Author Topic: .223 Rem & Varget (Read 2639 times)

The Sodbuster · « **on:** June 21, 2006, 06:00:04 AM »

Trying out some different bullet/powder combos in a Savage 16 .223 Remington. Thought I'd try Varget with some Sierra 55 grain hollow points and Barnes 50 gr VLC bullets I had on hand. The Barnes manual calls for starting at 24.5 grains and working up to 28.5 grains. I went up to 26.5 grains, and those loads were compressed. I don't know how you could get another 2 grains in the case.

Varget does great in my .308 and .22-250, but I'll probably avoid it if I can't get a higher velocity load to fit in the case (these were Remington cases, not military). Anyone else load Varget in .223?

I've also used AA2520 and Hodgdon's BL-C(2). Results with those and Sierra BlitzKings have been so-so. I have yet to try Hornady V-Max, which shoot great in my .22-250. May also look to try some Sierra match hollow points.

Chappy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2006, 06:39:03 AM »

I too found Varget to work great in my 308; but when I tried it in my 223, I lost quite a bit of velocity compared to the W748 I was using.
I now use Benchmark in my 223 - it meters great, doesn't overfill the case, has velocities that equal or exceed W748, and it's cleaner than Varget. I use Win. and R-P cases, WSR primers, and 50 gr. Speer TNT and Nosler Balistic tip bullets in my Ruger M77. The Noslers shoot a bit more accurate, but they also cost twice as much. I shoot 55 gr. Win FMJBT in my AR. All my loads are about 1 gr. under max according to the Hodgdon manual. I also shoot Benchmark vary well in my 125 gr. 308 loads, but Varget does better with the heavier bullets in 308.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2006, 06:51:44 AM »

I liked Varget for a .223 application I had, but it's not a powder to use when you want maximum velocity from the cartridge.

Bad Irv · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2006, 03:40:45 PM »

Varget works well for me in my Stevens 200 223 with the heavier bullets(60gr and up). But I have to seat them long to avoid compressed charges. Good for accurate shooting single shot at the bench, not so good for hunting, they don't fit in the magazine.

Irv

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2006, 12:05:00 PM »

I am finding Ramshot TAC and X-term to work really well in my 223. Need more info on them as opposed to others as Varget, 3031 and so on.
Jim

strut64 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2006, 07:35:31 AM »

I struggled with a 223 Remington 700 ADL until I settled on 50 Gr VMax and H380. The Rifle wouldn't reliably shoot 3031, 4064, Varget, H335 with 52 Gr Match Kings, 53 Gr match Hdy, or 60 Gr Sierra HP. Finally found 50 Gr Vmax and H380 and it is Really accurate. Not fast, but accurate. I get a full 3,000 fps. I agree with Varget being to bulky to get enough into a 223 case. Fortuanetly I can use it for a 30-06 load that I like.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2006, 01:17:08 PM »

I shoot a bull barreled H&R handi rifle in 223 and the best load i have found so far is 25 grains of IMR4895 with a 55 grain jsp bullet which gives me consistent 5/8 in. groups at 100 yards @ 3100fps +/- 15fps .

Varget has never worked as well or given me as good a groups .

Just my .02 worth

jack19512 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2006, 04:05:49 AM »

My 223 Ultra likes 26 grains of 4895 with a Barnes 40 gr. Varminator bullet. This is a 5 shot group from 100 yards shot off the hood of my truck. The reason the group is separated I think is because I changed shooting positions.

mavrick10_2000 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2006, 08:55:28 AM »

If you want to use Varget with .223 you'll need a longer drop tube so the grains settle more in the case, either on your dispenser or funnel. Also gently tapping on the side of the case, or vibrating the case gently will settle the powder and give plenty of room to seat bullets even at MAX listed charge weights.

MnMike · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2006, 05:50:57 PM »

I use Norma cases and load a little under maximum for my Contender. It is the most accurate load I have found.

It is maybe slightly compressed, but shoots great - 3/8" at 100 yds.

JMHO

mike

223Shooter · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2006, 03:07:48 PM »

Don't use Varget...BUT Benchmark in my NEF .223, along with 55gr Nosler BT. Very accurate load. Does a number on coyotes too.

