Alliant Powder – P.Pro Varm. 8 lb.

I bought an 8 pound jug of this powder back when components were really tight. I load .223 for Prairie Dog hunting. To save having to carry multiplicity of loads, I develop loads that will shoot a crossed at least three different gun platforms, mostly ARs that range in build quality from national match to mid grade. After years of experimentation and literally tens of thousands of rounds shot hunting I have only found two other powders (VV 133 and Tac) that will generally make good loads for multiple guns. I tried this powder with a Nozlar 52 grain match hollow point, a Hornady 50 grain VMAX, and a Nozler 69 grain boattail hollow point at magazine length all with indifferent results. The “aha” moment came with an HBN coated 55 grain Nosler ballistic tip, and load enough off maximum to be a good working hot day Prairie Dog load but still well up in working pressures. Less than MOA at 200 yards in three different guns. Good velocity and low extreme spreads, too. On a recent outing it showed no degradation of field accuracy over 200 rounds between cleanings, the gun cleaned relatively easily, and showed no hard carbon build up after 400 rounds and cleaning twice with Wipeout. My recommendation to a friend would be to try no more than a pound, but that there may be an occasional great result available with this powder. Even though it has no other uses for me besides the 55 grain ballistic tip it does so well with that that I will wind up buying another 2-3 pounds.

This morning I tried Alliant PP Varmint in my Marlin 336. I have tried many powders over the years, but this might be the best one yet for the 30-30. It performed consistently from the minimum to the maximum charge. Some say it’s a dirty burner, but that wasn’t my experience. I found it to burn relatively clean. I cannot imagine a better powder for the 30-30 Winchester. Hopefully, Alliant will keep producing this powder.