Hi guys,

I've run right out of H380 and I have a tub of Varget which I hear often enough to be ace in .22/250. I'm shooting 55gn VMax bullets to sub half inch groups with 38.4gn of H380.

I know a good start load is a low eight load but in terms of comparable performance, what weight of Varget might be predicted to match the H380 load?

I must, ask why would you mess with a group that good? I am using 36gr of Varget and Remington 55gr PSPPL, Rem brass, and Winchester primers. My groups are around the 1/2" at 100 yards.You can go to www.hornady.com They have the data you want. They show a start load of 30.8 for 3200 fps and a top load of 34.6 for 3600 fps. Hodgdon Powder shows a top load with a 55 gr bullet as 36.5gr with a vel of 3664 and 50,400 cup. Good luck.

For Varget 36 gr. has been my magic number for both 50 and 55 gr. Hornady V-max.

Hawky,

Why fiddle about? Well, I've run out of H380 and I need to get some good loads made up quicker than I can get some H380 shipped to me

Since my original posting I've been to Hodgdon and Hornady's websites - a lower weight of Varget eh? Is it a bulkier powder or am I leaving more unfilled space in the cartridge?

There ain't no such animal!

See my previous posts...

Ricciardelli

When you say

"There ain't no such animal!"

To what do you refer?

As to your previous posts, it might just be that you're a very active poster here and I could end up spending valuable reloading time simply trawling through to find the posts you have in mind. Soo, a little clue wouldn't go amiss please?

Well, if you do a search on ".22-250 varget" ... you will find what I am referring to

Thanks

PETE,
The Hodgdon manual show the max suggested load as 36.5 grains of Varget with the 55 grain bullet. The new Nosler has 35.0 grains as the max load. I'm using a Rem. M-700 VLS with a 26" barrel in .22-250 and have found the 36.5 grain with the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip to deliver excellent results. Good luck.
PS. The Nosler manual list the 35.0 grains as a 83% load density. Have a great day.

[ 08-19-2002, 01:15: Message edited by: BigBob ]

Pete -

You MIGHT find a good Varget load for the 22-250, but, H380 is the best powder for it, especially with 55/60 grainers. H/I4895 or AA/I4064 are also keepers.

So, Steve, I take it you never did find a good Varget combo? Bummer.

R-WEST

Thanks guys,

Assuming (hahaha!) that the addition of a 12 inch long steel moderator (Reflex T8) has more than slightly affected barrel harmonics and has thus reduced my previously-developed optimum load to something less than optimum, I'm going back to square one with 55gn VMax and 55gn fmjs, together with Varget, H380 and Vectan TU 2000 and 3000.

Interestingly, the 55gn fmjs, which used to shoot almost to the same poi as the VMax now shoot quite differently.

Anyone care to predict what my eventual replacement load is going to be?

Prior to fitting the Reflex T8 moderator (http://guns.connect.fi/rs/mounting.html), I shot 55 gn VMax in the .22/250 into half inch or better groups at 100 metres, driven by 38.4gn of Mr Hodgdon's H380, started by Federal Match primers.

I've yet to put the same load through the chronograph but I know the grouping has opened by about 50% and poi has shifted, though most probably due the the barrel having been out of the bedding and the scope having been off the receiver.

I'm going to test H380 up to 41gn, Varget up to 36.5 and Vectan TU3000 up to 35gn.

This is a varminting load for shooting foxes, mostly by lamp at night, and typicakky out to 250 yards though with sufficient confidence in an accurate round, this could go further. The rifle is a heavy barrelled Tikka M55 action.

Okay guys, here's the results from the range today.

Apart from some check testing with my original VMax load, original fmj load and, ahem, Federal factory stuff, all loads were shot using 55gn fmjs. I've always found that these give me a good indication which loads will work - and usually then even better with the VMax.

VMax, 38.4gn of H380 1/2" group. Av velocity 3519
Federal factory 1/2" group 3 inches high, av velocity 3548
Fmj 38gn of H380 sub 1/2" group av velocity 3423
Fmj 38.4gn of H380 sub 1/2" group 4" high av velocity 3539
Vectan TU3000 33gn sub 1/2" group 51/2" high, av velocity 3473

All other loads were pants and didn't deserve the term "group":

TU3000 in 32(3389fps), 34(3538fps) & 35gn (av v 3677). The same in 36gn shot up to 3868 and massively overpressured with all the usual signs on bolt opening and impact marking to the case head. No further loads shot.
Nothing else in H380 between 35gn and 41gn showed a worthwhile group.
Likewise Varget loads between 33.5 and 36.5gn were worth spit. Velocities were low with 36.5 showing an average of 3499.

So, I'm going back to H380 and work up loads at 0.1gn increements from 38.0 to 38.9

The moderator appears to knock off about 95fps and I find it interesting that loads which came near to replicating the pre-moderator muzzle velocity of 3603 did not show good groupings.

Obviously the fps of the load up the barrel remains what it used to be and is only slowed by the moderator on exit. If ther's improvement to be had I think it will come by tuning the load to the barrel's new harmonics and not by fighting them with load which is still doing 3603 or thereabouts downrange of the moderator.

Am I right guys?

My 12 FV Savage produces fantastic results with 34 grains Varget and the Sierra 55 grain PSP and the 53 grain HP hornaday bullet. Also 34.5 gr. IMR 4064 with both those bullets shoots great. The load with Varget powder is just a smidge tighter groups. It is great when your rifle will shoot so well with two different powder bullet combinations. Varget powder is also very temperature tolerant no matter what the weather.
I tried H-380 the all time 22-250 favorite powder but my 22-250 did not like the powder. You must shoot what the rifle likes best. H-380 powder designation was developed by Hodgdon with the 22-250 since a charge of 38.0 grians produced one small hole at 100 yards.

Hi Pete,
Varget is manufactured by ADI in Australia who supply it to Hogdons - the ADI designation is AR 2208 which is what we know it as, here in New Zealand as well as Australia - it is to all intents and purposes one and the same.
Their Handloaders Guide lists 36 grains as maximum charge weight for a 55grn proj - est vel in a 24" barrel is given as 3730 fps.
Hogdons data sheet gives 36.5 grns Varget for 3664 fps in a 26" barrel for the 55grn proj by way of comparison.
ADI powder equivalents chart shows AR 2208 as having the same burn rate as IMR 4064 and AA 2520.They rate H380 as being somewhat slower burning - on a par with N 203 and Reloader 15.
Equivalence is within "about 5%"
Hopefully this info may be of some assistance in calculating a starting load for your Varget with 55grn proj.
You need have no qualms concerning the quality of this powder - I use it in my Winchester Mod 70 Heavy Varmint 22-250 and have had quarter inch groups at 100 yds using 39.5 grns AR 2208 behind a 40 grn Hornady V-max as well as 48.5 grns AR 2208 behind 140 grn Sierras in my Brno ZKK 600 in 7x57 (deer hunting loads)
Hope this info is in time to be of use - have only just signed up - Regards - Sevenmill.

Here's the final scores guys.

Today I shot 38 to 39 gn loads of H380 in 0.2gn increments and you know what? No significant difference between any of them. All showed 0.5 inch grouping and in fact the only touching holes I got were with my old favourite, the 38.4.

Case closed pending moly coat trials.

Now, to review COL