Youper.....
Below is an excerpt from my reloading records showing the results of a thorough test of Hodgdon's VARGET rifle powder in my Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber. I noted in your post that you used 44.5 grains of Varget behind a 150 grain bullet.
According to the respected, nationally-known reloading manual from which I took my loads, the MAXIMUM LOAD of VARGET, using a 150 grain bullet is 42.0 grains. If this amount is still valid, your loads are 2� grains OVER MAXIMUM LOAD.I took a chance and loaded one set of 3 rounds at 42.2 grains... or .2 of a grain OVER the indicated MAXIMUM LOAD and it showed NO HIGH PRESSURE SIGNS. This, to me, indicates that while no high pressures sign were evident, it is a fair possibility that high chamber pressure DID exist.
Unless you've found reliable data (i.e., data published by a recognized source) that indicates your 44.5 grain load of Varget is safe, I'd recommend you back off the 44.5 grain load and drop it down to 42.0 grains (or less) or switch powders to IMR3031, IMR4895, RL15 or some other specific powder load published in recognized reloading manuals.
MAY 28, 2003 � TEST OF HODGDON�S VARGET RIFLE POWDERI loaded Varget powder in amounts ranging from 40.4 to 42.2 grains (.2 grain over �maximum suggested load�) of Varget using 5X fired, accurized Winchester cases, Winchester standard large rifle primers and a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullets.
According to the latest (2002) Lxxxx Reloading Handbook, a maximum load of 42.0 grains of Varget with a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullet was chronographed by Lxxxx ballisticians at 2740 fps. In my tests, I could come no where near that velocity chronographing the rounds with my chronograph.As a �control�, after I finished chronographing all the Varget loads, I fired and chronographed a 3-shot �control� group using my �back-up� hunting loads of 41.5 grains of IMR4895 w/ a 150 grain Nosler B.T. and Winchester standard large rifle primers which yielded an average muzzle velocity of 2686 fps. This MV is slightly higher than my previous average MV of 2675 fps.
The following are the average muzzle velocities attained by the amount of Varget Rifle Powder shown. This test was done on 5/28/03, temperature 70� at the rifle range at Troy Fish & Game Club.
40.4 grs. = 2514 fps average MV.
40.6 grs. = 2525 fps avg.
40.8 grs. = 2546 fps avg.
41.0 grs. = 2539 fps avg.
41.2 grs. = 2523 fps avg.
41.4 grs. = 2576 fps avg.
41.6 grs. = 2590 fps avg.
41.8 grs. = 2606 fps avg.
42.0 grs. = 2615 fps avg. (MAXIMUM Published load)42.2 grs. = 2621 fps avg. (No high pressure signs noted)
Control load: 41.5 gr. IMR4895 =
2671, 2698, 2684 fps = 2686 avg. fps.
CONCLUSION: Varget Rifle PowderVarget is not particularly more accurate than any other powder I�ve tried in my Savage Model 99EG Rifle and it was a complete disappointment in that it was unable to attain the muzzle velocity (2740 fps-24� barrel) published in the 2002 Lxxxx Reloading Handbook with the published maximum load (42.0 grains), reaching only an average muzzle velocity of 2615 fps� well below the 2740 fps indicated in the 2002 Lxxxx Reloading Handbook.
After thorough tests of primers and different amounts of different rifle powders, I have concluded that a load of 41.5 grains (max. book load) of IMR4895 behind a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, boat-tailed bullet, using a Winchester standard large rifle primer and �accurized� Winchester cartridge cases is the best all-around hunting load for my Savage Model 99EG Rifle. It�s accuracy combined with it�s muzzle velocity assures more than enough knock-down power within reasonable ranges.
NOTE: Later tests of a new container of IMR4895 purchased in 2005 or 2006 have shown that the factory recipe for IMR4895 may have changed due to the fact that later chronographed loads consisting of same components & amounts as above yielded a muzzle velocity considerably
slower (2548 fps @ 35�) than the IMR4895 powder containers I purchased in 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004 which averaged 2680 to 2707 fps @ 80�.
To insure the accuracy of the test results of the newest IMR4895 I had just purchased, I wisely took along 3 rounds loaded with the older IMR4895 powder for use as a "control group" which I shot under the same conditions (temperature 35�) as the .300 Savage rounds loaded with the newest IMR4895. The average muzzle velocity of this "control group" yielded 2630 fps... or over 80 fps faster than the cartridges loaded with the new IMR4895 powder.
As a result of these tests, I am now looking for a new hunting load for my Model 99 in .300 Savage and will probably test IMR3031 again plus RL15 at some point in the future.
While some others might not agree, I believe the factory has changed the chemical recipe for IMR4895 since, in my 45+ years of reloading experience, I've
never had any lot-to-lot powder variation cause this great a muzzle velocity variation in any firearm I've ever tested.
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.