75gr vmax

[Jason Lee]

Since the 58gr vmax didn't seem to be accurate no matter the loads and powder I've used in my Remington 700 VLS 26" .243, I've decided to work up some loads with the 75gr vmax.

Going by Hodgdon manual

Varget Powder
New Winchester brass
Winchester primer WLR
Starting ladder at:
37.5
37.7
37.9
38.1
38.3

Stay at the load data manual O.A.L of 2.640

I have worked up 7rds of each, my thought is to shoot two rds of each at 5 different targets working up the ladder watching for pressure signs then take the best two loads and shoot the remaining 5rds of those 2.

Powders that I also have on hand for testing is:
H4895
Superformance: got this cheap at $20 per lb so I bought the last 4 pounds they had.

 

[WyleWD]

Since the 58gr vmax didn't seem to be accurate no matter the loads and powder I've used in my Remington 700 VLS 26" .243, I've decided to work up some loads with the 75gr vmax.

Going by Hodgdon manual

Varget Powder
New Winchester brass
Winchester primer WLR
Starting ladder at:
37.5
37.7
37.9
38.1
38.3

Stay at the load data manual O.A.L of 2.640

I have worked up 7rds of each, my thought is to shoot two rds of each at 5 different targets working up the ladder watching for pressure signs then take the best two loads and shoot the remaining 5rds of those 2.

Powders that I also have on hand for testing is:
H4895
Superformance: got this cheap at $20 per lb so I bought the last 4 pounds they had.

Since you have 4895 handy why not do a ladder on it too? Varget can be hit or miss in the 243. JME. WD

 

[Gary in MD]

My 243 did not like Varget at all. I tried the old standby IMR 4350 and groups shrank immediately. It was the best powder for the 75 gr Vmax and the 95 gr Ballistic Tip, the bullet that I shoot most out of the rifle. Powder charges near the max shot the best.
Gary

 

[Jason Lee]

Being that there is a 4gr difference between starting load and max load (34gr - 38gr) using H4895, which I did use with the 58s up to the max load listed for them with no pressure signs would it be more feasible to start in the mid range to start the ladder with 75s since pressures listed are about the same (49,900 with 58s) (49,400 with 75s) with both bullets?

 

[Zero333]

Few years back I worked up to 42gr of Varget under the 75gr v-max in a Savage m11,.. 22"bbl, WINCHESTER brass, CCI-200... didn't write the COAL but was 2.275" to ogive, 0.020" jump.

(5 shot average velocities)

40.0 gr = 3,230 fps
40.5 gr = 3,260 fps
41.0 gr = 3,290 fps
41.5 gr = 3,327 fps
42.0 gr = 3,364 fps

Outside temp was around 85 f.

 

[Jason Lee]

Few years back I worked up to 42gr of Varget under the 75gr v-max in a Savage m11,.. 22"bbl, WINCHESTER brass, CCI-200... didn't write the COAL but was 2.275" to ogive, 0.020" jump.

(5 shot average velocities)

40.0 gr = 3,230 fps
40.5 gr = 3,260 fps
41.0 gr = 3,290 fps
41.5 gr = 3,327 fps
42.0 gr = 3,364 fps

Outside temp was around 85 f.

Isn't that about 4gr over max load?

 

[Zero333]

Isn't that about 4gr over max load?

Yea, according to Hodgdons load data.

My Speer Manual lists 42gr as Max.
My Lyman manual lists 41gr as Max.

Hodgdon also lists 41gr of H-4831 as MAX under the 105 amax, while in reality I went up to 45.8 with out any pressure. Their 41gr Max made 2,846 fps in a 24" bbl. My 41gr load under the 105amax made 2,590 fps in a 22" bbl and 44.5 gr made 2,800 fps.

Chronographs are a wonderful thing. If hodgdon got 2,850 fps with H-4831 at 58,000 psi, chances are when testing the same powder, I need to make close to the same velocity to make similar pressure, as long as the barrels are the same length (or add/sub approx 25 fps per inch difference). My science ain't sound, but that's why I watch for pressure signs first and foremost.

 

[Jason Lee]

Just finished up test loads with superformance powder and H4895 to take with my Varget test loads tomorrow. 73 degrees and sunny little to no wind.

 

[Zero333]

I never tried Superformance, but I do recommend a magnum primer for the ball powder.

 

[Phil Watson]

Since the 58gr vmax didn't seem to be accurate no matter the loads and powder I've used in my Remington 700 VLS 26" .243, I've decided to work up some loads with the 75gr vmax.

Going by Hodgdon manual

Varget Powder
New Winchester brass
Winchester primer WLR
Starting ladder at:
37.5
37.7
37.9
38.1
38.3

Stay at the load data manual O.A.L of 2.640

I have worked up 7rds of each, my thought is to shoot two rds of each at 5 different targets working up the ladder watching for pressure signs then take the best two loads and shoot the remaining 5rds of those 2.

Powders that I also have on hand for testing is:
H4895
Superformance: got this cheap at $20 per lb so I bought the last 4 pounds they had.

Hi Jason,
In my .243 I get sub half inch moa using 75gr Hornady VMAX driven by 40 gr Varget at 3340 fps in 1:10 twist 22 inch barrel. It is again set at 15th off the lands. I did go upto 42gr Varget with improved accuracy but pressure began to tell so backed down to 40gr. The deer can't tell the difference between the loads!
Phil

 

[Webster]

Since the 58gr vmax didn't seem to be accurate no matter the loads and powder I've used in my Remington 700 VLS 26" .243, I've decided to work up some loads with the 75gr vmax.

Going by Hodgdon manual

Varget Powder
New Winchester brass
Winchester primer WLR
Starting ladder at:
37.5
37.7
37.9
38.1
38.3

Stay at the load data manual O.A.L of 2.640

I have worked up 7rds of each, my thought is to shoot two rds of each at 5 different targets working up the ladder watching for pressure signs then take the best two loads and shoot the remaining 5rds of those 2.

Powders that I also have on hand for testing is:
H4895
Superformance: got this cheap at $20 per lb so I bought the last 4 pounds they had.

Your factory rifle should have a 9 1/8 twist. The 58 VMax likes a 14 twist. Try bullets in the 85-105 grain range.

 

[rifleman700]

If the 75's don't work out try the 87"s. I did a load work up for a guy with a similar R700 and they shot very, very well.