Anyone loading Varget in 223?

[Fallguy]

Last night I loaded up a ladder test for my 223 with 50 Grain V Max and Varget.

I loaded 18 rounds starting at 24.0 grains and increasing in .2 grain increments until I got to 27.4 grains. When I got about halfway through the loading, I noticed the cases were REALLY full. The last few were damn near to the top of the neck. I tapped the side of the case slightly on the table (someone's suggestion) so the powder could settle a bit. Then seated the bullets.

Anyone else experience this? Is this normal to happen?

I have only used the following powders before....Win 760 Ball powder and H 335. Those powders are a much finer grain so I am used to those taking up less volume. This Varget looks like mouse shit so the density is quite different. I am new to reloading so just looking for some advice on this and I want to be safe. Thanks.

[lyonch]

be damn careful when the necks are starting to fill with powder!!! What did the Varget bottle recommend for max load?? If you are below max, i would shoot the first one, then really examine the casings from top to bottom and look for any signs of pressure.

[Fallguy]

What did the Varget bottle recommend for max load??

The can of Varget listed 27.5 on there. Another source I looked at also listed 27.5 for a max load with a 50 grain bullet. The highest I loaded up was 27.4 grains. Think that's ok?

[lyonch]

what was the bullet weight that they recommnded at that load? If you are the same or less you should be good to rock'n'roll but if you bullets are a little heavier you just need to watch your pressures as you shoot.

[Fallguy]

I am shooting 50 and the sources also said 50.

[jaybic]

Thats normal with Varget. I have loaded it and have a buddy that currently does and you can just about dump the case full and crunch a bullet(50gr Vmax) on it and go(be sure to consult a loading manual) but in these days of the lawsuit, the powder manufacturers and folks who publish load data wouldnt put it out there if they had not tried it and found it safe.

Or stick with H335 with that bullet. Damn hard load to beat.

Good luck Fallguy,

Jaybic

[Fallguy]

Or stick with H335 with that bullet. Damn hard load to beat.



Jaybic

I did a ladder test with H335 and have six different groups loaded up that I have to test shoot. (6 different grains of powder). I hope to shoot those groups on Saturday or Sunday if it's calm. I am in need of ammo for the Bremen tournament so I hope to have my 223 ready to go for that tournament.

I am going to mess with the Varget too but probably not until spring.

My hope is to find a nice grouping with both the H335 and Varget, so I have a backup load in case I cannot find one of those two powders in stock in the future.

[LeviM]

Its tough for me to say go ahead and shoot them without seeing the process, I dont want to be liable if anything goes wrong. I would do what you feel comfortable with

[Fallguy]

Levi that is understandable.

I am not going to shoot the Varget ladder test until xdeano comes with me. He can help me look for pressure signs on the fired cases as I work up the ladder. I don't have much experience with looking for those signs yet.

You guys coming to Bremen again this year?

[LeviM]

You guys coming to Bremen again this year?

All Depends on the weather!

[Fallguy]

I hear ya there! We plan on doing a two dayer. Saturday tournament and Sunday just hunting. So if even one of those days is nice we will be heading out there. Me, Papapete, and xdeano got out on Saturday. I managed to get my 12th and 13th dog of the year. The conditions were good but the coyotes weren't responding all that well.

[ilike2hunt]

I use the following load for my AR (straight .223 chamber, not Nato spec)

WARNING: Not responsible for any damage to you or your gun for following my recipe, work up your loads properly.
55gn Vmax
26gn Varget
Win case
CCI 400 primers
2.258 COL

I shoot a DPMS with a heavy 20 inch barrel, and these chrono just over 3000fps

The cases do get pretty full (normal for Varget in most loads Ive worked), but I would not quite call it a compressed load.
Using a drop tube will help the powder settle more uniformly in the case and give you just a bit more room than not using one.

[Coyotehunter]

any updates

[xdeano]

I don't think he's had time to get his load to the range yet. As far as I know anyhow.

xdeano

[ilike2hunt]

Out of curiosity, anyone know what brass Fallguy was using? I was helping someone work up a .223 load using LC (military) brass, and 26 grains of varget in LC was very different than when I load it in Win brass....the LC brass was definitely noticeably more full. After thinking about it, that would make sense, since I believe most mil brass is thicker, leaving less capacity.