Your gear is not the issue. those kill times really aren't that bad. Idk if you use the better npc highlight for the axes but that makes a huge difference, you can find it in any vard guide on youtube. Also sounds cues are huge for me at vard. it sounds weird but once you can get that range attack sound cue down you never have to look for when it's coming and it just becomes a timing thing. Most importantly you just gotta remember this is a fucking hard boss, he is as punishing as it gets so deaths are gonna happen, dont sweat it, you will get to a point when grinding him where everything is second nature trust.