varget 180gr 3006

dan belisle said:
I've used 47 gr of Varget behind a 185 gr Berger for 2720 fps, average between 3 rifles. Would have been Win LR primers. Brass was Federal, Rem or Win depending on which rifle it was for. - dan
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thanks Dan,
what data wer you goin off of?
is that with a 24 tubes or 22?

was this showing high pressure?

im dabbling with the idea of running it around that 2450-2500 bracket- im stepping away from long range or longer pot shots so to speak an 300 is calling it max for sure.
ill end up sighting it +2 at 100, an holding on the backline at 300 IF needed.

the bonus is the recoil, it feels good an im shooting it good, not flinching an its not a sudden quick jolt which ive learnt i dont like- an sure it has downsides, but for ease of loading, shooting and hunting for the next yr-18 months, thats my jam :)
 
WhelanLad said:
thanks Dan,
what data wer you goin off of?
is that with a 24 tubes or 22?

was this showing high pressure?

im dabbling with the idea of running it around that 2450-2500 bracket- im stepping away from long range or longer pot shots so to speak an 300 is calling it max for sure.
ill end up sighting it +2 at 100, an holding on the backline at 300 IF needed.

the bonus is the recoil, it feels good an im shooting it good, not flinching an its not a sudden quick jolt which ive learnt i dont like- an sure it has downsides, but for ease of loading, shooting and hunting for the next yr-18 months, thats my jam :)
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That load came out of the Berger manual. The rifles had a 22, a 24, and 26 inch barrels. No pressure signs in those three rifles. It is their max load though, so work up. Accurate in all 3 though. - dan
 
I don't know why a hunter would want to down load a cartridge on purpose. Using the 30-06 with 180s for an example, raising the velocity from 2500 to 2700 where it belongs will make it hit just as hard 100 yards farther away. Optimized powder choices and a bit of luck will take that to 2800 and 150 yards further out for equal results. Thats hard to ignore even for a 300 yards tops shooter.
 
Dogleg said:
I don't know why a hunter would want to down load a cartridge on purpose. Using the 30-06 with 180s for an example, raising the velocity from 2500 to 2700 where it belongs will make it hit just as hard 100 yards farther away. Optimized powder choices and a bit of luck will take that to 2800 and 150 yards further out for equal results. Thats hard to ignore even for a 300 yards tops shooter.
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yeah i can understand but when nothing is forever , ill settle for now :)

AR2209 sounds like the ducks nutz
 
i had great accuracy with the varget and 200 gr nosler partition. never bothered on speed but interest to see your result and i will dig into the load proposed by dan from berger manual.
 
180 GR. SIE SPBTAR2208.308"3.300"Starting44.0 grain2533 fps41900 cupMaximum47.0 grain2668 fps50000 cup

200 GR. NOS ABAR2208.308"3.300"Starting42.0 grain2337 fps41900 cupMaximum47.0 grain2505 fps49100 cup


adi data
 
bearhunter said:
So, your post got me curious and I loaded up 20 180 grain #3072 BTSP that I have on the shelf.

I used a magneto speed to show me appx velocities.

The rifle is an Antonio Zoli bolt action, an Italian copy of the Husqy 1900 but much smoother cycling and IMHO more accurate. It shoots all bullet weights from 100grain to 220 grain well, if I do my part.

I started with 45 grains of Varget over CCI250 primers. This load was mild, no slouch. 2560 fps over 3 rounds from a 24 inch bbl, so appx 2450 fps in a 20 inch bbl

46.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was similar to the previous at 2525 fps average, 3 rounds

47.0 grains Varget - same primers. This load was stouter and velocities went to 2610 fps/ 3 rounds

48.0 grains Varget - same primers. More noticeable recoil, velocities were 2655 fps/ 3 rounds.

The last loads were at 49.0 grains Varget. Recoil was similar and velocities wer at 2690fps/ 8 rounds.

The last load was the most accurate in my rifle. The only loads that showed primers starting to flatten were those 47.0+

Your rifle should be able to handle the 49.0 grain load of Varget over CCI250 primers.

My OAL was as long as the magazine well, minus appx .050.

My rifle has a ''deep'' throat, that's quite tight, so around .100 in off the leade, but still in the case neck when entering.

IMHO, Varget is a bit fast for the 180 grain btsp.

Still, at 49.0 grains and 2690 fps average over eight shots with a total 20+fps spread it's a very consistent performer that gives very good accuracy.

Temps today were right around 12C and humidity was high. Elevation is right around 600 meters.

