.223 80gr VLD At mag length?

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Captain Nimcompoop
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Minuteman
Jun 13, 2011
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So I was experimenting around with the press today and I noticed that I can actually shove the Berger 80gr VLD's deep enough to fit in a magazine. The bullet was still held securely in the neck with no crimp.

Has anyone had any experience loading the VLD so short? I know they are made for somewhere around a .010 jump to the lands, but since I shoot NRA across the course matches fairly often, I was thinking it would be cool to have the same load for 200, 300 and 600... Would save me a lot of reloading time, that's for sure..

Anyone? Anyone? ...Bueller??
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

It will shoot(I am assuming from an AR), but you’re going to be sacrificing velocity… enough that other bullets will likely yield better results. If you want A high BC you may want to think about pointed existing BTHP’s.
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

Good to know.. It was just a wild ass idea. I think maybe I will stick with the 77gr SMK for the full course since I know they work at mag length.. I was just hoping to get good use of a VLD type bullet at all ranges since most of the matches I shoot are in a canyon that gets some crazy opposing cross winds at all distances, including many times at the shooting line.
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

You can always run them long and single feed. That way you can push them at a decent speed, keeping most of the bullet out of the engine room/powder supply.
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can always run them long and single feed. That way you can push them at a decent speed, keeping most of the bullet out of the engine room/powder supply. </div></div>

This is what I currently do, but I had the hair-brained idea to run them all at mag length, so I could use the same bullet/load in all stages of the competitions (200 yards slow fire standing, 200 yards rapid sitting, 300 yards rapid prone and 600yards slow fire prone)

I know I can do every stage with the same load when using the 77gr SMK's, they load up fine at mag length and dont mind the jump too much, but it would be nice to utilize the VLD's in the canyon that we shoot in.. Can we say "full value cross-cross-cross winds?
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SVThuh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can always run them long and single feed. That way you can push them at a decent speed, keeping most of the bullet out of the engine room/powder supply. </div></div>

This is what I currently do, but I had the hair-brained idea to run them all at mag length, so I could use the same bullet/load in all stages of the competitions (200 yards slow fire standing, 200 yards rapid sitting, 300 yards rapid prone and 600yards slow fire prone)

I know I can do every stage with the same load when using the 77gr SMK's, they load up fine at mag length and dont mind the jump too much, but it would be nice to utilize the VLD's in the canyon that we shoot in.. Can we say "full value cross-cross-cross winds? </div></div>

Check this link. Not 80 VLDs, but 82 Bergers. http://www.usrifleteams.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21319&hl= bergers mag length&page=3
 
Re: .223 80gr VLD At mag length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 81STFACP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SVThuh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can always run them long and single feed. That way you can push them at a decent speed, keeping most of the bullet out of the engine room/powder supply. </div></div>

This is what I currently do, but I had the hair-brained idea to run them all at mag length, so I could use the same bullet/load in all stages of the competitions (200 yards slow fire standing, 200 yards rapid sitting, 300 yards rapid prone and 600yards slow fire prone)

I know I can do every stage with the same load when using the 77gr SMK's, they load up fine at mag length and dont mind the jump too much, but it would be nice to utilize the VLD's in the canyon that we shoot in.. Can we say "full value cross-cross-cross winds? </div></div>

Check this link. Not 80 VLDs, but 82 Bergers. http://www.usrifleteams.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21319&hl= bergers mag length&page=3</div></div>

Thanks for that! Lots of very good information.