Bullseye
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,598
I used up the last of my 180 gr powder coated gas checked flat nose bullets today. I unloaded about 30 or so cartridges last Sunday at the range testing these "green weenies" out.
They were OK but I much prefer they grey lubed 200 grain gas checked that I have quite a few of loaded and still have some bullets to use.
So here I am using Varget all along.
I have to estimate the starting powder load using Varget using these lead bullets. My Lyman 49 lists no 180 gr cast data but does have 173 @ 27.5 and 190 @ 25
I settled for 26 gr Varget to start with these 180 gr cast which is light and so are the results. I'll be glad when they are gone.
I really get a great shooting load with these 200 gr cast bullets and they are loaded with 28.5 gr Varget.
That's on the low side but they are very accurate and fun to shoot 100 yds.
So here's where I scratch my head. I decided to load up a nice batch of Sierra 180 gr round nose soft points. I look in the book and the most accurate load in bold type is the starting load with Varget at 36 gr with the max being 40 gr.
I just don't understand how one cast bullet would have such a lower starting load in the same weight as the factory jacketed is. I have not seen such a spread in my experience for same weight/different type bullets. That is almost 30 % difference.
I checked and double checked and I think my figures are all well within the safe powder ranges.
I stayed low on purpose since the book tells me Varget is most accurate at starting loads.
Anyways, I'm stocked up for Krag with 98 cast and 20 beautiful deer hunting rounds I am rather proud of.
They were OK but I much prefer they grey lubed 200 grain gas checked that I have quite a few of loaded and still have some bullets to use.
So here I am using Varget all along.
I have to estimate the starting powder load using Varget using these lead bullets. My Lyman 49 lists no 180 gr cast data but does have 173 @ 27.5 and 190 @ 25
I settled for 26 gr Varget to start with these 180 gr cast which is light and so are the results. I'll be glad when they are gone.
I really get a great shooting load with these 200 gr cast bullets and they are loaded with 28.5 gr Varget.
That's on the low side but they are very accurate and fun to shoot 100 yds.
So here's where I scratch my head. I decided to load up a nice batch of Sierra 180 gr round nose soft points. I look in the book and the most accurate load in bold type is the starting load with Varget at 36 gr with the max being 40 gr.
I just don't understand how one cast bullet would have such a lower starting load in the same weight as the factory jacketed is. I have not seen such a spread in my experience for same weight/different type bullets. That is almost 30 % difference.
I checked and double checked and I think my figures are all well within the safe powder ranges.
I stayed low on purpose since the book tells me Varget is most accurate at starting loads.
Anyways, I'm stocked up for Krag with 98 cast and 20 beautiful deer hunting rounds I am rather proud of.
Last edited: