Range session with the Cowboy-Another good cast .30-30 load

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:29 pm

Took the 336 CB .30-30 to the range for a little hard cast work. I had one range session prior to this outing. I was shooting a quiet load featuring a 170gr BearCreek Supply soft cast with Trail Boss at aroung 975fps. This session featured an M&P 173gr FNGC #311041 sized .309" and Varget. I prepped the W/W brass on RCBS dies with a .3045" expander. Bullets were seated over 30grs of Varget and ignited by CCI-300 primers. The 5 round group was shot at 40yrds with the factory open sights. The first shot was a fouler from a cold, clean barrel. Imagine the target rotated to the left as the point of impact was to the left of the paster. The 45cal. holes are not mine as I used a target that was hanging up when I arrived. As you can see the rifle is quite accurate. Velocity was 1950fps with an extreme spread of 17fps. Load density is excellent being slightly compressed. Thanks for looking. 1886.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:35 pm

I like Varget and have used it in my .308 with very good results with cast bullets. It does like high pressure to burn right. Your rifle seems to like it!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:49 pm

That's a very good load and an excellent SD...

Although that 1st photo gave me vertigo!

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:59 pm

I have had great results with Varget in many cartridges. The .45-90, .45-70, and .38-55 round out the old rimmed rounds with cast loads. Varget has treated me well in a number of more "modern" cartridges as well. The 9.3x62, .35 Whelen. .350 Rem. really sing with Varget. Probably the best powder for the .308. Medium expansion cartridges all. Varget seems to perform best in the medium expansion ratio cartridges with jacketed but it really does shine with some cast loads as well. It's burning rate is slower than 2495 so this may explain some of the success but 2495 is really unique. Mores the pitty that 2495 is being discontinued. Stock up while you can. 1886.

Lefty Dude · Post by **Lefty Dude** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:28 am

2495 ?

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:13 am

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/2495.htm. 1886

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:13 pm

Love it when a plan comes together. I've got some cast loads for my 356 Win. that have been waiting for a couple of months to be shot. It's killin me!

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:20 pm

Been using Varget a lot as well. Especially in 45-70 & 450Marlin. Becoming my favorite powder. getting hard to find around here lately. Going to have to order some and pay the @#$%^ hazmat fee!

Sharp rifle Gary!

Bluehawk · Post by **Bluehawk** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:10 pm

Sorry comming late to this thread
I am having great success in my one 30/30 with 30 Grains of varget and the RCBS 180 GC Was shooting 30.5 Varget which was OK vbut reducing it one half grain made it even better . Have not Chronied them but figure right above 1900
I also like Varget in my MI 47 Grains with 150 Ball shoots nicely out of that too .