Varget in 7mm-08 and 25/06

[SLH]

Have been reading this forum for a long time, usually find answers to questions I have without posting. Anyway, I have recently started reloading, Lee hand press and a couple of Lee die sets. I have been using the Lee dippers so far (reloading only for the cost savings).

Now for my question.. I use Varget to load for a 7mm-08 and use a 2.8cc dipper (about 38 grains of Varget) behind 139 grain Hornady Interlock, it does pretty good in my BLR.

I just loaded a few 25-06 rounds last night with the same powder and dipper behind 117 grain Hornady Interlock. According to the tables that came with the dies the 25-06 is okay with this same powder charge. Seems odd that the long case of the 06 would be ok with the same amount of powder as the 7mm-08. Also seems like the case isn't very full.

Am i missing something?

Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, you are missing a lot if all you have is lee dippers & data.

You need to at least get a scale and a reloading manual.

The Lee dipper data they give you will only keep you from blowing yourself up, maybe.
All combinations they give you are low pressure light loads.

Hodgdon only lists 38 grains Varget with one bullet weight in the 25-06. A 120 Swift SP. And that is a starting load.

It seems to me if you are using that load with any lighter bullet in a 25-06, you are going against all advice to never load over-bore calibers with greatly reduced loads.
With that combination it could be possible to blow yourself up with too light a load due to the SEE effect!

See this about SEE:
http://www.reloadammo.com/liteload.htm

rc

 

[SLH]

Thanks for the reply, in that article it states that this usually happens with fast burning powder. I thought Varget is a relatively slow burning powder.

Also, in the tables supplied by Lee with the dies, it shows a starting load for the 25-06 using 117 grain bullets to be 37 grains and max to be 42. It actually shows to use a 2.5cc dipper, which is somewhat less that the 37 grains. I do realize the shortfalls of the dippers and I do have a reloading manual, just wanting a way to load some cheap ammo (safely & easily) without a large initial investment. Although I can see that it is addictive and can see myself getting into it more as time goes by.

Not discounting what you said, just wanting a little more discussion.

Thanks,

 

[rcmodel]

Varget would be considered a medium burn rate powder on a burn rate chart.

But burn rate is a relative thing.

Varget is fast for a 25-06, but it is slow for a .223 with light bullets.

It all depends on case capacity & bore expansion ratio on how fast or slow it is for a particular caliber.

rc

 

[JimKirk]

Varget would be on the very fast end for the 25/06... Stick with slower powders for it!!

IMR 4350 and slower... all the way down to RL 25 and even H870(not available nowdays).

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

 

[GooseGestapo]

Varget may give acceptable performance, but like the others stated, you won't see the potential of either cartridges with Varget.

You will see much improved performance with slower burning powders in either cartridge.

My favorite powder for the 7mm08 is either IMR4350, or H414. However my rifle also likes the 139gr Hornady with a max load of BLC2. But, recently I've switched to the new RL17 as I'm getting superlative velocities and similar accuracy to the IMR4350. (2,900fps vs 2,775fps from 20"bbl).

For the .25/06, use IMR4350 with 100gr bullets, and H4831, or RL22 with 110 and heavier.

Varget is good in the .308 and .30/06 for target loads in semi-autos, but for hunting loads I prefer slower powders or different powders for better velocities.

Win748 gives me better velocities and similar accuracy every time I've put it up against Varget. I just can't warm up to Varget. For an extruded powder at similar burn rate, I prefer RL15.

 

[DANNY243]

Do your self a big favor and get a Lee Perfect Powder Measure and a Lee Safety Scale. For about $50 bucks that will get you much more out of reloading. And H4350 seems to be a great powder for 7mm 08 with 139s.

 

[gutterman]

I've used Varget with the 7mm08, out of a 15" encore and 139grn hornady BTSP, and got sub 1" groups at 50 yrds(I know that's not that far), but the only issue I have with the Varget powder is it's problem feeding thru the powder measure. Once I got by that, I've been pleased with the Varget performance.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Varget is great in the 7-08 with 120-140gr bullets. I`ve used it for years in a couple 7-08s and can drive a 140 gr Noslers @ 2750-2800 with no problem and get excellent accuracy doing it.
The 25/06 though needs a slower powder to do its best. The recommendation for 4350 as a starting place is a good one and I prefer something like H4831 or R22 in mine.
I also agree that the dippers should be replaced with a scale.

 

[docsleepy]

You can use the smallish dipper to get in the ballpark and then make a "saltshaker" out of a 223 with a 22lr in its neck; shake out of the flash hole of the 223. But that's really going about it the hard way.

The lee perfectpowder dispense is only about $24 and it really works pretty well, so it is money well spent.

I have onlyk used the dippers for light pistol loads, and even then there was a pretty amazing amount of variation (when checked with a good digital scale); "level" is surprisingly difficult to repeat over and over.

 

[Rokman]

I have had very good results with RL19, RL22 and IMR4831 in my .25-06. I agree that Varget is too slow for .25-06.

 

[Kernel]

Rokman, I think you mean Varget is "too fast".

 

[Rokman]

You got it Kernel. Somtimes my typing and brain are not in sync.

 

[Brian10]

Before I bought a jug of 4831sc, the only powder I had around that had published recipes for my 25-06 was Varget, so I used that. It may not have had optimal velocities, but it was still deadly accurate. I was getting sub half-inch groups at 50 yards. I didn't shoot it at longer distances.