Viking painter
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2023
- Messages
- 73
Hi all, hope you’re having a great day. Been reloading rifle since 1998 and have loaded 10s of thousands of vmax for 5.56/.223 but just started using benchmark in the last couple years and love the stuff! I only used vv n133 and vv n140 for vmax loads before the great component famine of 2020 but the supply ran dry in my area till 6 months ago when I got only 1 jug of n140. I did however score 24 lbs of benchmark and was told by a few old timers that it’s the next best thing for 50-60 gr loads. I tried 8208 xbr and it was good but in short supply as well so just went all in on benchmark with vmax and glad I did. Great velocity, great metering, clean, low sd, stick powder like I’m used to and it kinda has a different but good smell,lol! Been doing alot of load development lately as I finally have time to fine tune it and am impressed with the consistency and accuracy I get from my carbines, pistols, and precision rifles. I am using 1 fire LC 22 nato brass all trimmed to 1.748 and Ginex srp. The 60 gr loads started at 23.9 gr to 24.6 gr at 2.250. Noticed the sd and es numbers shrinking around the 24.2 mark and up so the next round of loads went from 24.2-24.6. I also tried over book max quite a bit after working with quickload and grt and had those suckers flying over 3000 fps and a 10 sd from a 16” carbine with no pressure signs except very faint swipe on case, but I do not recommend nor condone anyone trying this and should be approached with caution! Anyhow, finally dialed it in today at 24.4 gr at 2.250 with .3” accuracy at 100 yds and .7” at 200 yds with a 3x9 and a 1:7 basic carbine! 2900 fps avg/ es 20/ sd 7 and no pressure signs to speak of. This stuff rocks for vmax and can’t wait to try it in my 20” woa spr! In the 55 gr I started at 25-25.6 and same story, dialed it to 25.5 gr at 2.250 with .1”(single hole) accuracy at 100 and .5” at 200 yds. 3111 fps avg/20 es/ 7 sd with faint swipes but nothing to worry about. These numbers are 15 and 20 shot strings, now that’s consistent! Enough ranting from me, who else loves this stuff for vmax!