Time 2pm 3/30/2022

You should easily be able to safely exceed 2500fps with your 20 inch bbl.
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BH was there a typo on these velocitys for 45 46 grain?

i tested that initial 45gr load an found sweet accuracy, an being me, i loaded 45.5gr for a slight boost LOL without veering off target too much. the group opened up a bit for sure an il hunt with these now.

i will likely do a bit more developing soon possibly with the slower powder!
 
Copy that all good.

So i had a few 180s in the magazine this morning out chasen a few deer for the freezer..... i was hunting fallow deer on private property cattle ranch.

first few shots were Woodleighs at distance, first connected an mature doe down.... over the course of the hour i were to have a few shots at deer as they snuck across back to the bush edge, i was able to take a fawn later in the morning after missing one at distance of around 300m... 1 woodleigh went high, an i forgot about the 180btsp an of course it , the next shot, went low.

looking at the damage on the fawn from 100m, an expansion is evident, fluro blood an it appears more expansion than the Woodleigh in such a soft animal!?!

looking forward to testing these out a bit more, im a big fan of the recoil an it does the job .
 
Update on this-

i was able to shoot some higher charges this week, an today settled on 47grain of Varget and the 180gr BTSP............ primers flattened up at 46 but no worse at 47, no bolt lift issues or sign of slamming brass... got a reasonable grouping with a little stringing but mostly user error and not benchrest rest :)


its printing about 1 inch high at 100 too, which is awesome, so far it looks like 150gr PPSN and 180gr BTAP can be used in the same magazine .... 180 in the thick, 150 popped in when long 300m arises and theres time to set up etc.

Perfect
 
WhelanLad said:
Update on this-

i was able to shoot some higher charges this week, an today settled on 47grain of Varget and the 180gr BTSP............ primers flattened up at 46 but no worse at 47, no bolt lift issues or sign of slamming brass... got a reasonable grouping with a little stringing but mostly user error and not benchrest rest :)


its printing about 1 inch high at 100 too, which is awesome, so far it looks like 150gr PPSN and 180gr BTAP can be used in the same magazine .... 180 in the thick, 150 popped in when long 300m arises and theres time to set up etc.

Perfect
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Sounds like it is working well. As to the primers, i have had loads that were way below max thay flattened primers. Not too sure why, soft anvils maybe. - dan
 
i fell over, a stick caught between my ankles an i landed heavily on my arm, the gun went awol... it was unloaded as i had a projectile stuck in the chamber, which was all good and well....

i figured the scope would be out of wack for sure..

2 shots off the bonnet and backpack, alllmost touchin, 2 inch high. im starting to like this load- if i could just find a deer minus the fog in the AM
 
With my ‘06 the 180’s get loaded with 4350 and will easily hit 2850 from a 24” barrel. I can’t say I’ve ever tried one in a short barrel. That said, 165’s with 4064 gave me 3k from a 24” barrel and 2850 from a 18” barrel.

Unless it was all I had and I couldn’t find what I wanted, I wouldn’t consider varget in a 30-06 with any projectile.
 
I generally use IMR 4831 or IMR 4350 in the 30-06/180. Granted I prefer Partitions so a slower powder might make a bit more sense given how still that bullet tends to be as opposed to a traditional cup and core bullet, but overall that would be my inclination.
 
so i got to shoot these over a Chrono.
the first 2 didnt read which sucked.
the following.

2560- 2630 - 2540 - 47gr varget.... i know ther was neck tension differences here an thats why im spewing on the first 2 not reading.. but ball park. 2550fps....20 inch barrel. all good in my hood, i was expecting 2450 iirc- maybe 2500 if i was lucky..

i also shot my 708 140gr woodleigh loads , 2640 - 2643 - .... ballpark 2650fps -- thats 40gr varget.

and i didnt actually think until right now to grab a 130gr ppsn load and 150gr ppsn load to test velocitys............... Doh moment.
 
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dan belisle said:
Sounds like it is working well. As to the primers, i have had loads that were way below max thay flattened primers. Not too sure why, soft anvils maybe. - dan
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Yup, if I'm concerned pressures may be high for the combo of load, brass, bullets, primers I'm using, I measure the web of the cartridge case, just above the rim for expansion.
 
bearhunter said:
Yup, if I'm concerned pressures may be high for the combo of load, brass, bullets, primers I'm using, I measure the web of the cartridge case, just above the rim for expansion.
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I have done that with a blade mic, as per Ken Waters. Lot of people poo poo the idea now though. I still think it has validity as a comparison tool. - dan
 
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