Finally found some 90VLD happiness

[XTR]

I got a 3 groove Lilja 30" varmint contour for my R700 backup F-TR rifle and a bolt from PTG.


My velocity was very slowly increasing then in .2 grains it jumped 50FPS, so I'm loading 0.3 grains below the step.

edit, I have looked back at my numbers, my avg test velocities increased a total of 97FPS over 1.0 grains, (5 test loads) then jumped 81FPS in the next .2 grain step. Just getting accurate info out there for those who may be interested

I've not had any change to test above the step. I had one group just above it that you could cover with a quarter at 300, but I'm afraid to load there and have temperature cause me issues later.


Right now I'm running Varget, my velocity is only about 2700 but...for now, this will have to work.

 

[MrMajestic]

Nice shooting XTR! Looks like you got a keeper!

 

[Terry]

Good to see your results.

What twist rate and cartridge are you using?

 

[XTR]

Good to see your results.

What twist rate and cartridge are you using?

This is a 223 I'm running for a mid range F-TR rifle.

My load tests with Varget at 300 yards I had 4 groups of 5 shots that were all well under ½ MOA total and in the range of ¼ MOA vertical, but my MV was low. My total change in average MV between the first and last test (a grain difference in powder) was only about 25 FPS and all 5 groups were tight. (2680 to 2700)

I ran another test with three loads starting with the max in the previous test with in .2 grains between loads. first and second loads in the second test the MV jumped from 2700 to 2750, but it still shot tight. The third load group was a scatter.

I decided that until I can test some more I'll back it down .3gr below where the MV jumped.

When I shot the group above I also shot a 5 shot group with a load I was testing with N550, that group was about a full MOA.

I've done this F-TR thing long enough now that I case tight before I chase speed. We'll see how it shoots, I'm taking it to Butner this week and I'm going to shoot it from the mid range lines in the Sinclair FBN matches. I'm pretty confident with it. I've shot a fair bit of testing with this and it's put up small, groups every time.

 

[XTR]

I shot this rifle from the 300, 500, and 600 yard lines at the Sinclair FB Nationals last week.

I can really say I really like shooting this little round. The only points it lost were on me. (I didn't shoot so well a couple of times) Elevation was fantastic, and at 500 yards I noticed I was watching my trace into the target. Can't do that with my 308s.

I don't think it gave up anything to the 308s back to 600, and what a joy to shoot.

 

[Scott Harris]

...
Wade,
I'm happy to hear you've gotten things straightened out with the 90s. Your last line above has been my exact experience, couldn't have said it better. I'd only add that I don't think I'm giving up anything even at 1000 yd to my 185 Juggernaut load (90 VLDs running at 2860 fps). The only points I've really lost shooting have been on me as well. Really a pleasure to shoot a .223 in F-TR.

Hi Greg, what kind of brass life are you getting at that velocity? Lapua brass?

 

[Scott Harris]

Thanks Greg, I'm used to getting 15+ reloads out of my brass, but have never pushed to the velocities you are getting.....guess I'll have to decide which I prefer. Thanks for the info.

 

[Laurie]

Well done, always nice to see people getting the 90s to work well. Re case life, QuickLOAD precicts a shade under 60,000 psi in my original 31-inch barrel with the super-long throat 90gn VLD / Re15 2,910 fps load. I suspect it was likely a shade higher. Lapua cases gave five to six firings.

I got into the habit of using new brass for three L-R loadings in that rifle, then switching them to a 26-inch Savage LRPV that had been rebarrelled and also chambered with the uber-throat. I'd use the 90gn LRBT over a modest Viht N150 charge for around 2,650 fps and had some good results in 300-600 yard matches with this set-up.

That same action has now gone into what is probably the sole Eliseo S1 stock in the UK, maybe even all of Europe and has been fitted with the original 31" True-Flite barrel chopped off by four inches and rechambered with PT&G's '223 ISSF' reamer and its 0.169" FB. I've just been loading up some gash ammo with recycled brass and Lapua 77s to run and sight it in. This is Bob Pitcairn's chamber design and should cope with 80s reasonably well alongside the 90s, so I'll give the 80.5 a try as well as the three 90s (JLK and two from Berger, bought as many of the LRBT and JLK VLDs as I could find - JLKs no longer imported and LRBT dropped by Berger). With new Reload Swiss RS52 powder from the people who make Alliant Re17 and Re33 with the same properties but faster burning, I'm hoping to see some respectable MVs again.