55gn Nosler Varmageddon loads AR15.

Garyson1311 · April 25, 2013, 03:01 PM

Hey guys so I was at Basspro and saw that they actually had some .224 bullets so I grabbed em without thinking twice about it. They are Nosler Varmageddon 55grn flat base bullets. Anyone use em or have experience with em? I have some IMR 4198 left over and was just curious if anyone has used this powder and bullet combo and if so, would you care to share your loads? I am not so much concerned about max loads, maybe some decent starting or intermediate loads. Thanks a ton!

Mobuck · April 25, 2013, 09:26 PM

Nothing special about those bullets. Just load them like any other similar shape and weight bullet. Begin with the starting load and work up.

Garyson1311 · April 25, 2013, 10:42 PM

As far as similar type just load it like a 55gn ballistic tip?

rebs · April 26, 2013, 03:27 AM

are they the tipped or hollow point's ?
My most accurate load for them is 24.0 of H335 with an OAL of 2.200
This is a less than max load, but start with the starting load and work up to it just to be safe.
My AR is a 16" 1 in 8 twist barrel, if yours is different you may find a more accurate load for yours.

Garyson1311 · April 26, 2013, 11:05 AM

Yeah they are polymer tipped. Any idea on a load using IMR 4198? I know its a fast powder but I have an unopened pound of it and was hoping to try and use that.

jepp2 · April 26, 2013, 06:58 PM

If you use the Hodgdon on line load data, you will find:

Code:

55 GR. SPR SP  	IMR  	IMR 4198  	.224"  	2.200"  	18.8  	2885  	41,600 PSI  	20.4  	3122  	53,600 PSI

The load I use in my AR's, which I have worked up and are safe in my firearms, but might not be safe in yours:

is 21.4 gr. of IMR 4198 from a mid 1960's lot with a Montana Gold 55 gr. FMJBT bullet. It works well for me, but as I mentioned, you should start with the beginning load data from the Hodgdon site and work your way up checking for signs of pressure. I don't know the primers you use, the case capacity, your sizing techniques, and we know the powder lot is different.

Garyson1311 · April 26, 2013, 07:09 PM

I did see that load data, thank you for that. I saw that it was using a 55gr spr sp and I was not quite sure what that acronym was.. Can that data be used for the varamageddon round which is a polymer tip hollowpoint?

Brian Pfleuger · April 26, 2013, 07:15 PM

Any data of same weight bullet of similar construction can be substituted.

"Similar construction" means traditional lead-core, copper-jacket, which is most bullets, or "monolithic", such as the Barnes T/TSX or Hornady GMX lines.

The tip makes no difference. Set the OAL so it fits and functions in your gun, start at the minimum load and work up.

SPR SP means Speer Soft Point, BTW.

Garyson1311 · April 26, 2013, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. So I will use the Speer Soft Point data for the varmageddon bullet. Should I use the suggested COAL for that bullet as a good starting point? (beginning with starting load, of course.)

Thanks.

Brian Pfleuger · April 26, 2013, 08:05 PM

It wouldn't hurt but there's nothing particularly special about that length. The only thing that matters is that the round fits in your gun, magazine, and that the bullet isn't jammed in the rifling, unless you want it to be.

Here is a link to a thread which discusses several tools/methods (and their weaknesses) for determining max OAL in your gun.

April 25, 2013, 03:01 PM	#1
Garyson1311 Member Join Date: January 31, 2012 Posts: 58	55gn Nosler Varmageddon loads AR15. Hey guys so I was at Basspro and saw that they actually had some .224 bullets so I grabbed em without thinking twice about it. They are Nosler Varmageddon 55grn flat base bullets. Anyone use em or have experience with em? I have some IMR 4198 left over and was just curious if anyone has used this powder and bullet combo and if so, would you care to share your loads? I am not so much concerned about max loads, maybe some decent starting or intermediate loads. Thanks a ton!

April 25, 2013, 10:42 PM	#3
Garyson1311 Member Join Date: January 31, 2012 Posts: 58	55gn Nosler Varmageddon loads AR15. As far as similar type just load it like a 55gn ballistic tip?

April 26, 2013, 06:58 PM	#6
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	If you use the Hodgdon on line load data, you will find: Code: 55 GR. SPR SP IMR IMR 4198 .224" 2.200" 18.8 2885 41,600 PSI 20.4 3122 53,600 PSI The load I use in my AR's, which I have worked up and are safe in my firearms, but might not be safe in yours: is 21.4 gr. of IMR 4198 from a mid 1960's lot with a Montana Gold 55 gr. FMJBT bullet. It works well for me, but as I mentioned, you should start with the beginning load data from the Hodgdon site and work your way up checking for signs of pressure. I don't know the primers you use, the case capacity, your sizing techniques, and we know the powder lot is different.

April 26, 2013, 07:15 PM	#8
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Any data of same weight bullet of similar construction can be substituted. "Similar construction" means traditional lead-core, copper-jacket, which is most bullets, or "monolithic", such as the Barnes T/TSX or Hornady GMX lines. The tip makes no difference. Set the OAL so it fits and functions in your gun, start at the minimum load and work up. SPR SP means Speer Soft Point, BTW. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

April 26, 2013, 08:05 PM	#10
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	It wouldn't hurt but there's nothing particularly special about that length. The only thing that matters is that the round fits in your gun, magazine, and that the bullet isn't jammed in the rifling, unless you want it to be. Here is a link to a thread which discusses several tools/methods (and their weaknesses) for determining max OAL in your gun. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

April 25, 2013, 09:26 PM	#2
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Nothing special about those bullets. Just load them like any other similar shape and weight bullet. Begin with the starting load and work up.

April 26, 2013, 03:27 AM	#4
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	are they the tipped or hollow point's ? My most accurate load for them is 24.0 of H335 with an OAL of 2.200 This is a less than max load, but start with the starting load and work up to it just to be safe. My AR is a 16" 1 in 8 twist barrel, if yours is different you may find a more accurate load for yours.

April 26, 2013, 11:05 AM	#5
Garyson1311 Member Join Date: January 31, 2012 Posts: 58	Yeah they are polymer tipped. Any idea on a load using IMR 4198? I know its a fast powder but I have an unopened pound of it and was hoping to try and use that.

April 26, 2013, 07:09 PM	#7
Garyson1311 Member Join Date: January 31, 2012 Posts: 58	I did see that load data, thank you for that. I saw that it was using a 55gr spr sp and I was not quite sure what that acronym was.. Can that data be used for the varamageddon round which is a polymer tip hollowpoint?

April 26, 2013, 07:31 PM	#9
Garyson1311 Member Join Date: January 31, 2012 Posts: 58	Thanks for the replies guys. So I will use the Speer Soft Point data for the varmageddon bullet. Should I use the suggested COAL for that bullet as a good starting point? (beginning with starting load, of course.) Thanks.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search