.223 V-max and Varget.

Orneryolfart357

Orneryolfart357

New member
I was looking in my reloading book, and I saw a load for a 40gr Nosler BT, it said 28 grns of Varget powder.. I wanted to try it out, however I have 40 grn V-Max. When I placed 28 grns of this powder into the Casing, it filled it to the top ? It makes me a little nervous, has anyone tried Varget and 40 Grn V max ? Is a stick powder supposed to be compressed when the bullet is seated ? I havent found a recipe for V-Max and Varget. Thanks for the help !
 
Fill it to the top and let her rip! Varget is a very slow powder for a 55g bullet must less a 40g bullet, but a blind hog finds an acorn now and again, GO for it"""""!@

Sometimes, I crunch the powder in 223 cases...that means good stuff to me unless it makes the bullet pouch back out later on!

Let us know what you find out!

I shoot an entire case full of N-133 with the 40's, and I smouch the powder so bad in those cases that I worry about the entire case blowing up when I seat the bullet.

Good luck!
 
Varget is kinda slow for the .223 case, and as you noted it is hard to get 28 grains of the stuff in there without some effort. You will have better luck I think with WW748 or perhaps H335. Benchmark will likely be your best best however.

I have two .223 rifles that just dote on either the 50 Nosler BT or the Hornady Vmax of the same weight. And both of them love 26 grains of Varget with those bullets. One rifle is a 1-9" twist and the other a 1-14" and both prefer the 50 grain slugs. This is OK with me, as the 50 grain works better as the range increases anyway.

Good luck with your effort, but all in all I cant help but think that going with 10 more or so grains of bullet will be a better choice. Plus you can get all the powder in the case too!
 
Well, I just got a little cautious when I dumped the powder in, and had to tap the funnel to fit it in ! I have loaded some 40's and 60's with H335 but have yet to really try them out. I took a few shots with the 40's and the Tikka looked like it liked em.. I havent shot the 60's yet. Thanks for the tips, being new to reloading, Im not used toseeing Powder full to the top ! Thanks for the Help.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I used Varget in the .223 but I found it ok but really didn't shine until I got to the heavier bullets 68 gr. plus. With 40 Gr bullets I've had some very good screaming loads using N133.
 
There are a couple tricks to getting powder to settle into a case to leave more room for bullet seating. One is the drop tube. I rarely resort to a drop tube, but I do not usually fill the case to the mouth either. If you pour the powder charge from the scale pan in a circular motion into the funnel on the case it will settle significantly better into the case. You can also repeatedly and gently tap the loading block gently with a small solid object. A small wrench or screwdriver works well. Tap to hard, or with out the funnel still on the case and powder goes everywhere. The swirl trick is all I usually need. Both tricks take a little practice and experimentation.
 
I run 26grn of Varget w/ 50 or 55grn Vmaxs and my guns like them, 1:9 - 1:12
I haven't tried 40s yet, but I have a box on the bench...I'll load some up today and see.
I did load some using TAC but I haven't been to the range yet...we'll see.
 
At the Online site, http://data.hodgdon.com, they show a starting load at 25.0 grains and a max at 28.0 grains (compressed), so even they recognize the 28.0 is going to be full in that little case. Why don't you start out around 25.0 and work your way up? You may find that your rifle actually likes the non-compressed loads better.
 
I just experimented with varget and 60gr V-maxes I ended up with 26gr and it shot 1/2 to 3/4" 5 shot groups @100yds. This is out of my AR15 W/ Predator pursuit upper.
 
I tried using 27 g. of Benchmark behind a 40 grain Vmax in my 1-9 twist AR and it did OK but not great. No where nearly as well as 26 g. of Win 748 and a 55 grain vmax. I've tried benchmark in several of my guns and I have to say I'm not that impressed by it. Maybe I'm doing somthing wrong. Does it like to be loaded down or or hot for you Rusty?
 
well today I tried both.. Varget and H335 with 40 grn Vmax... it was windy so I didnt shoot paper. I just homed in on some ground squirrels. The verdict is still out.. the Tikka shot both well, But Id have to give the terminal results to the H335.. I realise that this is not a real test of acuracy, but so far I give the nod to the 335.. I also loaded up some IMR 4198 today with 52 grn HPBT Sierras, looking forward to see how those shoot. But 26 grn of 335 in my 1 in 8 tikka seems hard to beat today ! The ground squirrels were doing Acrobatic moves in the Air ! When the wind dies down I hope to get a better test and let you know my findings.. This reloading stuff is addictive ! I think I saw that written here before ! Thanks Guys !
 
