Varget and 52gr. SMK in 223 ?

[SporterII]

Anyone shooting 52 SMK and or 50gr. VMax in 223 with Varget?
Is there enough room for it? Performance?

 

[rduckwor]

Should be plenty of room.

I have loaded the 52 Gr bullets from other manufacturers and they worked out O.K. You start getting tight at about 26.5 Gr Varget in a LC case.

 

[shoot4fun]

Hodgdon data shows max 27 grains of Varget with a 53 grain bullet getting velocity around 3380. That is a compressed load. I know it will work but my thinking is that Varget is just a bit too slow for that bullet to give max performance.
Also, take note that rduckwor is giving you a clue about what brass you will be using and factoring in case volume.

 

[oldfatguy]

H335 is good for the lighter bullets.

OFG

 

[SporterII]

I might stick with H4895 for now and perhaps find some BL-C2 to try. I get 3300 with room to spare and all my brass is Lapua.
I agree that the Varget may not be worth using for this though It would be handy inventory wise.

 

[BCP]

26 grains is max depending on your seating depth. Also your fastest load is not always your most accurate load.

 

[samnev]

I have had better results with W748 with 52 grain SMK's after trying 4895 and Varget.

 

[Sniper260]

My pet load was 24.5 gr varget with 52 gr berger varmint bullet when i loaded for it.... using varget of course.... i think theres better powders for small calibers like mentioned above.

 

[rduckwor]

H335 is good for the lighter bullets.

OFG

This is very true. I wish I could find it again.

I have a shit ton of Varget, so I have to use it.

 

[shoot4fun]

My best ever groups with 223 and the 52/53 SMK was with N130. I haven't seen a pound of it in years though.

 

[leadbullet]

my Ar's love the 52 SMk at mag length in any brass with 26 gr of varget, I load tons of those every year.

 

[Former0302]

I get very good results with 26 grs of Varget and the 52 SMK.

 

[P7M13SC]

25.5 gr of Varget w/53gr SMK. Is my Blaser's favorite! Crony shows just under 3000fps. 1/2 moa, 2.250 col.