loads using Varget for .223 90 grain VLD

[Eraser]

I tried the search. I just don't have what it takes I guess.

I have tried H4895, I would like to try Varget. Who has tried it and has some load data?

 

[CharlieNC]

I tried it but lower velocity and worse accuracy node than cfe233, so I can't recommend a charge I like.

 

[watercam]

For me I started by cutting a long throat so as to increase case capacity with Sierra 90s. Have just enough shank in the case so that the boattail/case side are above the donut. Have had terrific luck with:
Lapua cases/Federal SRP/24.5-24.7 gr. Varget/ 2770 or so fps/Sierra 90s jumped .040"/30" Krieger bbl./7" twist. I can clean 600 yd. targets when I do my part. Load is not hot and case life is very good so far if I anneal necks every 4th firing or so.
Rumor has it MR 2000 gives better velocity but perhaps not so great accuracy?

 

[Eraser]

I tried it but lower velocity and worse accuracy node than cfe233, so I can't recommend a charge I like.

I would be interested in cfe 223

 

[Eraser]

For me I started by cutting a long throat so as to increase case capacity with Sierra 90s. Have just enough shank in the case so that the boattail/case side are above the donut. Have had terrific luck with:
Lapua cases/Federal SRP/24.5-24.7 gr. Varget/ 2770 or so fps/Sierra 90s jumped .040"/30" Krieger bbl./7" twist. I can clean 600 yd. targets when I do my part. Load is not hot and case life is very good so far if I anneal necks every 4th firing or so.
Rumor has it MR 2000 gives better velocity but perhaps not so great accuracy?

I had my rifle chamber with Dave Kiff's ISSF 223 reamer.. A Bartlin 7 twist, 30in barrel recombed by the 'infamous,' Ned Ludd. So we are working with the same chamber dimensions I think.
I will try your Varget loading suggesting's.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I have 3-4 barrels experience with the .169 ISSF reamer. Start lower than 24.5gr with your 90VLD load. I've had them settle around 24gr before; just depends on the lot of Varget.

.1gr in a .223 with a 90 is like .3gr in most other cartridges lol. They have sensitive load windows (for both powder and depth).

 

[Eraser]

Thanks Mike, good advice.

 

[praveen]

My suggestion is to not use Varget with 90s.
Dave Kiff’s ISSF reamer and N150 will lead to great results.

 

[Eraser]

I had my rifle chamber with Dave Kiff's ISSF 223 reamer.. A Bartlin 7 twist, 30in barrel recombed by the 'infamous,' Ned Ludd. So we are working with the same chamber dimensions I think.
I will try your Varget loading suggesting's.

Ned,
I need to apologies to you. 'infamous' was not the word I meant to use. I was thinking 'famous'.
I respect your advice and opinions a lot, and did not intend to insult you.
Eraser

 

[Ned Ludd]

Ned,
I need to apologies to you. 'infamous' was not the word I meant to use. I was thinking 'famous'.
I respect your advice and opinions a lot, and did not intend to insult you.
Eraser

No worries and no apology necessary. I've been watching this post but hadn't responded because your request was specifically for recipes using Varget. In my hands, H4895 outperforms Varget in almost every way it is possible to measure when it comes to the pushing 90 VLDs. So I thought I'd let the folks that actually use and like Varget for this purpose to chime in with their findings.

 

[Eraser]

No worries and no apology necessary. I've been watching this post but hadn't responded because you're request was specifically for recipes using Varget. In my hands, H4895 outperforms Varget in almost every way it is possible to measure when it comes to the pushing 90 VLDs. So I thought I'd let the folks that actually use and like Varget for this purpose to chime in with their findings.

Great, thanks.

 

[Eraser]

My suggestion is to not use Varget with 90s.
Dave Kiff’s ISSF reamer and N150 will lead to great results.

I just happen to have some N150 I can try. Got a starting load in mind?

 

[Ned Ludd]

I just happen to have some N150 I can try. Got a starting load in mind?

New Berger .224 Bullet

Anyone heard anything on this? I was told today from a dealer he ordered some new 22 caliber bullets that were 85 or 88 grains from Berger. Supposedly a hybrid that will stabilize in an 8 twist. Mid .550 bc. He seemed to have all the specs on them but I can’t find anything online about them.

forum.accurateshooter.com

There is some info on people using N150 with the 85.5s on this thread that might be of interest to you. There is one post on the last page with some load info, but I think there may be a few others buried somewhere farther back. Somewhere here at A.S. there are a few posts regarding the use of N150 with heavy .224 bullets. I think it may be in the 85.5 thread, but it might also be somewhere else in the .224" cal forum. You might try a search using 90 VLD and N150 in the query string. I remember reading through that thread and being surprised that it was possible to get enough N150 into a .223 case to achieve velocities reasonably comparable to those obtained with H4895, N140, or Varget, which have somewhat smaller kernels than N150. Nonetheless, those using it reported favorable results as I recall. In .308 Win loads with 200s, F-TR shooters using N150 ended up with charge weights somewhere in the range of 0.50 to 0.75 gr more N150 than loads giving comparable velocity with Varget. If the same holds true for the much smaller .223 Rem case, I'd imagine starting around 23.5 gr and working up incrementally would get you where you need to be.

 

[praveen]

I just happen to have some N150 I can try. Got a starting load in mind?

So, I would suggest starting from 23 grains and go up to 24 grains. Also, using CCI 450s gives better results than other primers.

 

[Eraser]

Thank you all for your input.

 

[r bose]

Just an FYI I've used 24.8g RL-15 for 16 years jamming the 90g berger VLD 20k. Been my go to load in 4 barrels so far.

 

[Laurie]

Just an FYI I've used 24.8g RL-15 for 16 years jamming the 90g berger VLD 20k. Been my go to load in 4 barrels so far.

My first uber-long freebore / 1X7" twist 223 FTR rifle ran slightly higher at 25.2gn and really did perform. Lapua brass, Russian SRM, 90 VLD in the lands as per yours. Even in the cool British Isles though Re15 proved a bit temperature sensitive at times in summer.

 

[Jdne5b]

I'm currently running 24.1gr Varget and .008 jam. It's not the fast node, and I haven't even chronoed the load. Im Using Starline 5.56, I'll probably have excellent case life 5+ firings at least. As listed above there should be another node somewhere above this.