Orneryolfart357 - If you want a great powder in 223 Remington with 40 grain boolits, grab some AA 2015.

I don't remember the exact chrony figure, but it was 3600+, and accuracy was outstanding.

AA 2015 is no slouch with heavier bullets either.
 
Orneryolfart357, some guys have given you some great advise here. You would not be happy with the Varget if you saw the speeds on a chronograph, it is slow with the light bullets.

I shot a lot of ground squirrels up in your neck of the woods years ago, no better way to test a bullet or load than on a ground squirrel, especially when all you can see is a head sticking out!

AA2015 will give you 1/4-3/8" groups with the 50's at 3550 fps with extreme accuraccy which was the load that I shot so many ground squirrels with. The 50's will carry the freight at 300 yards better than the 40's.

If you can find it N-133 will give you velocities in the 3900 fps with benchrest accuracy out of a 26" barrel with the 40's. Use the Rem 7 1/2, CCI BR-2, or CCI 450 primers which have very thick cups to maintain loads at the higher pressures. N-133 is a dream come true for guys that shoot a 223 with the 40-50g bullets, and the N-135 will push the 55's, 3400-3550 fps with extreme accuracy in a 1-14 twist depending on the gun and chamber.

My hunting partner shot the 50g Sierra lead tip blitz with 26.0g-27.g of H335 out of his Rem 700 V in 223, it was a death ray. He shot another load of 24.5g of AA2015 using the Speer 55g Lead tip (now sold in 1000 packs) Sp that would send ground squirrels 6 feet in the air at 300 yards.

No doubt that the 40's at 3900 will make a powder puff out of a magpie!

Keep us informed on your squirrel shooting Safaris!
 
I know just where you are, I had the same thought with H870 in a 7mm Rem thought I won't like this so only loaded three and shot the smallest group I had ever shot with a magnum rifle. The 223 seems more finicky about powder charges than some other cartridges,.2 grains can make a big difference. I use 27.6 grains of Benchmark with a 40 grain bullet with good results in a 1 in 9 CZ. I normally use a drop tube just out of habit and do the swirl technique as has been mentioned before and it works.
 
the Swirl technique sure works, and works even better with a long drop tube. MTM has got a powder funnel with 6" drop tube with replacable heads for different sizes of cases, it is a great investment.

I have not really found the 223 to be that finicky for the powder charges in the Rem 700V, VSSF, and customs.

Some barrels are just a [beeep] to work with as heat treat from barrel to barrel varies.

Wind is one heck of a factor in group size that you get and a wind flag is one of the very best $60 that you will ever spend in your life.
 
Ok, so far I have had great results with the H335 loaded to about 27 grns.. I did use the Varget, and although it hit the squeekers I aimed at it had no where near the terminal effect of the 335. Today I trued some 52 grn Sierra HPBT match with IMR4198, is seemed to shoot them good too, But then in the afternoon I loaded up the same bullets with 25.5 grns of H335, and they really seemed to do a job at launching the little critters! Ackleyman thanks for the advice on the AA 2015 and the N 133 I talked to a reloader from my area, he called me while I was out testing the loads, He too reccomended the Sierra Blitz.. Thanks for all the help and suggestions that everyone had shared. Im living on the Delta, and its been windy everyday so I havent got to shoot Paper with the new loads yet to test group size.Ive reloaded 40-60grners, and they all shot well. I will let you know what works the best in the Tikka... Soo far Im really pleased with the results of building my own Ammo ! Thanks again !
 
OOF357

My Tikka t3 lite in .223 loves any weight vmax from 35 to 60 with 25 gr Imr 4895. Safe in any of these loadings. I am not into "Launching the little critters" Just making them This is the most accurate rifle I have ever
owned. 5 shots at 100 yards. .285"
 
Mouse Dipper... I appreciate the input.. I just got 1 lb of IMR 4198... as usual I made the wrong choice? But what I saw on the web site was less powder and less pressure with the same "or close to Speed" I will keep tinkering and also may have to add 4895 to my list of powders....Being a babe in the woods at reloading, I didnt want to buy 25 different powders... I appreciate the Input.. Thanks again !
 


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