Trouble getting 80.5 Bergers to shoot in my 223

[rebs]

I have a Savage 12 barrel 30" with 1/7 twist on a Savage right bolt left port single shot action with a target accu trigger with red blade.. I am having a hard time finding an accurate load for it with Berger 80.5's and Varget. I have loaded 20 off the lands with 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7 and 24.8 of Varget, At 24.7 I get a nice round group but not very small. What should I try to shrink the group size?
Does this bullet like more jump or closer to the lands?
I forgot to add this barrel has about 500 rounds through it.

 

[DaveTooley]

I would start just touching the lands and then seat them deeper in .005" increments. Three shot groups are fine for this. You're searching for an approximate seating depth. Then fine tune the load in conjunction with small seating depth changes.

 

[Jvance513]

Seating depth first, powder after. Pick a charge weight, and then run a seating depth test. It doesn’t matter the charge weight just safe load. Run them from .009 jam, then work out .003 till roughly .027 jump and skip touch, it’s too finicky there. 3 shot group is fine. The best seating depth will show its head very plainly. Then work powder charge. The best seating depth will always be better regardless of the powder charge but you’ll take that and then do powder in .2 increments. This is how I work up every one of my long range benchrest rifles. Afterwards do a final tune on the rifle at the distance you’ll be competing with it at if you’ll be using it for that.

 

[jepp2]

do powder in .02 increments.

?? Maybe 0.2 gr increments?

 

[LVLAaron]

24g of Varget and 77/80g bullets is a pretty standard load... You may be a little on the warm side... maybe.

 

[JT27]

^^ this

Did a workup with the 80.5 recently from 23.6-24.5. Started to open up at 24.2. 24.5 was clearly out of the node. 23.9 was the ticket for me, jumping .030

 

[Walt Krafft]

How big is your group and at what distance?

 

[GunzRUs]

I had a similar problem with the 85.5 Bergers, 26 inch 1:7 running 24.2 N140, CCI BR4's. Finally had to settle on .070 jump. Now it shoots.

 

[6fatrat]

These bullets have always shot extremely well for me, maybe your barrel is trying to tell you something.
Try another bullet.
Steve Bair

 

[Jvance513]

?? Maybe 0.2 gr increments?

Good call. I was just getting to work and half asleep still lol

 

[Seagull]

We use a wylde chamber with a longer throat to seat projies out further . I run 25 of adi 2208 which is varget dnt seem to have an issue will find measurements tomorrow if that will help. But what works in my rifle might not work in yours.

 

[PatMiles]

Watching.

 

[SSchnd]

Been working a stock Savage F TR Mod 12 in 223. The chamber was so short I had to seat my service rifle loaded 80.5 Berger way back to get them in the rifle. Sadly have not used Varget in it, but with 8208, H4895 and N135 it is working well. I am new to the F thing and these are some early load tests.
I run my B80.5 -010 jump usually in a Wylde chamber Service Rifle, have also seen them work in a buddies rifle (Wylde chamber) out to 130 thou off, yes One Hundred and thirty Thousandths off.
Of note these early tests were virgin Starline , LC Nato and 5 x fired Ruag cases I had been using for XTC.

For us they worked in the Savage F TR from 10 to 30 off. Sorry I do not have any Varget load data for you.

ETA: 80.5 chrono info, Ave Velocity 2965 SD 10 23.2 8208 10 off
" " 2940 SD 11 23.4 H4895 30 off

 

[rebs]

24g of Varget and 77/80g bullets is a pretty standard load... You may be a little on the warm side... maybe.

I get no signs of pressure. I have gone as high as 25.0 still no pressure signs.
But maybe its too much powder to be accurate ?

 

[LVLAaron]

I'm not saying 25 is too much, just that 24 is widely known and proven load

 

[CharlieNC]

You need to look at a wider range in charge weight, like 5%, and .2gr increments will suffice. Around .020 jump has worked fine on the 80.5 for me and my buds.

 

[rebs]

How big is your group and at what distance?

You need to look at a wider range in charge weight, like 5%, and .2gr increments will suffice. Around .020 jump has worked fine on the 80.5 for me and my buds.

heavier or lighter

 

[CharlieNC]

I would start at 24.0 and work in 0.2 increments up to 25.4, watching for pressure signs and stopping if symptoms occur. Look for a node where the point of impact is stable across 2+ consecutive charge weights; I like to use 3 shots at 200yd to obtain a clear definition. Focus on the poi, secondarily you should observe groups improve at this node but don't be swayed by this. In this manner the answer should be clear.

 

[Texas Solo]

I never got any Berger VLD style bullet to shoot well with more than .005" jump. Slight jam to just touching the lands is what mine likes. Also 24.5 varget.

 

[barefooter56]

I have a Savage 12 barrel 30" with 1/7 twist on a Savage right bolt left port single shot action with a target accu trigger with red blade.. I am having a hard time finding an accurate load for it with Berger 80.5's and Varget. I have loaded 20 off the lands with 24.4, 24.5, 24.6, 24.7 and 24.8 of Varget, At 24.7 I get a nice round group but not very small. What should I try to shrink the group size?
Does this bullet like more jump or closer to the lands?
I forgot to add this barrel has about 500 rounds through it.

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