Alexander-M
Gold $$ Contributor
Re: Varget vs Varget dilemma
Conclusion
The new lot of Varget is a bit slower than the old one, and even though the same charge (44.20 gr) produced a decent group even with the MagnetoSpeed attached, I believe that 44.40 gr may be better.
Please, note the slight incident I had with the MagnetoSpeed, described in Notes 2 and 3 - my fault.
First, a ‘reference target’
After my last match, I had six rounds left over that I wanted to shoot so I could process the cases together with the rest of that batch. I decided to shoot these six at 100 yards, and double-check the Zeroes I had established when I started shooting this rifle a couple of months ago. BTW, I call the rifle PXK, for Panda F-Class action, X-Eater stock, and Krieger Barrel.
I shot the six rounds from the bench, which I don’t like as I can never get comfortable behind the rifle this way. I had just cleaned the rifle, so these rounds are from the clean, cold barrel. As you can see from the target below (one around at each of six bulls), the Zeroes still are valid. The cartridges were 2X fired Lapua cases, with CCI-200 primers, Berger Juggernaut 185 gr bullets, and 44.20 gr of Varget.
Varget Lots Comparison
Today I tested the old vs. the new lots of Varget. The brass that I had for this test was new Lapua, F/L sized and trimmed to 2.005, with WLR primers. (I use WLR primers with new brass because they are the smaller of the primers I have.) I do not like to use brand new brass cases for matches, but considered them OK for this powder lot-to-lot evaluation.
The last time I measured the velocity of my chosen load, using 2X fired Lapua cases with Tula KVB-7 primers, the ES was 13 and SD = 5. The lowest ES I have measured for five rounds was 9 fps for a lower powder charge, but accuracy was not as good, so I stuck with the 44.20 gr.
Results
All new lot of Varget except as noted
43.80 gr Avg = 2727 ES = 20 SD = 7 see Note 1
44.00 gr Avg = 2735 ES = 24 SD = 13
44.20 gr Avg = 2743 ES = 24 SD = 13 see Note 2
44.20 gr old Avg = 2754 ES = 28 SD = 10 see Note 3
44.40 gr Avg = 2757 ES = 20 SD = 8
The target
Comparison of the 44.20 gr loads
Old Varget lot, using 2X fired Lapua cases with Tula KVB-7 primers:
2753, 2750, 2763, 2760, 2759 >> Average = 2757 ES = 13 SD = 5
Old Varget lot, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2759, 2748, 2751, 2762, 2768 >> Average = 2754 ES = 28 SD = 10
New Varget lot, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2735, 2759, - n/a -, - n/a, 2736 >> Average = 2743 ES = 24 SD = 13
New Varget Lot 44.40 gr, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2759, 2748, 2751, 2762, 2768 >> Average = 2757 ES = 20 SD = 8
NOTES
Note 1: These were with a cold barrel, and it is possible that rounds #1 and #2 may have been closer to #3, #4, and #5, as may be indicated by the reference target, above.
Note 2: The MagnetoSpeed (MS) became loose after the second round of the 44.20 gr (new) group, and I did not see this until I had fired one more shot. Even though all five rounds appear on the target, I have data for only three rounds.
Note 3: When I reattached the MS, somehow I set it just a tad too high, and the first three rounds grazed it. This caused the bullets to be deflected about a foot high, and miss the target. I wasn’t sure of what was going on when I could not see the holes on the target, even after aiming at the center of the paper on the third shot.
Upon closer inspection, I saw the slight scratched line on the MS, and then saw that the rounds had impacted the top of the target holder frame, just missing the target. I substituted one of the MS thin spacers with a thicker one, and then was able to I hit the target on rounds #4 and #5 of the 44.20 gr (old) group.
Although I did get the stats for all five rounds, it is likely that the velocity of the first three rounds was diminished by coming in contact with the MS.
Hope I didn't take too much of your time, and that this information may be helpful.
