Nosler 55g Varmageddon troubles

[BigMacMI]

I have been working up a load that I like in my AR 1/8 16" barrel. 55g Winchester FMJBT

I shot 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25, 25.5grains H335 as well as lengths from 2.225, 2.240, 2.260

Settled on 24 grains at 2.225". Over 3 trips to the range in groups of 5, I was able to make groups of 1.20" to about 1.85"; not amazing I realize, but best groups out of a handful of 5 shot groups. There were consistent changes among the different charges.

Long story short. Using H335 and Benchmark, I was not able to produce what I would even consider as a decent group compared to the Win FMJBT when using the Varmageddon's (HP FB)

I was really excited to try the Noslers after everyone basically said that the WinFMJBT should be a terrible bullet.

Is there a portion to the equation I am missing?

I worked up the Nosler HP in 335 and Benchmark in 0.5 incriments with lengths above as I did with the Winchester.

Just wanted to make sure that these aren't just a bullet that doesn't like my gun? I didn't push past any publishes max loads in my Lee book (which does usually seem to be conservative). FWIW, 25.5grains Benchmark did not have any pressure signs in todays test.

 

[Bartojc]

Sounds like your gun does not like the Nosler. I have shot limited rounds with the Nosler Varmageddon with the black ballistic tip. I found acceptable groups around 23.5 of H335 if memory serves me well. AR with a 16" barrel. 25.5 grains is at the upper end or over in some manuals (Hornady) for a 55 grain bullet. I've had decent luck with the Sierra 55 gr SPT Pro-Hunter and H335. For the money they're hard to beat depending on what you are looking for. Cheap plinkers at cans and metal targets Hornady 55 gr FMJBT are the cheapest I can find, and work well enough.

-Jeff

 

[JimKirk]

Give the Hornady VMax bullets a try .... if you watch you can pick these up at reasonable price and they do shoot good ... I did just pick up a 500 bag of Midsouth's Varmint Nightmares to try ... they look a lot like the Nosler that you have .... I haven't shot any yet ... I may be in the same boat ...

I know the VMax will shoot great in my gun .... and they are the standard I judge all the others by ... oh Sierras shot very well to just a little more $$ for a cheap rascal like me ....

 

[Blue68f100]

If you jumped in .5 gr increments you may have jumped over the node your looking for. For the 223R I step in 0.3 gr steps on the low end then 0.2 for the last grain. I have not had any luck using H335. Check the dia of the bullets your using. I had a batch that was under sized. If this is the case contact Nosler and they will make them good. I've had excellent results using TAC though.

 

[entropy]

I don't load for a 1:8 barrel, my Axis and my son's Sportical are both 1:9. The 55 gr. V-Max are quite accurate with 25.8 gr. BL-C(2) in both guns. I loaded that load for my son, I loaded the same 25.8 of BL-C(2) with 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint for me, shoots pretty much the same. These are our deer loads.

 

[RedLeg105]

If you're just looking for a 55 grain FMJBT bullet for target shooting at 100 yards, try https://223bulkbullets.com/. They're inexpensive and, having weighed quite a few, they very consistently weigh within .3 of a grain of each other. I shoot them out of a 1:9 twist, .223 Wylde chambered, 18" stainless barrel, with 23.6 gr. of H335 at 2.255" OAL. They typically hold 1 MOA, at 100 yards, if I do my job.

 

[Sunray]

Try more powders. Forget the off-the-lands stuff and use the OAL given in your manual until you have a load.
You also need to remember that a 16" barrel is unlikely to give you match grade groups. Velocities will be way less than manual velocities.
And it's the rifle that doesn't like the load.

 

[cougar1717]

Just thinking about this, the 55FMJBT is relatively long for it's weight. The new bullet, even though it is nosler, is almost the polar opposite. It's short for it's weight with the FB and HP (no poly tip). Benchmark and H335 are standby powders, but they are similar in maximum charge weight and velocity. There isn't really a magic formula to get outstanding groups outside of buying good components and trial and error. If you have a lot of these nosler 55gr FBHP's it may be worth testing a different powder whose maximum charge weight is in the 27.X gr range to try and get some more velocity out of a 16" barrel.
OTOH, it may make more sense to just test 55gr Vmax or nosler ballistic tip bullets with the H335 and Benchmark. If none of those four combinations produce a "decent group," you have a unique rifle.

 

[Ks5shooter]

V-MAX in my target AR works well.