Load Map: 20 Vartarg, 32 gr. Vmax - Data Call - VV N120, CFE BLK, and AA 2200

[cranky]

since you brought that up, I now load all of my small .20 caliber rifles' with CCI450's. in my opinion they flow the least. 7 of my small 20's are Martini actions and any flow at all and it's hard to open the action. I know sherm likes 7 1/2's but after 7000 of them. no more for me.

I am sitting on a large pile of BR4 primers, which are the same cup as 450s. Glad to hear they work for you as I'd like to rotate stock on these guys- they're growing beards I bought so many.

The action is one of my own. I start with a Rem 700, face the receiver and lugs, then ream the raceways in a very rigid setup. I pin gauge the race when done and order a bolt body from PTG to match with a Sako extractor and ejector. I also profile the lug cams and time them to the primary extraction cam when I braze the bolt handle back on for solid contact. Some I mill for a bolt release, but I'm getting less particular about that. Then I Gear Kote the bolt and receiver internals, and finish the exterior to suit the build. I've done several of these because I like doing the work and the results are quite good. For the cost, I probably have better options. I think I'll do a Sako or Tikka next. I enjoy the machine work too much to buy boutique actions. For barrels, I'll take what I can get my hands on at a good price. If I need the best, I'll waitlist a Krieger, especially if competition is my goal. So there's a little more background.

 

[L.Sherm]

I've just got 7.5's to shoot better in the VT's, BR the 450's get the nod

 

[chuckshooter]

The action is one of my own. I start with a Rem 700, face the receiver and lugs, then ream the raceways in a very rigid setup.

I really like that setup. 2 of my vartarg,s are like that. One is a pt&g $400 rem custom shop buy. Even though I said I was never going to buy another rifle. I couldn't pass up that deal. The other is a 40x action and I just got the bolt back from Carlsbad with the new sako installed. I hope you thinking of Krieger #17 . It just looks right.

 

[chuckshooter]

I've just got 7.5's to shoot better in the VT's, BR the 450's get the nod

Nothing but love for you sherm. I can always count on you to post good information. Much of which has helped me over the years.

 

[hogpatrol]

Lots of good info on the main site for theVartarg:

You are being redirected...

 

[L.Sherm]

Nothing but love for you sherm. I can always count on you to post good information. Much of which has helped me over the years.

Its all good

 

[Godsdog]

As some build projects go, from the time I began piecing together a 20 VT to now some time has passed. The biggest change being the loss of the Saubier.com forum and its extensive archive of load data for small caliber data, as well as the retirement of Todd Kindler. I am about to begin load development and have much less information to go on than I began this long project with.

I have built a 20 VT rifle on a 26" 1:10 twist Wilson bbl with a no-turn chamber. I've formed several hundred cases from .223, starting with 100 Denel South Africa (DNl) brass, 100 Hornady, and 250 Starline. The Starline brass formed easily, is consistent, and came out with excellent neck dimensions so it is likely what I will use in the future.

I stocked up on 32 gr. Vmax projectiles for the 10-twist barrel because of availability and price.

I have 3 powders to use, from fastest to slowest: CFE BLK, AA 2200, and VV N120.

Hodgdon provides the following for AA 2200:
32 NBT (24"/1:12tw) min 17.6 gr @ 3262, max 19.6 gr @ 3632
32 SIE (24"/1:12tw) min 18.0 gr @ 3377, max 20.0 gr @ 3758

The Accurateshooter cartridge guide for 20 VT gives:
32 Vmax/VV N120 17.8 gr @ 3715 (1:12tw)
32 Vmax/AA2200 20.5 gr @ 3800 (1:12tw)
32 SBK VV N120 17.6 gr @ 3750 (23" bbl)

There are a smattering of loads when I search through the forum here, but not the data trove of load development and discussion of pressures and case fill that was available on Saubier before. I am confident I can get the AA 2200 sorted out for testing, and would like to work towards 3700 fps after fire forming. But I'm at a bit of a loss for the CFE BLK and what I've posted above doesn't really provide enough information on VV N120 to get a feel for it's ramp rate.

I would appreciate any input folks here can share on load development for the 32gr Vmax and these three powders. Also, after Hodgdon's acquisition of Accurate, is old data for AA 2200 still reliable?