Berger 95gr VLD

[benjamin199]

I am having a 9 twist 6mmBR built, I am hoping to use the 95gr VLD does anyone have some loads that have worked, or maybe some tips that would help. The rifle is being set up for this bullet to be seated about .015" into the lands.
Thanks,
Ben

 

[Forum Boss]

Varget works really well with that bullet. I would start at 29.5, but you'll probably find excellent accuracy running at 3000+ with about 30.7-31 grains,in a 28" bbl)--but work it up in increments.

You should also try H4895, start at 29.0 and work up. You'll probably end up around 30.5, but it depends on your barrel and actual case capacity.

 

[Pauleye]

I have a 1/9 Kreiger 6br that shoots 95 Bergers great. The load was obtained from the reload section. 31 grains Varget, CCI primers. Shoots one hole if I do my part.

 

[steveyrock]

Here is a load development 100 yd target with 95 Bergers in my 6BR. The top two are with RE-15.The bottom is 31.0 of Varget as others suggested.I will add that this load fell apart when I started a new jug of Varget with another lot number.

 

[benjamin199]

Thanks for the input guys,
I have some CCI br-4 primers to start, I will try working a ladder with Varget, quickload also lists IMR 4895 as one of the top ranking powers for this bullet so I am going to try a ladder with that as well.

 

[Rock]

I am working up loads for the 95vld also.
I am going to use Varget as well as IMR 4895,and will use Quickload to find the barrel time and try to optimize using Chris Long's formula. For a 26" barrel - optimum barrel time will be 1.191m/s which turns out to be about 2965 fps for Varget. I will work a load +/- 1gr from the base load in .2gr increments. I let you know how it goes. IMR 4895 looks very promising in terms of pressure and velocity.
I'll let you know how it goes.
But one question!!!!
What seems to be the best seating depth for the VLD's on average? Do you have to put them into the lands or has anyone had good accuracy at .005 or .010 off of the lands?
Thanks

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Good info, my 9 twist barrel will be here in two weeks.

 

[benjamin199]

Rock,
I have not heard of Chris Longs formula. I will see if I can learn more, do you have any links to some info? From what I have heard they seem to shoot better seated into the lands but you never know until you try them. My 6mmBR is being assembled and only a couple of weeks from completion, so I do not have any hard data yet. Let me know how your load development goes. My barrel is a 26" Lilja 3 grove 9 twist so I will see if the formula work3 with my rifle.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[Rock]

Here's a link with the info.
http://www.the-long-family.com/optimal%20barrel%20time.htm
I find it very interesting. I worked up aload for my 300 win mag and it was pretty close to one of the nodes Chris mentions for Optimum Barrel time.
I have found an accurate load within about a grain of what is predictied by his model.The important thing is to work up the numbers in Quickload by putting in the actual temp, h2o capacity of your case, actual bullet length, and cartridge oal.
Once you do that,if the actual velocity is different than Quickload prredicted, you can incrementally change the burn rate Ba to more closely match actual results. If you load on the lands remember to increase the start pressure to 5000-6000.
This helps give you more accurate results. Quickload will calculate the barrel time and you just have to change the load until you get to the node you want. Get out the chrono and work up loads around the optimum velocity for the node.
The velocity is different for different powders.
I really think he is on to something.
Let me know how it goes.

 

[benjamin199]

Wow,
I cannot wait to try this out, and do some testing for myself. I spent a little too much time going through his original paper,wife wasn't too pleased with me), but what he has to say really makes sense. This could really change my load development process. Thanks for the link. I will let you know how things work out once my rifle is complete, and I start load development.