Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL 15 versus Varget in 308 Win

Hi gang
I have had good luck with Varget in my 308 (20 in bbl tikka) and get great accuracy with 47 grains with 150's and 46 grains with 165 grainers. Velocities run 2700-ish and 2600-ish respectively. I use RP or Win brass with CCI 200's.

I have been wanting to try RE 15 so picked up a lb this week.

In general, how has RE15 performed for you versus Varget? Thanks for the input!

Colin

In two different .308's, RL15 outperformed Varget in accuracy and velocity. In my Tikka, 45grs of H4895 behind Sierra's 150gr BTSP go 100fps faster, at 2800, and gives best accuracy as well.

Thanks FC, what length barrel?

With 155's Varget shoots better in mine, more accurate and 2,850 fps out of a 26" barrel @ 46 grains.

22". It's a T3 Lite Stainless.

I've had better luck with RE-15 vs varget in 2 of my 308's shooting 150 gr hornady sp interlocks. I also decided to use it in my pre 64 model 100 (308) since it works so well in the others.

IIRC, the U.S. Military 7.62 M118 LR ball uses RL-15 and the 175 Sierra Matchking.

'15 for me. I've tried Varget in lots of rifles and was never impressed. 4064 and 4895 are great in .308 too

I tested the 2 powders with 168MKs, just 3 shots each, One was the famous 42grs of Varget that Ive been reading about here and there, the other was 42grs of RE15, the accuracy load in the Sierra manual, RE15 was more accurate, measuring 5/8" @100yds, 2 in the same hole, Varget shot a bit over an inch. I will try it in my new SPSS Rem 308 since that rifle has a more powerful scope and heavy barrel, Jewell trigger, H S Precision stock, so it might be up to the task better than my Classic stocked 308 700.

I've always preferred RL15 in the 308 over Varget... until recently. Both usually shoot the same way in all the 308's I've owned. However, RL15 has usually given better speed.

THEN, this winter I chrono'd RL15 and Varget loads at 0-10*F... RL15 lost right around 100 fps, whereas Varget lost only 20-ish fps.

I'll take the temp stability of Varget any day over RL15.

Varget and R15 work similarly in my 308's. I use varget mostly, I find R-15 to burn quite dirty, cleanup seems much easier and quicker with varget.

Ran Varget for quite a while until I tried RL-15...

Varget works for me or for my 308 Win.

To date I seem to get best accuracy with R15 with the 150/155's and Varget with the 165/168's. But that's only from the last couple barrels I've worked with and a couple barrels isn't much of a test but it's a start.

Try em both and see for which your gun prefers.

Best of luck to ya!

Dober

I tried RE 15 with the 150 Accubond today. Worked up to 47 grains with cci 200 primers and RP brass. The 4 shot group with 47 grains went 0.6 inches. The first three shots were touching and I opened it up on the 4th shot. RE 15 made a good first impression! Will try it again this weekend with the chrony and run it against Varget. I must say though I have probably averaged around 1 inch with Varget and the 150 accubonds over the past 2 years and have never shot a group as tight as the 47 grain load today.

I tried several recommended powders incl. RL-15 and Varget. What my rifle liked best was 150 gr. NBT's and H4895. I wasn't expecting that, but am going with it. Best group in Kimber Classic with Broughton 5C 23" bbl was 3/8".

145 score 8 pt. La. Whitetail last fall, DRT.

DF

That is interesting Brad. Thanks for sharing.

How are your pressures on the 47 grain load? That is starting to get really warm in a 308 with a 150 grain bullet.

I shoot 46.3 grain RL-15, Federal brass, 210M primer and a 150 ballistic tip. Very accurate load but definitely warm.

There's a noticeable capacity difference between your Fed brass and his RP.

True, but still getting up there in charge for a 308 regardless of brass.