Varget powder

Dawgdad · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: Varget powder

Slim, you use RE-10?

plus you would use 24-27 grains of Varget with those bullet weights.

I get 2700 with 24.5 RE-15 and a 75 BTHP in a 20" AR15.

Both those loads will take a coyote but the sixty grainer has some room to get more speed. More speed there will help the MPBR too.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Varget powder

Wow Slim, I'm using 24grs BL-C2 with 75gr hornady good for 2700fps, what powder are you using? You have to be near max with them loads.

Vince · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:39 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

MacD wrote:

...Not sure of the protocol for older threads but I found this one interesting.

Protocols with older threads are pretty simple mate...they are there to be revisited whenever the urge takes you. There is always good helpful information stored in threads gone by, so feel free to jump in and bring 'em back to the fore mate...unless of course a Moderator has closed them off for some reason, but that is pretty rare because we are a happy bunch in here.

Cheers, Vince

slimjim · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

I use Varget with my Hornady 75gr A-Max and 77gr SMK, 24.1 and 23.6 grains, respectively. Was shooting last Friday at 500 yards trying to prepare for the next match. My velocities were.

75gr A-Max = 2890 with a SD of 17 fps
77gr SMK = 2830 with a SD of 25 fps

Dawgdad, this is out of my 24" 1:8 White Oak Armament barrel you recommended. Its a great shooter. I'm not showing signs of over pressure.

Dawgdad · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:38 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

John Holliger builds a good stick....

Are the SMK's mag length and how far are you jumping the A-max?

Jumping bullets and harmonic vibration of barrels - now there is an old thread you might want to leave closed....

slimjim · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

SMKs are 2.255"
A-Max are 2.390"

It wasn't in my notes. I don't think I have measured it. I also can't find where if have varied seating depth so I better add that to my list of things to check.

What do you find works best for the A-Max regarding COAL and off the lands?

Dawgdad · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:01 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

I am using 80 Amaxes now. botht them and the 75's work best at .010-.015" off of the lands in my rifles but you will find your own sweet spot with them. When they are out of the sweet spot it can look like a shotgun pattern rather than a group. With all the rounds I shoot I have to chase the throat erosion to keep the jump right.

80gr SMK's are supposed to be more jump tolerant but cost a bunch more than the AMax. one less thing to worry wbout though...

Quite a few match shooters are using Bergers now too.

MacD · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

Slimjim:

Those are about the speeds I expected with the loads I used. 26.5 grains of Varget with 60 grain Hornady's are in the 3000-3100 fps range so my chrono seems accurate enough. There is lots of room for more RE10X in the case. I know I can move up on the RE10X loads and intend to ladder up ASAP. I really needed to get on the 100 meter range, which I should be able to do this week if the weather co-operates. BTW a public thanks for the stability calculator. I am going to use it tonight to run some 308 loads as well as see what it comes up with for those all copper Barnes bullets.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Varget powder

Thanks for the recipe Slim, Varget is listed in all my books but never gave it a thought as I had other powders. I'm going to load some tomorrow night and head out Wednesday using 2.390 with the A-max oal and go from there.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Varget powder

MacD wrote:

going to use it tonight to run some 308 loads as well as see what it comes up with for those all copper Barnes bullets.

Barnes list the twist needed for their longer bullets on their website. I believe their twist recommendation are relliable. The Tipped TSX bullets have better BCs than the TSXs in .308. I think the biggest issue you will have is powder capacity with the heavier bullets. The all-copper bullets are about 20% longer than lead-based so the longer/heavier ones eat into case capacity. I've done really well with them in my .270. Its case has room for excess powder which the lighter bullets can use to gain some extra velocity - 3400 fps with a 110gr TTSX with a 22" barrel. Getting 3100 fps with 130gr TSX. I have also hand load .223 and .308 Win. The .308 with 130gr TTSX and estimate I was getting over 3000 fps but had to use Remington cases as Federal cases didn't hold enough powder. The charge was compressed. I thought this was respectable performance for a deer hunting load.