223 and Varget

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ole farmerbuck

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I gave up on Varget using 40gr and 69gr bullets in my 223 Bushmaster. The 69's shot about a 4"group. Its 1-9 twist. 40's were better but not good enough. I think i can make these 52gr BTHP Noslers work pretty good with a little time. I used 26gr Varget seated to 2.240 and crimped the 2nd set of 3. I'm only shooting 3 till i get what i think might work. Anyway, you can see what the difference is with crimping. Used the Lee fcd. Oh yea, these are 100 yards.

varget.jpg
 
My DPMS 1-9" bbl prefers the 50ish gr pills. I gave up on Varget because I ran out of case capacity and switched to BL-C2. I'm going to give H335 a go at some point.
 
I;ll do five shots tomorrow and see what happens.

Blc-2 and Varget shoot about the same poi. I had 26.5gr of Varget in some cases but didnt group as good. How much are you wanting to use?
 
Buck, I use Benchmark with those Noslers. Just below max load, 26.5g gives me very nice groups even with a dirty barrel. Works best with 1:9", but still work OK in a long bull barrel with 1:8" twist. Next best powder I've used with those same custom comp bthp: IMR-3031. Who would've thunk it. These are faster powders than Varget, maybe that's what my barrels are trying to tell me when I use 52 to 55 grain bullets.
 
ants said:
Buck, I use Benchmark with those Noslers. Just below max load, 26.5g gives me very nice groups even with a dirty barrel. Works best with 1:9", but still work OK in a long bull barrel with 1:8" twist. Next best powder I've used with those same custom comp bthp: IMR-3031. Who would've thunk it. These are faster powders than Varget, maybe that's what my barrels are trying to tell me when I use 52 to 55 grain bullets.
Click to expand...
I have those 2 powders too . I can try them tomorow if the weather is ok. 55 here today but i'm thinking about 25 tomorrow. Popped a few p-dogs with the AR with 40gr v-maxes today.
 
If I'm shooting from a Led Sled and it's all properly fixed and weighted, and letting the barrel cool between shots, I can see the difference at about 5 or 6 three-shot strings, or maybe 20 rounds max. Clean the barrel, and it shoots well again.

But the way I usually shoot when having fun, it generally doesn't make much difference until a hundred rounds. The barrel is still more accurate than I am.
 
The bad thing about 3031 is that it meters poorly in every powder thrower I have. But if I weigh each charge on the scale, it works for 50g Remington, 52g Nosler CC, 53g Sierra SP, and 55 grain Ballistic Tip. It really seems to like the 20 inch post-ban barrel with a concave crown at the muzzle.
 
I dont mind the long grain powders, i use a charge master. I tried Benchamrk and 3031 with 40gr and didnt have much luck. I might be asking too much out of this AR, trying to make it shoot like my Savage!
 
Lyman lists Benchmark as an accuracy powder for 53g bullets.
Try it. Let us know how that upper shoots.
 
I think you might entertain the idea of getting a drop tube and working up your charges in the 223 with Varget. Hogdgon has charges as high as 28gr for the 40gr. I used to use 27.5gr for 40 gr Vmax, 50gr Vmax and 55gr NBT. All not crimped and had one hole accuracy.....
 
I like H4895 in .223, its shooting very nicely with 55 gr FMJBT's in my Mini-14. I've found that 25.5 grains works great.
 
^^^^ What he said^^^^.

I've had good shooting with Varget, using the 69 gr. SMK HPBT's, between 24 and 25 gr's of Varget.

I've had GREAT shooting with the 4895, using the same bullet, and 23.2 gr. of powder.

I still like the Varget, but I love the 4895. I used two different AR's and a Steyr Scout, all with comparable results. Good shooting to you in whatever you decide.

-tc
 
Finding the best load is always based on the averages of at least four 5-shot groups. Five groups is better, or even more. How many groups in your averages? And what are the averages? One three shot group only means your rifle happened to fire that many times.
 
Offfhand said:
Finding the best load is always based on the averages of at least four 5-shot groups. Five groups is better, or even more. How many groups in your averages? And what are the averages? One three shot group only means your rifle happened to fire that many times.
Click to expand...
I understand this but like i said in my 1st post, i'm only doing 3 till i can tell i'm getting close. I started out with 24.5grains and went up. The lower charges werent good. 25.6 was ok. Ran out of daylight but i think i can tell i can start playing with lengths and doing 5 shots now.
 
Redneck with a 40 said:
I like H4895 in .223, its shooting very nicely with 55 gr FMJBT's in my Mini-14. I've found that 25.5 grains works great.
Click to expand...
H4895 works good too. Had some nice groups. I have a good variety of powders so I like to build up loads for different powders and bullets. Gets expensive but it sure is fun!
 
ants said:
Lyman lists Benchmark as an accuracy powder for 53g bullets.
Try it. Let us know how that upper shoots.
Click to expand...
From what i saw this evening, i dont think Benchmark is going to be THE powder for the 52's. But, it was cold and a little windy. Hopefully can try tomorrow.
 
Benchmark (near max) shoots 52s and 53s very well in 3 of my 223s and both 223AIs.
 
Good groups consistantly, is better than a freakishly great group that can't be repeated with any consistancy IMO.
It all depends on what your rifle will repeat good results with.

My boltguns will produce good consistant groups with 52/53gr using ADI-BM2(H-Benchmark), 40gr using ADI-AR2207(H-4198).

Or 40gr to 55gr(223rem) using ADI-AR2206H(H-4895) which also gives me consistant groups in my 308win with 150gr.

Or 55gr(223rem) using ADI-AR2208(H-Varget) which gives me consistant groups and performance in my 308win with 100gr to 150gr, as well as my 243win with 70gr-85gr.
 
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Are you guys loading to magazine length or what? Or does it make much differance?

Sidewinder, H335 does work good, i'm looking for a powder for our extreme temp spread here in Ks.
 
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