Dave Allen · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2006, 12:32:42 PM »

hello, i have just started recently with varget..26.0 grains with a 55 grain sierra bullet works good for me...note the case is pretty full....but 25 to 26 grains are moa. 26 grains are sub moa for me....

Davemuzz · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2006, 12:07:26 PM »

My T\C .223 hits everything I aim at. Really, I'm not fillin your boots with cow stuff. My longest groundhog this year has been 325 yards. I am confident out to 400 yards, I just havn't found a field in SW Pa that will give me a shot that long.

Nosler 40gr. Balistic tip over 28.5gr. of BL-C2. The pic below is a 4 shot group. The two shots on the line above the dot are 4" above the poa, and the two on the dot were right on the poa. The gun is zeroed at 300 yards and this was a target at 100 yards.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/davemuzz/DSC00155.jpg

beemanbeme · « **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2006, 03:31:46 AM »

It may be me but I've yet to use Varget for any cartridge that I couldn't get better results using another powder. Those cartridges have been: .223, 22-250, .260, 7-08, and 7x57.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2006, 12:28:48 PM »

Beemanbeme,

One exception on that Varget rule you mentioned. I use 45 grains of Varget under a 405 grain cast lead 45-70 bullet. I shoot this out of my Marlin with a Williams peep sight. At 100 yards I will get 3" groups all the time.

And, you can actually shoot this load in this gun without it beating the daylights out of you.

FWIW.

Dave

handyman06 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2006, 06:45:46 PM »

i load varget for my stevens .223, i load 27.5 gr. for both the 50gr. v-max and 55gr. hornady sp. i dont recall exact aggregate, but avg of five, five shot groups was around 1"-1 1/4" for both and i think thats because im still not used to the stevens stiff creepy trigger. i havent got to play with it much as i havent had it long. i use winchester cases and just tap my powder pan against the powder funnel to get the powder to settle into the cases.

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** September 04, 2006, 05:47:57 PM »

Varget tends to do better with 60gr. & heavier bullets, under 60gr. I use H4895 or Benchmark. The fact that it works better with heavy bullets is why alot of AR shooters use it. I use 26.7gr. in Win cases with the 60 V-Max. I tap the bottom of the case angled slightly to strike the rim while I keep the funnel on the neck, takes 2-3 seconds & works fine. I get 5 shot groups around .35-45" at 100,
.750 at 200 & 1 1/2-1 3/4" at 300 yards with this load, oh Rem. Benchrest Primers. This is in a
1-8 RRA 24" Varmiter.

The Sodbuster · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2006, 01:10:17 PM »

For those who didn't see my post on case weight, I'll reiterate here that I found in .223 Remington, my R-P cases (the ones I'd used Varget in) were significantly heavier than military and Winchester brass I had on hand. The Winchester cases averaged 6 grains lighter than the Remington. So if I'd been using those when I was loading Varget I probably could have fit a little more powder in the case.

I should add that it's a moot point now anyway. I picked up some Benchmark and am very happy with the results using 25 or 26 grains behind a 52 grain Hornday A-Max. I might add, I've used Remington 7 1/2 primers and CCI 400 primers in .223. In general, with the same load my rifle tends to shoot a little better with the CCI 400 primers. In some loads they're about the same, but the CCI is never less precise than the same load with a Remington primer.

acloco · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2006, 07:05:50 PM »

I am using Accurate 2230C with 40 gr Nosler BT's, 50 & 55 gr Nos BT's, & 69 gr Sierra's.

Best group at 100 yards - with the 69 grain bullets....1/4" for 5 shots.

Longest confirmed kill - 585 yards with a laser rangefinder.

For some reason, my model 12 Savage, does not like Varget...with any brand of primer.

Bad Irv · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2006, 03:12:01 PM »

I have just recently found that Alliant RE-15 is a better powder for my Stevens 200 223.

Always a winner in my 22-250, I finally got around to trying it in the 223. The burn rate is fairly close to Varget, but it produces smaller groups and does so with the bullet seated at the proper length for the magazine. The 60 grain V-Max shoots some amazing groups in my rifle with this powder and it's a great load for the coyotes. You guys with the faster twist barrels in 223 might want to give it a try.

Irv