223 55gr and Varget

[TxBobS]

I see a lot of folks talking about 25-27 grains of Varget for 55 gr bullets. The Hornady manual I have shows from 22.8 to a max of 26.4. Is it even worth working up a load with less than say 24 grains? Will 22.8 have cycling problems? Be too slow for 200 yards?

I'm getting ready to work up a load for a new rifle I have and was going from 22.8 to 25.5 by .3 gr. Just wondering if I'm wasting some time with this range.

 

[readyeddy]

I load 26.5 using Hornady FMJ and Sierra GK's, both 55 grain. The Sierra manual lists 27.2 as max.

26.5 gives me 3000 fps from my 20" AR. No signs of pressure and cycles reliably. Accuracy using SGK's is around 1.5".

I wouldn't say your idea is a waste of time since you can be looking at which load delivers optimal accuracy, in addition to cycling and velocities.

 

[Otto]

Is it even worth working up a load with less than say 24 grains?

Yes, you always start at the minimum and work up...it's a basic rule of reloading.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I start a grain off max with slow burning powder in my AR. Depending what kind of brass you have you won't be able to get that much powder in the brass. I run 26.5 with a Hornady sxsp. It shoots good

 

[jack44]

That my go to powder for 223

 

[TxBobS]

Ok. Thanks. I'm going to continue down the path of testing from 22.8-25.5.

 

[redneck2]

I just started working up loads for my .250 Savage. The lower loads shot way better. In my .358 WSSM AR I had to go to absolute max to get accuracy (less than .4").

Every gun is different

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My most accurate 223 load is 25.0gr Varget, FC brass, CCI-primers and a 55gr Sierra GK bullet. (Part #1390) Very accurate in my bolt action rifle and almost as accurate in the AR-15. BUT, for the AR I like a ball powder better. Something like Hodgdon CFE223, Ramshot TAC or Hodgdon H335 is more for me in a semi-auto.

 

[dodge]

I use 26 grs of Varget with a Sierra 55 gr Blitzking, Winchester brass and a CCI 400 primer out of my Remington 700 VLS. I'm good out to 300 yards and beyond that I'm not sure as my club only I can only shoot out to 300 yards. At 100 yards I get 5 shot group under a 1/2" and often times less all day long.

 

[Swampman]

I'm with ArchAngelCD on using easy metering powders for mousegun loads, particularly with 55 grain bullets.
I don't mind the "dump and trickle" thing when loading accuracy loads with heavier bullets, but most of my 55 grain M4 type loads are expended at close ranges and high volume.

 

[stavman11]

Varget shot real Nice for me but HATED how it Metered

So Moved on from it, still have a 1lb jug just collecting dust...

It did shoot real well though... just not for me

WC844, H335 and gunna be testing CFE223 next week... oh and really Liked X-Terminator just kinda hard ta find

 

[HexHead]

I load my 55gr .223 rounds with 25.5gr of Varget. Velocity is right above 3000fps. 2.200 OAL.

 

[TxBobS]

I grabbed the Varget because it was available and it will also go into the M1 and Mosin. These will be match loads so I don't mind spending time on metering them. I'd also like to go with a heavier bullet but since I have 3k of these 55gr sp, I'll be loading them.

I appreciate all of the comments and recipes!

 

[fixin2]

I recently found a good deal on 5# of Varget and 25.0 grains worked well for my M4 so I decided to just stick with that load. It's also my favorite powder for 308 so that worked out well. I have a very old orange Lyman #55 that I use and it will drop dead nuts 25.0 gr. every time I throw the lever. Sometimes it's a little "crunchy" feeling but still works well for me.

 

[WVRJ]

I use 25.5 grs of Varget with 60 gr BT's and get along great.Varget is a very versatile powder for a lot of medium capacity rounds.I use it in 308,35 Rem,short barrel 243 as well as 223.Metering out of a measure is possible,but there are better powders for that out there.I'll stick with Varget for the main reason of its versatility.

 

[HexHead]

Varget is my go to rifle powder, except for my .257 WBY. I load 55gr for my .223 with 25.5gr.