Can't find Varget? Try IMR 4166

[Newtosavage]

Worked for me. I gave up trying to find Varget, and my LGS had some IMR "Enduron" 4166. The IMR website says it's a substitute for Varget, so I tried it. Sure enough, it worked. Same amount of powder put the rounds in the same group at 100 yards, at the same velocities.

This was for both my 7mm-08 and my 30-06.

If you have given up on Varget and you can find some IMR 4166, give it a try.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I've got a new barrel coming for a "precision" ar I'm putting together. I have varget and 4166 sitting side by side on the shelf waiting to fill brass. Curious to see how it does. I haven't been very impressed with 7977 but I think the barrel of that rifle is about toast.

 

[Newtosavage]

I've got a new barrel coming for a "precision" ar I'm putting together. I have varget and 4166 sitting side by side on the shelf waiting to fill brass. Curious to see how it does. I haven't been very impressed with 7977 but I think the barrel of that rifle is about toast.

Let us know how it goes, and I'll try to update this thread as I get opportunities to go to the range. I'm going to try their substitute for H4350 next, as powder is getting damn hard to find these days!

 

[rayporter]

i am down to 3 lbs of varget but powder valley was out of everything but RL50 last week.

RL50 ya- with out checking i assume it burns slower than charcoal,
times are tough, for sure.

 

[MThuntr]

Shooter's World Precision is a copycat powder. I ended up with an 8lb jug in a trade but haven't had a chance to mess with it yet

 

[cooperjd]

I got 8lb jugs of 4166 and 4451, and a few lbs of 4955 to test out. hopefully the new enduron powders work well. I have tested 4166 in my 6.5creed and 280ai with the new absolute hammer bullets. have more testing to do, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[ChrisA]

I ran IMR 4166 in the first barrel of my 6.5x47L a few years ago because I couldn't find Varget. It worked very well with 140s but probably too fast to be ideal.

Been reading goog reports on the Shooters World version of Varget.

On a side note, kinda of ironic that Varget got a "works in a lot of calibers but not great in any" reputation shortly after it was introduced.

Edit to add: IMR 4166 showed promise in a 6mm creedmoor with 60 grain bullets too.

Good luck,

Chris

 

[Haney]

I have had good luck with 4166 in .223 bolt rifles. . Bullets ranged from 50- 77 grain , same bullets shot very well with Varget anf H4895 .

 

[ericwh]

Powder Temp Stability: Hodgdon Extreme vs. IMR Enduron

The goal of this field test was to quantify the temperature stability of the popular Hodgdon H4350 a...

precisionrifleblog.com

 

[Longrange2]

I’ve had great luck with 4166 in a 6mm Dasher and 107 grain bullets. I started load work up with Varget but the 4166 was more accurate and lower SD.

 

[Newtosavage]

The 4166 is proving to be a winner. Excellent velocities and accuracy for me, very comparable to Varget with a minimal, if any POI shift.

On the other hand, I bought a pound of 4451 (supposed to be a replacement for H4350) to try with my heavier bullets, and at least the pound that I bought is S.L.O.W. - a good 150-200 fps. behind the published velocities from the three rifles I tried it in. I'll be sticking with 4166 based on what I've seen so far.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I wonder how it would work in my 375HH, Varget is the listed powder for the bullets I use but I cant seem to find any. I also can't find any rl15 which is the only other powder listed for it.

 

[Newtosavage]

I wonder how it would work in my 375HH, Varget is the listed powder for the bullets I use but I cant seem to find any. I also can't find any rl15 which is the only other powder listed for it.

I bet it would work fine. It's a bit faster than those two on the burn rate chart, but it seems to be replicating Varget in my rifles.

 

[204guy]

I've heard they're interchangeable but the 4451 I've tried has been a bit faster burning than H4350

 

[5RWill]

So the enduron line is just IMR's more or less equivalent to hogdon's extreme lineup. I believe the announcer at shot categorized them as "generics" to the extreme line. Only real downside is i always found them more expensive slightly. I started my 6.5X47 build with 4166 but ended up going back to varget because hwe just ahd more.

4166 ~ Varget
4451 ~ H4350
7977 ~ H1000

Vihtavuori has a new powder out also that seems to be similar to H4350. But knowing Vihtavuori it's going to be pricey.

 

[Ben RT]

FYI - Powder Valley has IMR 4166 in stock at the moment

 

[Stillkickin]

Quick moment, must have just missed it but thanks for the heads up.

 

[Eric_F]

Another powder similar to Varget is N140, velocities were almost identical in my 6 BRA. N140 hit pressure a little earlier but was more temperature stable.

 

[Stillkickin]

That’s interesting, great graph to follow. I’ll definitely put that powder on my back up list. Thanks!

 

[Lawnboi]

Loading 4451 in place of h4350 for a couple buddies who couldn’t find h4350 or re16. So far it’s looking promising.

From the charts it looks a little faster burning. Velocities are similar to h4350 for now just forming brass with light loads