Nando
Conclusion
The new lot of Varget is a bit slower than the old one, and even though the same charge (44.20 gr) produced a decent group even with the MagnetoSpeed attached, I believe that 44.40 gr may be better.
Please, note the slight incident I had with the MagnetoSpeed, described in Notes 2 and 3 - my fault.
First, a ‘reference target’
After my last match, I had six rounds left over that I wanted to shoot so I could process the cases together with the rest of that batch. I decided to shoot these six at 100 yards, and double-check the Zeroes I had established when I started shooting this rifle a couple of months ago. BTW, I call the rifle PXK, for Panda F-Class action, X-Eater stock, and Krieger Barrel.
I shot the six rounds from the bench, which I don’t like as I can never get comfortable behind the rifle this way. I had just cleaned the rifle, so these rounds are from the clean, cold barrel. As you can see from the target below (one around at each of six bulls), the Zeroes still are valid. The cartridges were 2X fired Lapua cases, with CCI-200 primers, Berger Juggernaut 185 gr bullets, and 44.20 gr of Varget.
Varget Lots Comparison
Today I tested the old vs. the new lots of Varget. The brass that I had for this test was new Lapua, F/L sized and trimmed to 2.005, with WLR primers. (I use WLR primers with new brass because they are the smaller of the primers I have.) I do not like to use brand new brass cases for matches, but considered them OK for this powder lot-to-lot evaluation.
The last time I measured the velocity of my chosen load, using 2X fired Lapua cases with Tula KVB-7 primers, the ES was 13 and SD = 5. The lowest ES I have measured for five rounds was 9 fps for a lower powder charge, but accuracy was not as good, so I stuck with the 44.20 gr.
Results
All new lot of Varget except as noted
43.80 gr Avg = 2727 ES = 20 SD = 7 see Note 1
44.00 gr Avg = 2735 ES = 24 SD = 13
44.20 gr Avg = 2743 ES = 24 SD = 13 see Note 2
44.20 gr old Avg = 2754 ES = 28 SD = 10 see Note 3
44.40 gr Avg = 2757 ES = 20 SD = 8
The target
Comparison of the 44.20 gr loads
Old Varget lot, using 2X fired Lapua cases with Tula KVB-7 primers:
2753, 2750, 2763, 2760, 2759 >> Average = 2757 ES = 13 SD = 5
Old Varget lot, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2759, 2748, 2751, 2762, 2768 >> Average = 2754 ES = 28 SD = 10
New Varget lot, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2735, 2759, - n/a -, - n/a, 2736 >> Average = 2743 ES = 24 SD = 13
New Varget Lot 44.40 gr, using new Lapua cases and WLR primers:
2759, 2748, 2751, 2762, 2768 >> Average = 2757 ES = 20 SD = 8
NOTES
Note 1: These were with a cold barrel, and it is possible that rounds #1 and #2 may have been closer to #3, #4, and #5, as may be indicated by the reference target, above.
Note 2: The MagnetoSpeed (MS) became loose after the second round of the 44.20 gr (new) group, and I did not see this until I had fired one more shot. Even though all five rounds appear on the target, I have data for only three rounds.
Note 3: When I reattached the MS, somehow I set it just a tad too high, and the first three rounds grazed it. This caused the bullets to be deflected about a foot high, and miss the target. I wasn’t sure of what was going on when I could not see the holes on the target, even after aiming at the center of the paper on the third shot.
Upon closer inspection, I saw the slight scratched line on the MS, and then saw that the rounds had impacted the top of the target holder frame, just missing the target. I substituted one of the MS thin spacers with a thicker one, and then was able to I hit the target on rounds #4 and #5 of the 44.20 gr (old) group.
Although I did get the stats for all five rounds, it is likely that the velocity of the first three rounds was diminished by coming in contact with the MS.
Hope I didn't take too much of your time, and that this information may be helpful.
Nando
