Berger 80 VLDs with Varget: Where to Start?

[mtncwru]

It's load work-up time for my .223. I have a 30" barrel with a true 1:7 twist, loading Lapua brass. I measured my chamber with an RCBS Precision Mic, and my freebore reads at 0.193". When I measure the Precision Mic widget in my Stoney Point comparator, I get a CBTO of 2.038.

I'm mostly looking for a charge weight starting point and recommended charge weight increment for load development; I'm pretty much set on using Varget, since I have plenty of it. If I can't get a load that shoots well enough for me, then I'll consider getting a keg of something else, but until Varget is proven not to work I'm sticking with it.

This will be for mid-range prone, out to 600 yards. If I can work up a load with enough velocity to safely make it out to 1000 I wouldn't be sad, but that would be a side benefit, and is not a requirement for this project (I have a .308 155 SMK load that shoots brilliantly for long range stuff).

Also, is there a powder funnel anyone here can recommend for smaller stuff? I have a general purpose RCBS funnel, and while it's fine for my .308 it drops kernels if I'm not paying very close attention to how it's sitting on the round when I'm loading .223.

Any assistance is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[swadiver]

Satern Powder funnels in the specific caliber work great. Sinclair/Brownells has them. work up from 24 grs. Hodgdon says 25 max

 

[Topstrap]

24.5

 

[Texas10]

I'll be watching this carefully. Just worked up a load with 69 gr Scenar L's in my 223 with Varget. My max load was 25.2 before I began blanking primers (CCI400), and it was also on the margin of too compressed to hold bullet CBTO, which is .010 off in my barrel.

So I'll be very interested to see how you get enough Varget into a 223 case along with that bullet to get the velocity to reach 1000 yds. I know I can go 750 to 800 with my 69'er in a CBI 223 match 26 in barrel, 8 twist. Maybe I just don't try hard enough....but wishing you the best of luck to you on your efforts anyway.

I'm gonna take SWADIVER's advise about the funnel. I have the same issue with Kernels going all over heck. Really bad with ball powder.

 

[mtncwru]

So I'll be very interested to see how you get enough Varget into a 223 case along with that bullet to get the velocity to reach 1000 yds. I know I can go 750 to 800 with my 69'er in a CBI 223 match 26 in barrel, 8 twist. Maybe I just don't try hard enough....but wishing you the best of luck to you on your efforts anyway.

Thanks! I have the .308 for 1k matches, so pushing the 80s that far isn't something I'll be spending time and components to achieve at this point. But I might get lucky and find a node that's with enough juice to make it to 1k, while keeping the pressure tolerable. I'll keep you posted!

Satern Powder funnels in the specific caliber work great. Sinclair/Brownells has them. work up from 24 grs. Hodgdon says 25 max

Thanks for the reply and the funnel recommendation!

 

[T.Rhodes]

I too shoot Berger 80gr VLD's with Varget at 600yd mid range. This is in tuned 700 with Shilan 8 twist heavy contour; Jewell trigger. I started at 23.5gr. and have found a sweet spot at 24.5gr. I'm seating .015" off. Saturday I shot 564 14x which is my first time with this set up and really happy with that. (not bragging...ok maybe a little)

Hope that helps. Good luck

 

[Highpower-FClass]

Do you know your freeboore, alternatively how long is one of your loaded rounds when seated to the lands? Knowing that would make it easier to provide advice. The workable charge weight range will depend a lot on your freebore / seating depth.

I shoot Berger 80 VLDs in two different barrels, one with a .169 freebore and one with a ~ .060 freebore. With the longer freebore I shoot 25.3gr Varget with reasonable pressures, since I am able to seat the projectile long, and could probably go a bit higher. With the shorter I shoot 23.5gr Varget and I would probably not be able to reach 24 without pierced primers. If I tried ~25gr with the shorter freebore it would at best be a seriously blown primer.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Do you know your freeboore, alternatively how long is one of your loaded rounds when seated to the lands? Knowing that would make it easier to provide advice. The workable charge weight range will depend a lot on your freebore / seating depth.

I shoot Berger 80 VLDs in two different barrels, one with a .169 freebore and one with a ~ .060 freebore. With the longer freebore I shoot 25.3gr Varget with reasonable pressures, since I am able to seat the projectile long, and could probably go a bit higher. With the shorter I shoot 23.5gr Varget and I would probably not be able to reach 24 without pierced primers. If I tried ~25gr with the shorter freebore it would at best be a seriously blown primer.

^^^This. Without knowing your rifle's freebore length and therefore how deep the bullets will be seated in the case, it is impossible to accurately provide you with a safe starting point for charge weight anywhere close to where it may actually tune in with an unknown (burn rate) Lot of Varget. Without that information, anything you get is at best just a guess. If you can give your estimated COAL with the 80 VLDs at "touching", you'll likely get a much better estimate for a starting point in return.

Even though it may take more loading/range trips to get things tuned in, it is always wise to start well under where you think the load might tune in, for safety reasons as well as brass life. Running heavy bullets in .223 can be hard on brass at the high end of the spectrum, even to the point of killing primer pockets in a single firing if you were to unwittingly choose a starting point that was much too high for your specific freebore/COAL. With the 30" barrel, Varget, and the 80s, you'll likely end up with a velocity somewhere between 2900 to 3000 fps, again depending on how deep you have to seat the bullets in the case.

 

[mtncwru]

Thanks for the recommendations. I've measured my COAL and CBTO previously, but I can't get to that OneNote from my work laptop. I'll check when I get home tonight and update my post accordingly. I know the freebore is longer than a Wylde chamber: 0.100 sticks in my head, but of course I wouldn't hang my hat (or the safety of my face) on that without verification.

 

[mtncwru]

I pulled my RCBS Precision Mic for .223 off the shelf today and measured my chamber: I got a very consistent 0.193 for my freebore.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

If it was me, with that freebore I would start at 24.2 or 24.3 and work up from there in .2 grain increments.

Varget can differ quite a lot in hotness from lot to lot. If you have a hot lot you might not be able to get above 25. With a slower lot you might be able to get to 25.5 or somewhat beyond. As Ned said above, primer pockets take quite the beating when you get to a certain pressure (even if it does not result in pierced primers).

According to Quickload, the OBT node for a 30 inch barrel is ~2980fps with a 0.193 freebore, and it is at the edge of tolerable pressures.

Either which way, be careful, start low, work up.