80 gr a-max and varget (pics added)

aheppner

aheppner

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i just loaded up some 80 gr A-maxs with varget, i started at 23.3 gr and went up to 25.7, the max load is suppose to be 25.3 for a 80 smk , and the Hodgdon data says 25 for 80 smk,

i didn't want to push my luck but what have your max loads been?

anyone have a good load thats more then 25.7 grs?
 
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If you are shooting a 223 you are already over.

80 GR. SIE MK Hodgdon Varget .224" 2.550" 22.0 2547 40,300 CUP 25.0C 2869 51,500 CUP

I would not go beyond the published max. I am shooting 75 grain AMAX with a 25 grain load of varget, small rifle magnum primer and I am getting 3400 fps out of a 30 inch barrel.
 
***Please note that this load is safe in my rifle, approach with load with caution and watch for pressure signs in your rifle***


26.0 gr of Varget in a .223 Winchester case with an 80 gr Nosler. Rifle is a Sportco converted to .223 with a 30 inch 1:8 twist Maclennen barrel.
 
My .223 Rem Pet Load is:

80 SMK (moly-coated), 25.4 gr. Varget, Fed205M and Winchester cases.

Chrony indicates about 2,950 fps.

Rifle is Rem 40X with a 1:8 twist McLennan Barrel.

Note: this works fine in my rifle, but you will need to carefully work up a load for your own rifle.
 
aheppner said:
i just loaded up some 80 gr A-maxs with varget, i started at 23.3 gr and went up to 25.7, the max load is suppose to be 25.3 for a 80 smk , and the Hodgdon data says 25 for 80 smk,

i didn't want to push my luck but what have your max loads been?

anyone have a good load thats more then 25.7 grs?
Click to expand...

What is your loaded OAL?

At 2.620" and 25.0gn Varget, Quickload is showing 62500psi and 2886fps from a 24" barrel.
 
24 grains of Varget, 205Ms, 80 gr SMKs or Bergers in Lapua brass. 1-8 twist Palma contour 28" Gaillard barrel.

I shot it at 25 grains for quite a while, but despite creative levels of denial it was too hot.

When I tried 80 grain V-maxes it shot its best at starting loads. Screw that.
 
JBD said:
If you are shooting a 223 you are already over.

80 GR. SIE MK Hodgdon Varget .224" 2.550" 22.0 2547 40,300 CUP 25.0C 2869 51,500 CUP

I would not go beyond the published max. I am shooting 75 grain AMAX with a 25 grain load of varget, small rifle magnum primer and I am getting 3400 fps out of a 30 inch barrel.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of FPS.
 
What do you guys look for as far as pressure signs in the case? I was finding shiny spots on caseheads before any significant primer flattening occurred while I was running RL15 and RL17 in 80 amax/ vld loads this weekend. Is that characteristic normal in these little cases?
 
thanks for sharing some of your pet loads, im heading to the range tomorrow evening to shoot some 200m groups,

my starting load is 23.3 grs so that should be well below my max, if i see any pressure signs i will stop and pull those bullets, im looking for a node somewhere near the upper end because i want this to be my long range load so speed is of the essence...

after i find a load ill crony it but i dont think ill have time for that tomorrow

i think i will be a little faster then book since im shooting a 30'' barrel but we will see

pics to follow.
 
26.0 grns. of Varget got me 2950 fps with a 22" barreled 9 twist Kimber Montana...75 grain Amaxs though.

25.0 grns of RE15 in same nets me 3050, and much less soot on the cases neck.
 
range report...

well i got out to the range today, i scanned my targets so you can see how i did.

80grAmaxLD1.jpg
80grAmaxLD2.jpg
80grAmaxLD3.jpg
80grAmaxLD4.jpg
80grAmaxLD5.jpg


im thinking that my 25.5 gr load is looking good but more testing will be needed, the primers are a little flatter on the 5 hottest loads but no sticky bolt or shinny spots so i think im ok

that last group 25.7 gr im pretty sure i messed it up, i moved around to much and it was getting harder to see


any advice on where to start?

savage 12 F-Tr, .223 1in7 twist 30'' barrel
 
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I've basically seen the same thing with both 75 Amaxs with varget and RE15 and 162 Amax, RE22, 7mm RSAUM....the harder you spin it the better it gets :D

Load a few hundred up at 25.5 and be done..... :D

EDIT- Stupid question but is your brass sized tight in the chamber and are you kissing the lands with the Amax already?
 
archie_james_c said:
I've basically seen the same thing with both 75 Amaxs with varget and RE15 and 162 Amax, RE22, 7mm RSAUM....the harder you spin it the better it gets :D

Load a few hundred up at 25.5 and be done..... :D

EDIT- Stupid question but is your brass sized tight in the chamber and are you kissing the lands with the Amax already?
Click to expand...

my brass is full length re sized and im loading the bullets .010 jump

iv been thinking about neck sizing but haven't got around to buying a die
 
aheppner said:
my brass is full length re sized and im loading the bullets .010 jump

iv been thinking about neck sizing but haven't got around to buying a die
Click to expand...

If it were me, Id back my FL die off so my brass was a snug fit in the chamber. Then make dummy round or two up with the amaxs so that if I sharpie markered the ogive of the dummy rounds bullets, they would have nice little square notches from the rifling show up on the sharpie ink.

Shoot at that length/case resize and 25.5 grains of varget and see if your groups shrink.
 
archie_james_c said:
If it were me, Id back my FL die off so my brass was a snug fit in the chamber. Then make dummy round or two up with the amaxs so that if I sharpie markered the ogive of the dummy rounds bullets, they would have nice little square notches from the rifling show up on the sharpie ink.

Shoot at that length/case resize and 25.5 grains of varget and see if your groups shrink.
Click to expand...

is backing off the FL die as good as neck sizing?

i am going to play with seating depth next time i load - .020 .010 touching the lands and .010 jammed just to see what happens, iv heard secant ogive bullets are sensitive to seating depth
 
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