Joshua M. Smith
Member
Hello,
Please see "7.62x54r 174gr Varget Loads?". That's the thread that started this particular load, but I felt a separate thread was in order for the range report.
I made five loads each. They were Hornady soft point round nose 174grn o.312" bullets with charges ranging from 42 to 44.5 grains Varget.
First, some past targets I've shot with this rifle:
Light ball surplus
150 grain Speer if I recall correctly, 45 grains Varget
174 grain Hornady BTHP Match, H4350 powder
And then these things:
I'm not impressed!
The first round went to where I have the sights set, but dangit, what's with the vertical stringing?
Those are ten rounds on paper, five with 42.5 grains and one with 43.5 grains Varget if I recall correctly.
It didn't start straightening up until about 44 and 44.5 grains Varget, but then the groups opened a little horizontally!
I'll make up a few with 45 grains, but right now I'm not seeing the point. I'll have more recoil and less range than with the 150 grain bullet loads, or the 174 grain match bullet load.
I'm about ready to unload these and get more of those match bullets, or maybe just more Hornady or Speer 150 grain soft point.
I would have thought that with a rifling twist of 1:9.5 the rifle would have really liked these, especially since the profile is similar to the original loads (though not identical in weight or length).
Guess I was wrong.
If I were going after bear I'd suffer the mediocre accuracy for the blunt force punch, but I'm not going after bear!
This wasn't the rifle; I verified that with some pulled-bullet loads I had laying around.
Anyone have any tricks to make this shoot? I think it may be the long bearing surface messing with things.
Thanks,
Josh
Please see "7.62x54r 174gr Varget Loads?". That's the thread that started this particular load, but I felt a separate thread was in order for the range report.
I made five loads each. They were Hornady soft point round nose 174grn o.312" bullets with charges ranging from 42 to 44.5 grains Varget.
First, some past targets I've shot with this rifle:
Light ball surplus
150 grain Speer if I recall correctly, 45 grains Varget
174 grain Hornady BTHP Match, H4350 powder
And then these things:
I'm not impressed!
The first round went to where I have the sights set, but dangit, what's with the vertical stringing?
Those are ten rounds on paper, five with 42.5 grains and one with 43.5 grains Varget if I recall correctly.
It didn't start straightening up until about 44 and 44.5 grains Varget, but then the groups opened a little horizontally!
I'll make up a few with 45 grains, but right now I'm not seeing the point. I'll have more recoil and less range than with the 150 grain bullet loads, or the 174 grain match bullet load.
I'm about ready to unload these and get more of those match bullets, or maybe just more Hornady or Speer 150 grain soft point.
I would have thought that with a rifling twist of 1:9.5 the rifle would have really liked these, especially since the profile is similar to the original loads (though not identical in weight or length).
Guess I was wrong.
If I were going after bear I'd suffer the mediocre accuracy for the blunt force punch, but I'm not going after bear!
This wasn't the rifle; I verified that with some pulled-bullet loads I had laying around.
Anyone have any tricks to make this shoot? I think it may be the long bearing surface messing with things.
Thanks,
Josh
