Anyone using Varget for .223?

[sta500rdr]

I just put together some new loads for my AR-15 and encountered something interesting. This is what I have.

New winchester brass, sized and trimmed to proper length.

CCI Small Rifle Primers

Hornady 68 Gr BTHP

Varget Powder, 23.4 gr and 24.2 gr.

Using such a high weight bullet makes it longer than the lighter weights. Thus making it extend further down into the case. When I seated the bullet it made a crunching noise as I set it to its proper depth. However neither load was listed in the Hornady Reloading Manual as being a "compressed" load. It was also not the max load listed in the manual. Just curious if anyone else has encountered this. Thanks.

 

[NCsmitty]

You didn't mention what your COAL dimension measures. Most heavy bullet loads need to be 2.250" to work through the magazine and they do "crunch" the powder on installing, but that is normal for the slower powders like Varget.
www.hodgdon.com lists 26.0gr as the maximum with a 69gr bullet, but often the most accurate is somewhere lower than that.



NCsmitty

 

[sta500rdr]

I apologize. The COL was 2.250. I was just curious if the crunching was normal, I have never experienced that before with this particular round. But its the first time loading these heavier bullets.

 

[zac_christy]

I loaded 100 of the 75gr Hornady bullets in .223 with 23.5gr of Varget last month. Loaded to 2.250 OAL and didn't get any crunch, you can hear the powder when you shake the round.

 

[sta500rdr]

I believe that 75 gr A-Max bullet has a different COL than the 68 Grain does. I wonder if that has something to do with it. Interesting. I have some of those to load too, I will have to give them a try.

 

[frogomatic]

the combination of Varget and hornady 68grn BTHP's has been one of my favorites for quite a while. This combo has produced very good results for me.

edited to add: my loads always crunched too, never gave me any problems though.

 

[Casefull]

I use it and like it. Don't worry the crunching is "forced settling".

 

[dc.fireman]

sta500 -

I have loaded about 4000 rds of .223 using Varget, in powder charges varying from 23.5 to 24.5 gr.; I don't remember ever hearing a 'crunching' indicating a compressed charge.
I was using the Sierra Match King HPBT's, 69 gr.
I have some of the Hornady BTHP's in 68 gr., but have not loaded them yet.

The Lymans 49th edition lists the following info for the Sierra's:
Cartridge Overall Length : 2.260"
Case Length : 1.760"
Projectile : Sierra HPBT #1380 69 gr.
Powder : Varget 23.4 suggested starting @ 2654fps, 33,700 CUP
Max Load 26.0+ (indicates a compressed charge) 2922 fps,
at 40,500 CUP
They listed the devices used for testing were a Universal Receiver 24" barrel length, and a Colt AR15 20 " barrel length.

Are you certain your powder is being charged and measured correctly? It just seems odd to me - the manual indicates that at around 26 gr.s you'd be compressing the charge using a 69 gr. bullet, at 23.4 all the way through 24.5, I've never had crunching with Varget, and with a one time exception of using 4895, it's all I've reloaded my 223 with, hell, it's the only powder I have for rifles right now.

My Hornady manual is at my dads house right now, I'll get it tomorrow and post their info on their 68 gr. BTHP for you. But something doesn't sound right to me, and it seems like your powder charges may be throwing higher than what they should be, hence the crunching. Hope this helps,

-tc

 

[ForneyRider]

I use Varget/R15 for heavier bullets in .223. 24-24.5 isn't bad. I don't get but the lightest crunch at the end of the bullet seat. Going higher in charge will not be as easy to do, and I get good accuracy at 24.5.

AA2230 and benchmark do very well for me with the lighter fare in .223. Trying to stuff 27-28gr of Varget for a 40gr load is not fun.

 

[cvo]

Try a longer lenght drop tube if possible.

 

[dc.fireman]

Ok - so here is the info I have from the Hornady Reloading Manual, 7th ed.

Hornady 68gr. BTHP, No. 2278
COL = 2.250"
Case = Winchester @ 1.760"
Primer = Win. SM. Rifle
Test rifle is a Colt AR-15, 20" barrel

Varget powder:

22.7 gr. = 2500FPS
23.4 gr. = 2600FPS
24.2 gr. = 2700FPS
24.9 gr. = 2800FPS <----- shaded in red, indicating Hornady's MAX recommended load

They also indicate that the 75gr. BTHP may be loaded to magazine length, while the 75gr. AMax, may not. The one thing Hornady omits from their manual is pressure readings for each, so I can't comment on those. Do you have a chrony to check FPS? If so, could you post the actual speeds you get, I'd like to know them going in, before I start reloading the Hornady bullets.

I'm guessing the reason for the crunching has to do with the cartridge overall length being 10/100ths of an inch shorter per the Hornady manual, than the Lyman manual (2.260").

When I load my .223, I've used the Lyman manual nearly exclusively, because it referenced the exact components I wanted to try ( Sierra SMK's, and CCI primers). I know that the 2.260" COL is longer than the Hornady book says, but I also know it works for my standard AR-15 30 round magazines, and fires well, with good accuracy. I used a pound of IMR 4895 to try out, and that was the brand I had some phenomenal accuracy with. I went back to Varget, because it's readily available to me right now, at a decent price.

I looked at my rounds in storage a few minutes ago, and the highest powder charge I have used so far, is 25.1gr. of 4895, but loaded to 2.260", and still no compression/crunching. Good luck, and good shooting to you.

-tc

 

[Jaybird78]

Every time Varget "crunches", an angel gets its wings.

Just the nature of the beast.

 

[kelbro]

Get a drop tube. 25.5gr is when it will start to crunch a little.

 

[DIM]

yes Varget for 223, 270 and 308 it works