Well, I took the M96 out to the range on Saturday. I began using Varget where I left off with H4895.
The conditions where 56F misty and very calm, wind 2-4 mph. So pretty good shooting conditions.
The shoot were all taken from 100 yards. Using the 266469 Lyman 140 grain projectile (coming out of the mould at 143 grains) GC with Hornady copper checks, lubed in the groves using Caranuba red.
I conducted testing on 12 loads, using ten shot except for the last load (I will get to that).
I shot 5 rounds, and then gave the barrel 5 minutes to cool to ambient temperature before shooting the second set of 5 rounds for the 10 shot group.
The results are as follows:
Group 1 26.5gns 4 3/4" (8 shots) 1825FPS
Disappointing though it was pointed out to me that varget does not burn too well at lower pressures! This inconsistent burn was further demonstrated by two flyers. The brass didn't offer any of the tell tale neck splitting that usually accompanies flyers. I can not measure pressure but Quick-load indicates 1800PSI.
Group 2 27gns 4 3/8" (9 shots) 1880FPS
Ditto to above, 1 flyer.
Group 3 27.5gns 3 9/16" 1990fps
Ditto
Group 4 28 gns 4 1/4" 1980fps
Ditto
Group 5 28.5gns 3 3/8" 2040fps
Ditto
Group 6 29 gns 2 7/8" 2070fps
First sub 3 MOA, perhaps the Varget has got burning a bit better (estimated PSI 22000)
Group 7 29.5gns 2 1/2" 2100fps
The best group, it seems to be the sweet spot for Varget.
Group 8 30 gns 2 11/16" 2135fps
It seemed that pressure, RPM, velocity etc had begun to exceed a threshold!
Group 9 30.5gns 3 3/4" 2170fps
The threshold seems to now have been exceeded.
Group 10 31 gns 5 1/4" (8 shots 2 flyers) 2210fps
If there was any question this projectile is now getting pushed too hard.
Group 11 31.5 gns 6 11/16" (7 shots 3 flyers) 2260fps
All gone to pot!
Group 12 32 gns I only shot three, the first two 10" apart and the third off target! Just too much for the combination, surprising though no sign of leading! Quickkload estimate the pressure to be up around 29000PSI.
With the exception of around the 29-30 grains load range Varget proved largely unsuccessful as an accurate HV powder.
Indeed at a little less velocity 1970fps, H4895 proved to be a more accurate option.
I will repeat 29-30 grains at 200 yards to see what I get, as well as some of my H4895 loads.
The next slowest powder is H4350 loading of that would need to begin at 31 grains!
I ran these powders through Quick-load, so that each produced an estimated 2100fps.
H4895 actually achieves the same velocity as Varget at a lower pressure.
What's interesting is that the acceleration rate in terms of pressure, demonstrates that the rate of acceleration for pressure increase is actually lower using H4895 than even H4350 or H4831. Not the peak pressure but rather the rate of increase!
Again can't be taken as gospel but H4895 looks good on paper, in more ways than one so far!
In terms of affect upon the bullet hoe does the rate of pressure increase deform it as opposed to peak pressure, obviously they both have an effect.
The conditions where 56F misty and very calm, wind 2-4 mph. So pretty good shooting conditions.
The shoot were all taken from 100 yards. Using the 266469 Lyman 140 grain projectile (coming out of the mould at 143 grains) GC with Hornady copper checks, lubed in the groves using Caranuba red.
I conducted testing on 12 loads, using ten shot except for the last load (I will get to that).
I shot 5 rounds, and then gave the barrel 5 minutes to cool to ambient temperature before shooting the second set of 5 rounds for the 10 shot group.
The results are as follows:
Group 1 26.5gns 4 3/4" (8 shots) 1825FPS
Disappointing though it was pointed out to me that varget does not burn too well at lower pressures! This inconsistent burn was further demonstrated by two flyers. The brass didn't offer any of the tell tale neck splitting that usually accompanies flyers. I can not measure pressure but Quick-load indicates 1800PSI.
Group 2 27gns 4 3/8" (9 shots) 1880FPS
Ditto to above, 1 flyer.
Group 3 27.5gns 3 9/16" 1990fps
Ditto
Group 4 28 gns 4 1/4" 1980fps
Ditto
Group 5 28.5gns 3 3/8" 2040fps
Ditto
Group 6 29 gns 2 7/8" 2070fps
First sub 3 MOA, perhaps the Varget has got burning a bit better (estimated PSI 22000)
Group 7 29.5gns 2 1/2" 2100fps
The best group, it seems to be the sweet spot for Varget.
Group 8 30 gns 2 11/16" 2135fps
It seemed that pressure, RPM, velocity etc had begun to exceed a threshold!
Group 9 30.5gns 3 3/4" 2170fps
The threshold seems to now have been exceeded.
Group 10 31 gns 5 1/4" (8 shots 2 flyers) 2210fps
If there was any question this projectile is now getting pushed too hard.
Group 11 31.5 gns 6 11/16" (7 shots 3 flyers) 2260fps
All gone to pot!
Group 12 32 gns I only shot three, the first two 10" apart and the third off target! Just too much for the combination, surprising though no sign of leading! Quickkload estimate the pressure to be up around 29000PSI.
With the exception of around the 29-30 grains load range Varget proved largely unsuccessful as an accurate HV powder.
Indeed at a little less velocity 1970fps, H4895 proved to be a more accurate option.
I will repeat 29-30 grains at 200 yards to see what I get, as well as some of my H4895 loads.
The next slowest powder is H4350 loading of that would need to begin at 31 grains!
I ran these powders through Quick-load, so that each produced an estimated 2100fps.
H4895 actually achieves the same velocity as Varget at a lower pressure.
What's interesting is that the acceleration rate in terms of pressure, demonstrates that the rate of acceleration for pressure increase is actually lower using H4895 than even H4350 or H4831. Not the peak pressure but rather the rate of increase!
Again can't be taken as gospel but H4895 looks good on paper, in more ways than one so far!
In terms of affect upon the bullet hoe does the rate of pressure increase deform it as opposed to peak pressure, obviously they both have an effect.
