Funshooter45
Member
Some of the above points are very good. If indeed, it was common for powders to vary by 10%, then it would be impossible to find a sweet spot and then duplicate it without resorting to the whole load workup scenario. That's why I mentioned that in my experience, the powders don't really seem to vary much. Sure, it's wise to be careful. If I start out with a new jug of powder, I might load 5 or 6 test rounds, starting 2 or 3 % below my favorite, assuming that favorite load was not pushing the max before in my rifle. I'll fire those just to make sure they don't show any high pressure signs. So far, I haven't noticed any big changes. The favorite charge weight still works the same usually.
However, that is one of the reasons to buy big jugs of powder for rifles. Besides getting a cheaper price per pound. For rifles, it's typical to get only 100-150 loads per pound. So if you find the magic load you like, if you have an 8 lb jug, then you know you're good to go for 800-1000 rounds or so.
But it's not wise to rush out and buy 8 lbs until you decide it's what you really want. For your 22-250, Varget could well not be the best choice at all. Something might work better. I'm like you also in that if My first 20 loads with a given powder, bullet, cartridge look really promising, I'm likely to go out and buy another 1 lb jug and start mixing them together, just to be safe that any favorite loads I get from then on will easily apply for the next 200 rounds or so. I don't have any problem mixing the same powder from different lots. Heck, I've even mixed W-296 and H-110, same thing mixing HP-38 and w-231.
However, that is one of the reasons to buy big jugs of powder for rifles. Besides getting a cheaper price per pound. For rifles, it's typical to get only 100-150 loads per pound. So if you find the magic load you like, if you have an 8 lb jug, then you know you're good to go for 800-1000 rounds or so.
But it's not wise to rush out and buy 8 lbs until you decide it's what you really want. For your 22-250, Varget could well not be the best choice at all. Something might work better. I'm like you also in that if My first 20 loads with a given powder, bullet, cartridge look really promising, I'm likely to go out and buy another 1 lb jug and start mixing them together, just to be safe that any favorite loads I get from then on will easily apply for the next 200 rounds or so. I don't have any problem mixing the same powder from different lots. Heck, I've even mixed W-296 and H-110, same thing mixing HP-38 and w-231.