caveats, reduce loads fro given data results may vary, etc. I tried several Varget loads in my Win 64 and never got better than 2"+ at 100 yards. Thanks!

[bonusmarple]

All are the Sierra Pro Hunter 170 grain bullet, Winchester Brass, Winchester Large Rifle Primer, COAL is 2.550.

H4895 - 30.5 grains (1.5" 3-shot groups at 100 yards) - 30.5 max per hodgdon site
IMR 4064 - 31.1 grains (1" 3-shot groups at 100 yards) - 31.7 max per hodgdon site
Varget - 31.8 grains (0.8" 3-shot groups at 100 yards) - 33.0 max per hodgdon site

I was working up in .3 grain increments from listed minimum charges so it is possible to tune further around these. Haven't done it yet. I have listed the current max from Hodgdon beside each. This is for the exact set of brass, bullet, primer, and COAL that I used.

I went all the way to 32.6 with Varget. The accuracy for 32.6 grains was about 1.8". I could go higher there as well to see if accuracy improved again. Will get around to it in the future.

[wolfdog]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I picked up some Varget at the LGS to try in my 6.5X55, but looks like I need to shoot it in the .30-30s too. I have a 94, 14" Contender, and two bolt guns.

I have had no luck with Varget in 6.5x55, my 300 savage loves it though.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have found Speer bullets and Varget to make a great combination in the .30-30 .
Speer bullets run about a half a thousandth smaller in diameter and help keep pressures down while giving greater velocities than Sierra,Hornady or Remington bullets in my testing. Accuracy is also very good. A couple years ago I found 3-4 boxes of Speer Hot Core bullets made for the .30-30.they were the great bullets that they discontinued for some reason. I am glad I found a lifetime supply.

[Dave]

My do-all 30-30 load is a top load of Varget under a Sierra ProHunter 170 grainer. This load has been very accurate and deadly for me. It has been accurate out of every gun I have tried it in. In fact once I started using Varget I stopped using any other rifle powder and now use it exclusively for 223, 243, 30-30, and 308. In every case it has given me great results.

This boar stepped clear when I was trying to find a fat doe. He went down like a rock. He was at about 125.

[Larkbill]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I picked up some Varget at the LGS to try in my 6.5X55, but looks like I need to shoot it in the .30-30s too. I have a 94, 14" Contender, and two bolt guns.

I have had no luck with Varget in 6.5x55, my 300 savage loves it though.

What bullet weights have you used? I have Sierra in 140, 120, 85 and Remington 140.

[wolfdog]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I picked up some Varget at the LGS to try in my 6.5X55, but looks like I need to shoot it in the .30-30s too. I have a 94, 14" Contender, and two bolt guns.

I have had no luck with Varget in 6.5x55, my 300 savage loves it though.

What bullet weights have you used? I have Sierra in 140, 120, 85 and Remington 140.

Those plus 100 ,120 ,125, 130, 140 grain Noslers, 129, 140 grain, 160 grain Hornady, 120 grain Speer at .263 and .264 diameter, 156 grain Norma, 120 and 139 grain Privi, and probably some I forgot in 2 M94 carbines, 2 m38 short rifles(one sportered one not),3 m96 rifles, 1 Bakail combo gun, and a Norwegian Krag. You might say I like my Sweedes.
I thought I could come up with a good Varget load with 120 grain and lighter bullets but hasn't worked out in my rifles, but IMR 4350 and slower powders seem to work out best other than one of my carbines likes the .263 diameter Speers over AA2520(shoots like doo-doo in all the others) and 85 grain plinkers using Trailboss or 4227.
Let me know if you find a good Sweede load using it, I have a goodly supply of it and don't shoot enough 300 Savage to put much of a dent in it.

[CowboyTutt]

I love Varget in my 358 Winchester! Gives great consistent results that varies very little under different temperatures which is exactly what it was designed to do. My loads are PDF (pretty darn full) with a 250 grain bullet and a match grade Large Rifle primer if memory serves. Sorry, not home to check, hope I'm not wrong here. -Tutt

[Bullard4075]

I buy Varget in 8 lb jugs, if that's any indication.
So far I use it in my: M1 Garand
257 Bob
35 Rem
30-06
22-250

[JohndeFresno]

Great info. May have to rethink my priorities after testing.
Thanks, all.