Varget compared to RL-15

[Kcsoup]

I'm using Berger VLD's 105's, and 30.2 of Verget in a regular 6br, got my hands on some RL15, anyone suggest a starting point with the RL15? I'm new to this, here is a retest target and the results were pretty good at 200 yards. I'm not sure I can do any better, but worth a try. Thanks for any suggestions.

K.

 

[Terry]

Start at 29gr. Work up .3 at a time.

 

[HTSmith]

I imagine this is a fluke and I'm not suggesting a starting load, but 30.0 gr of either (of the lots I have) give me 2825 fps and the same accuracy.

 

[tclaunch]

30.2 to 30.4 is where you want to be with RL15. Your Varget groups at +.015" and 30.2 show vertical still and bullets to me need bumping back .002" at a time, they still look a bit wild. I would try 30.4, 30.5 Varget, and bump bacl to +.013" and +.011" You'll be happy.

 

[Kcsoup]

Thanks for the great info, everyone, especially tclaunch. I'm going to stick with the varget for now and play with the seating then. I had 20 of 30.2 loaded and shot at 600 and was pretty good, but I also took 10 at 30.4 and a lot of the vertical went away. I had a feeling a hotter load was going in the right direction, never thought about the seating. Maybe someone can explain how going hotter and seating back works? Thanks in advance.

 

[tclaunch]

Powder charge and seating work in separate ways. Powder charge is how to eliminate vertical. You`ll never shoot a group any smaller than how tall the group is so we as handloaders want to eliminate vertical. Powder adjustments will tell just like you found with that 30.4 grain test. Ridding fliers are how seating helps, and when both come into tune it can be a fantastic experience. It is a trial and error way to test as powder can increase vertical, so in that case you have gone past your node, turn around and go the other way. Seating the same way, you must test it as well. You did good starting out with lots of hard bullet "jam" by jamming them in the lands. Now I take a Wilson in line seater with me to the range and bump them back .002" at a time to rid fliers. When you are getting good groups remember to just make small changes, you are done with big ones, change powder to .1 tenth and seating to .001" Only make big changes to large/ugly groups. I have had my butt kicked many times by one of the best shooters in IBS shooting a 6BR at 30.5 gr Varget and a Berger 105 VLD Target +.010" in the lands. Many of us were soooo glad when that Brux barrel finally gave up the ghost.

 

[Kcsoup]

Thank you for the great explanation, being new to this I'll take all the advice I can get.

 

[Kcsoup]

I imagine this is a fluke and I'm not suggesting a starting load, but 30.0 gr of either (of the lots I have) give me 2825 fps and the same accuracy.

I imagine this is a fluke and I'm not suggesting a starting load, but 30.0 gr of either (of the lots I have) give me 2825 fps and the same accuracy.

I don't understand what is a fluke, this was a retest. The first test Jammed 15 and 30.2 of varget produced a sub 1/4 moa at 200 yards. Maybe explain, thanks.

 

[TZaun]

I shouldn't speak for him, but, I believe he is talking about his own experience being a fluke. The fact that 30.0 gr. of Varget and 30.0 gr. of RL-15 both gave him the same speed and accuracy. That's what I gathered by reading it, anyway.

 

[Sniper338]

[QUOTE="tclaunch, post: 37038778, member:]Powder charge is how to eliminate vertical.[/QUOTE]

Not exactly. You get vertical when your seating aint right too.


How do you tell you need to chase the land alittle more from them wearing down/back? You start seeing vertical.. seating aint right, gotta seat out further closer to lands...

Prolly a little advanced for this conversation though.

 

[Kcsoup]

I shouldn't speak for him, but, I believe he is talking about his own experience being a fluke. The fact that 30.0 gr. of Varget and 30.0 gr. of RL-15 both gave him the same speed and accuracy. That's what I gathered by reading it, anyway.

I reread, you're right.

 

[HTSmith]

I reread, you're right.

Yep, that's what I meant. I passed math ok, but struggled in English

 

[NorthGATactical]

Was shooting 30.2 R15 w/105VLD, +0.005, CCI450 @600 - runs about +25fps more than same load of Varget. Settled on 29.0 H4895. More consistent vertical @ 600.