HANDLOADING THE WK- what’s working what’s not?

Good to hear that the 5.56 chamber is delivering good accuracy, I had wanted wylde but now I’m thinking it’s a non issue. Can’t wait to get out shooting again. I’m out of Win 748 now so I’m going to try some Ramshot Xterminator with the 55 gr hornadys.

What are you guys seeing in your manuals as the max load of Varget with 68/69 gr bullets? My Lyman manual says 26 gr for a 69 gr. My best group with the 70 RDF was 25.5 varget.
 
flyinlead said:
What are you guys seeing in your manuals as the max load of Varget with 68/69 gr bullets? My Lyman manual says 26 gr for a 69 gr. My best group with the 70 RDF was 25.5 varget.
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Hornady X Manual for 68gr HPBT and Varget says 24.9 Max

In my case my accuracy test loads were 24.0, 24.3, 24.6 and 24.9 Best groups easily 24.0

IMHO Hornady seems always low ref max loads/pressures. As I mentioned I have not yet chrono'ed any of the above loads

Hodgdon has Sierra 69gr HPBT w/Varget Max 26.0 Compressed load
 
Interesting, I was reading on the internet last night and a guy was saying there is an accuracy node at 24 and another at 25.3, with about 100 fps difference. Seems to line up with what we are seeing here. Apparently these are both well known accurate loads.
 
Paul_T said:
Hornady X Manual for 68gr HPBT and Varget says 24.9 Max

In my case my accuracy test loads were 24.0, 24.3, 24.6 and 24.9 Best groups easily 24.0

IMHO Hornady seems always low ref max loads/pressures. As I mentioned I have not yet chrono'ed any of the above loads

Hodgdon has Sierra 69gr HPBT w/Varget Max 26.0 Compressed load
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Hornady is well-known for listing "lawyer loads" depending on the cartridge. I find their 5.56 NATO data is pretty spot-on but their .223 Remington tends to be on the light side. All of my guns are 5.56 NATO chambered so I have no problems.

flyinlead said:
Interesting, I was reading on the internet last night and a guy was saying there is an accuracy node at 24 and another at 25.3, with about 100 fps difference. Seems to line up with what we are seeing here. Apparently these are both well known accurate loads.
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24gr of Varget is the sweet spot for 62gr and 68gr bullets in my experience. Varget in general is a miracle powder.
 
If you want a top performing coyote load I’d try the AA-2015 powder. It shows top velocity in my book, listed at 3353 fps max with a 55 bullet.
Get the 53 grain v- max, it has a higher BC than other 55 gr bullets so it will hold that speed better and have less wind drift. If you can work up an accurate load then you’d be golden.
 
Got out shooting again and it seems I’m getting good honest 1.25- 1.5” five shot groups with nosler rdf and varget. I’m pretty pleased that I can accurately reach out too 500 yards or so with the “utility “ rifle
 
my 1:8 shoots 53gr Hornady HP, 53gr Nosler Varmageddon Tipped, 53gr Vmax, 55gr Hornady SP w/c all really well.

in WK I'd try Varget under the 73gr Hornady ELD with either Varget or AR Comp
 
Paul_T said:
Even with a bunch of ####ty bulk federal 55gr my initial testing was at worst 2MOA, so reports of 4-5" groups seems excessive to me ....

55gr and the 1 in 8" WK barrel twist do not get along as far as I am concerned.

Here is a 5 shot group of Hornady 68gr Match HPBT and 24 grains of Varget - 100 yards



Note also that the squares are .96" rather than 1". Must be how the printer scales my LGS target sheets he gives away when you buy stuff......

Bench rest, sand bags.

Note I have not run this load through my radar yet - I was going for group size first.
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Yes 55 grain and a 1 in 8 twist do not like each other, 1 in 8 i believe needs 62 grain minimum to be accurate
 
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