Varget fast enough powder for an 18.5 inch barrel and 175 SMKs

[sjb269]

Since I only have Varget and 175 gr. SMKs, and for the foreseeable future, there is not much else out there to switch to, do you all feel its worth while working up a load for an 18.5 inch bartlien 5r 11.25 twist in .308? I want the rifle to bang steel out to 800 yards. Occasionally farther when possible... ill be using 175gr SMKs....cause that's all I got. I'd like to get 2600 FPS.
Currently in my 24 inch Savage 10 FLCP, I am loading 44.2 gr. Varget, Winchester FL resized, CCI BR2, 175 gr SMK. I chrono right around 2675 with this load in this rifle. Since I have about 700 rounds already loaded, If I can work up a load for this rifle, and its within striking distance of my current loadings, I'd be a happy man.

 

[P7id10t]

I think you'll be closer to 2400 but will probably like it anyway

 

[1Sg (ret)]

I have the same barrel and get 2538 avg of 5 shots using LCLR brass at 41.5 grs.42grs would probably get you to 2600.41.5grs is easy on brass.I have not had a chance yet with it out to 800 yet.Hope this helps.

 

[sjb269]

It helps a ton...Every piece of data gets stored away for future reference. While I get 2675 out of my savage 10 24 inch 1 in 10...(44.2 Varget BR2 Win. case FL re-size 175 SMK) I sent a few down range this week from the Remington 700 22 inch sporter I am getting ready to send out, I wanted to "see what it could do" before it starts its new life. My average for the 12 rounds I Chronoed was 2552. I was surprised the 22 inch Remington barrel scrubbed over 100 FPS from my reloads.
My concern was the 18.5 Bartlien might see me drop off another 200 FPS... The Bartlien might not have such a linear loss of velocity with regards to barrel length.

 

[Guest]

You might have better luck with IMR 3031, or something close to it's speed. 3031 is not as Gucci as many powders but it was used for many years on .308s pushing 180gr bullets with short barrels.

 

[Silverbullet2]

I have a 18.5" Hart barrel in 308, I get 2540 with IMR 4895 at 42.5gr with Winchester cases. But I have used Varget before, don't recall the MV and powder charge. I would love to get 2750 with the 175, but don't that will ever happen with my Hart. J

 

[sjb269]

It looks like IMR 4895 is a bit faster burn than the Varget... when supplies return to normal, Ill be able to taylor a load for the rifle, nevertheless, Ill be interested what MV I will need in the 18.5 Bartlien 11.25 to keep a 175 SMK supersonic at 800-1000 ish when I am at 1000ft and 70 degrees F.

 

[groundhogbuster]

45gr over the 175 SMK shoots better than anything in my 20" 5R. I tried 4895 but Var was the best. 46 for 168SMKs and 45 for 175s. The Amax however I found my node at 43gr. I estimated velocity for a few months and was told due to the 20" I'd lose quite a bit of velocity. At 68 degrees with my 46g Varget and 175s I'm getting 2690- 2700fps. I was figuring 2550. Funny thing is my 24" 5R shoots the same load and at 2710. Sounds crazy I know but it started to make some sense after I read this.

SWAT Article BARREL LENGTH

 

[sjb269]

That's a good read. FDAC covers 2500-2700 fps so wherever I find the sweet spot, if it's in the range, and the 175 is still fast enough at 800 yards plus...Ill be covered in the field.

 

[jwp6114]

As soon as I run out of varget (real soon), I will be trying Aliant AR comp... It should produce slightly faster MV's than varget.

 

[jwp6114]

Got a friend that had his 700 308aac-sd chop'd to 16.5", can't wait to see how well it shoot out to 6 or 700 yds.

 

[Niles Coyote]

45gr over the 175 SMK shoots better than anything in my 20" 5R. I tried 4895 but Var was the best. 46 for 168SMKs and 45 for 175s. The Amax however I found my node at 43gr. I estimated velocity for a few months and was told due to the 20" I'd lose quite a bit of velocity. At 68 degrees with my 46g Varget and 175s I'm getting 2690- 2700fps. I was figuring 2550. Funny thing is my 24" 5R shoots the same load and at 2710. Sounds crazy I know but it started to make some sense after I read this.

GHB, did I hear you right, your getting 2690-2700 from that 20" 5r? What crono did you use and have you verified this at distance... PLEASE let me know, cause if that’s a proven number I will be buying one too.

 

[sic65stang]

I have the same BBL on my GAP -10. I am unsure what rifle you have this on but here is my load data for my rifle. May save you some time

Bullet Powder Charge Primer Brass Headspace OAL Velocity

Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 42 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2493 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 42.5 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2521 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 43 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2560 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 43.5 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2585 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 44 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2616 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 44.5 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2651 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 45 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2674 AVG

Went below max because Load was too hot and was not grouping

Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 40 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2370 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 40.5 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2406 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 41 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2460 AVG 0.689" Groups
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 41.5 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2483 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 42 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2507 AVG

Verified node...

Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 40.8 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2433 AVG
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 41 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2460 AVG 0.58" Group 40 Degrees
Sierra Matchking 175 Varget 41.2 CCI 200 Lapua, Four 1.625 2.810 2476 AVG

I am reasonably happy with the velocity with my load I chose. Good luck.

 

[sjb269]

Thanks for the data. Its a Remington 700. Not sure if a gasser scrubs some velocity vs. a bolt gun. Is your Bartlien 18.5? If so, your BBL shoots fast according to my info. This is good I hope to have the same. I understand quality custom BBls do shoot faster than production factory.

 

[groundhogbuster]

Hey Ncoyote, it was a ProChrono , no printout 10ft from the muzzle. It is about 4 yrs old, and I had to borrow one simply because the last shoot I went to I was shooting high at every distance using a Shooter print out provided to me from a hide member using 2500fps. I could zero at 100, go to 200 and +6moa and hit dead on, but the shoot was 1,3, and 500yds so I used the print out for 300 and 500, and hit over an inch high at 500yds. This confused me so much I had to borrow one.
BTW my 700 P with a 26"tube shoots the exact same load (Win case, Fed 215 "match" primer, 45gr Varget( 2yr old lot) and 175SMK) and I'll get an average of 2670fps. ??? I don't understand it, and I know all tubes are different but 2700 is fast for a 20" tube. I can tell a "HUGE" difference just from running a patch down the 5R barrel and the 700P. The 700P is much tighter, and the 20" feel like I could put a 33 cal brush down it. (No I won't do it lol) A good friend has the same exact gun as mine, just a different brake, and he's getting 2650fps, but I believe he's running a tad less powder than me. It's puzzling to me as well, but the darn gun shoots better than some of my "Full" Custom" guns. I asked Jon at Beanland about this, and he said one of the most accurate guns he has ever saw was a Rem 22-250 that was gonna be re-barreled, but he just set it back a bit, and it was a laser. He said it basically shot same hole every shot, and how every barrel was different.

 

[sic65stang]

Sjb, Yes my BBL is a Bartlien 18.5

 

[NoFail]

I can achieve 2500+ fps from 16" barrel using CFE 223 under a 178 AMAX, Hornady .308 brass.

LR-308 with JP Supermatch barrel. Chrono is PACT XP. 47.3 gr CFE 223 is as far as I went and it was an accuracy node for my barrel. 46.8 gr is accuracy node too and I like to use that one. Brass won't last long but it doesn't anyway from the gas gun, oh well I have lots of Hornady cases.

I know this is about Varget and SMK's but just sayin'.

 

[Dan Newberry]

We hosted some area SWAT Snipers here back in late winter and one department rifle was a Larue OBR with a 20" barrel. Larue said it would run 2540 fps with Federal GMM 168's, and that number was spot on. The 2540 velocity took the 168's to 900 yards at our 2500 ft elevation. So what I'm saying is you could in all likelihood get your rifle to at least 800 yards with 168's at 2500 fps. Then get a 175 running even 2450 and you're likely good to 1000 yards without having the bullet face plant...

Federal is using a powder in the Varget burn range. You don't need to step up to anything faster than Varget to get great performance from your 20" gun. I shoot with lots of guys running 20's and they're pretty much all shooting 4064, Varget, or RL15. BTW, RL15 seems to be the powder in the Federal GMM loads these days...

If you load 43.5 grains of Varget in Winchester brass, or 43.1 grains in Lake City or Federal brass (recent Federal brass, not the butter pat on a hot pancake soft FC brass from just a few years back) you'll get a good, accurate load.

Here's the 18" 900 yard target from our course which the SWAT team captain shot with his Larue...



Dan

 

[sjb269]

Id say those results speak for themselves. 2500-2550 is plenty for 800yd and a hair over. If supplies open up, I am going to work with different bullets for the 18 incher.... I have a bunch of 175 SMKs on hand, so thats what ill be using till then. I shoot at 4000ft so thats a plus if velocities lag.

 

[Rprecision]

I can get 2575-2600 out of my bart 5r. Running 44.5 Varget.

Accuracy is luke warm with .75 to moa. The next run I will try backing off the powder charge a bit. I need to develop a load for it but with minimal supplies its a hard sell these days

 

[308Gunner]

I am getting 2630 out of a 19" Broughton running 44.6 grns Varget and the same load is running 2708 out of my Scapel it has a 22" Krieger on it I am @ 2250.

 

[ArmyJerry]

I am looking for a load for my new 18.5 inch CBI 308 AR barel, I am guessing the suggestions above will work with a gas gun. Any suggestions appreciated. ITs a 1-10 twist medium weight barrel.

 

[gaphighpower]

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