[2ndtimer]

I have loaded Varget in the .223 and have always sort of believed that you can't put too much Varget in a .223 Remington case with conventional bullet weights (55 gr or less). The Lyman 49th Edition manual lists a maximum charge of Varget as 27.8 gr with a 55 gr bullet for a velocity of 3346 in a 24" test barrel with pressure listed at 51,400 c.u.p.. They actually show a higher velocity with the 55 gr bullet than they do for the 40 gr v-Max at 28.0 gr of Varget. I myself have chosen 26.0 gr of Varget with the 55 gr bullet (Nosler Varmageddon, Ballistic Tip or Hornady Z-Max). I have loaded 27.0 gr with no pressure signs in either of my bolt guns, nor my AR, but seem to get better accuracy at 26.0 gr. I am really surprised that Quick Load indicates such high pressure at 26.5 gr of Varget. I haven't used the CCI-450 primer with Varget, but have loaded both 26.0 and 27.0 gr with WSR and Wolf 223 primers with no pressure signs whatsoever. I do load lighter charges with heavier 73 gr bullets, usually 23 to 24 gr.