Anyone Use 60 grain Vmax with 1:8 Twist AR

CWeeks

CWeeks

New member
Hey I have H335 and W748 powder and a new box of 60 Grain Vmaxes that I tried to do some load development with and have had poor results. Anybody got a load using these components that have worked well for you?
 
I would start with 24 grains of 748 and seat them to touch the lands of the barrel. If loading for an AR, load so they will fit the Mag. Sometimes, you have to push them pretty hard to get good groups. Shoot at least 3-3 shot groups with each load before moving up to the heavier charge. Group averaging will tell you where you are really at with the load.
 
It is for an AR and I started right where you said to at 24 grains then 24.2,24.4,24.6,24.8 and all these loads were right at 1.5 MOA at 100 yards not real great at all. I have gotten some good loads for 52 grain BTHP with 25.2 748 but I really want to shoot the heavier lead if possible. I load all the rounds for the AR at the max length that I can to still allow them fit into the Magazine. I haven't seen any pressure signs yet even up to the 24.8 grains but I just don't know how hard I want to push it. It only took 4 rounds to heat up the barrel. I could hold onto to it but it was pretty warm.
 
I would push them harder, right up to, maybe 26 or so. If that don't work go to a slower powder like H4895 or Varget. The heavier bullets like slower powder. Are the groups round, vertical or horizontal strings? Are 2 of the bullets close together in the 1 1/2" group? Contrary to what we hear on the web, the barrels shoot a heck of a lot better when they are clean.
 
26.5grs of Varget set the other powders aside and use them for light bullets.this load works in at least a 1/2doz .223's that i load for.

Gary
 
I will second Varget, and also as Dan mentioned H4895. Both of these powders have worked extremely well for me, all the way up to 75 grain bullets. the 60's in my 1:8 are OK, the 65's are a little better, and the 75's are superb.

BANDIT
 
Gary P,
Are any of these .223's AR 1:8 Twists? 26.5 grains seems like a lot of powder for an AR. 24.8 grains of 748 filled the case up pretty full to put a longer bullet in the case.

Dan C,
Hey here are the groups for you to gander at. The bottom middle is a group with 52 grain BTHP Hornady matches and the rest are the 60 grain Vmaxes. Do the patterns tell you anything. The AR has only 50 rounds through it since it was cleaned the last time.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w288/chocolateweeks/DSCF5397.jpg
 
Quote:
"... 26.5 grains seems like a lot of powder for an AR. 24.8 grains of 748 filled the case up pretty full to put a longer bullet in the case.



The loads for the heavier bullets will be compressed loads. Don't worry, it's normal.

.
 
I've had my best luck with 60's with reloader 15 mine does seem to like a little slower powder. Had a hard time making 748 or Benchmark work. Denny
 
Don't know how it will perform with a 1/8 barrell but my AR 1/9 and Mini 14 1/9 both love the 60 Sierria hp with 26.4 H-380. Any case any primer..Sure wish someone would try this powder in the 1/8 and post a result.
Later
DF2
 
I do not know if this makes a difference or not but, there is a pattern on all the groups except for the first one. Target2,3,5, and upper left one also have 2 higher to the right and then two lower to the left from those. Now it happened in that order on all 4 of those groups, the first 2 rounds are upper right and the second 2 lower left. What does that mean? Is it a gun issue. I thought maybe it was me but given 4 of the 5 groups were patterned very similar I am leaning to a gun issue. I am using the same pattern of shooting about 10-15 seconds between each shot. Any Ideas to all you bench shooters? I am a hunter 1st a tight grouper second and have never really done this type of a load developement.
 
CWeeks,
I would also suggest waiting 2 minutes between shots, not 15 seconds. I know it takes a while longer to shoot, but your barrel will never get hot. It will also give you a chance to relax and take your time between shots, which surely cant hurt group size.

-BANDIT
 
I have not tried 60 gr. bullets, but 55 gr. Nos. BT's shoot great in my 1X8 Bushmaster Predator using H335.

Nosler's manual shows the max. load for the 55's & H 335 of 25 gr. to be the most accurate @ 3140 fps. They show the same load with 60 gr. bullets. 60 gr. bullet vel. listed 3105 vel.


ec746c59.jpg


Above 5 shot group was 25.5 gr. H335 which is obviously hot, but shows no signs of pressure in my rifle . The Predator has a "hybrid 5.56 NATO/223" chamber which may allow the above max. load. Velocity is just under 3300 fps.

Regards,
hm
 
Cort,
Thanks for the offer man if I get up that way I will let you know that would be great to try before I buy more powder. I will be in Blackfoot next weekend and am hoping Scott and I can get some reloading done and hopefully he will let me load a few with Varget to see what happens there also. Hey Cort PM SENT.

DAN C,
Well it isn't the scope I have some decent groups with the lighter bullets and the lighter bullets have done me really well as far as kills out at 200-270 yards so I am thinking the scope is not an issue. But it could be I may check the bolts and screws though when I get home to make sure though.

Lawdog,
That would be great let me know how they do.

Thanks to all you fellas.
 
I have been shooting both 748 and Varget with the 60v-max and the varget is hands down the most consitant. My 1x8 twist AR likes the loads to max. I have shot may .5 groups and under with 27gr varget, this is an extremly hot, compressed load but it works well in my AR.

Randy
 


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