Load development again

wjarrell · July 27, 2015, 11:06 AM

Well as many of you have seen my previous thread, I was over pressure with 44 grains of varget 168 grain Berger and new Winchester brass. This weekend I switched to CCI 200 primers and started at 42 grains and worked my way up. I'm shooting a Model 7 with a factory 18" barrel. 42 grains shot just under half an inch, 42.5 opened up a bit, 43 back down to half an inch but I hit pressure. So I'm going with 42 grains. I wish I could get more out of it like most of you guys are go shoot 43-45 grains but I'll take a half an inch with 42 grains any day. How accurate do you think the Berger reloading manual is as far as velocity goes with posted powder charge?

603Country · July 27, 2015, 12:36 PM

I'd rather have accuracy than top velocity. Still, if you want more fps, I'd suggest a different powder. I'm really not that big a fan of Varget. Hasn't been wonderful in any of my rifles.

wjarrell · July 27, 2015, 01:32 PM

What powder would you suggest country? I have two pounds of varget that I need to use up before I try anything else but I would try something different as long as it is temperature stable.

Doyle · July 27, 2015, 02:22 PM

IMR 4064, IMR 4350, RL15, RL17 are all possibilities.

603Country · July 27, 2015, 03:42 PM

I've long been a fan of 4064, and it appears that R15 is as good, and about the same burn rate. If it's 308 you are loading, I've used IMR 3031 for the 150's and it works great. But behind the 168's there are others on the forum with better and more current information.

July 27, 2015, 11:06 AM	#1
wjarrell Member Join Date: May 25, 2014 Posts: 57	Load development again Well as many of you have seen my previous thread, I was over pressure with 44 grains of varget 168 grain Berger and new Winchester brass. This weekend I switched to CCI 200 primers and started at 42 grains and worked my way up. I'm shooting a Model 7 with a factory 18" barrel. 42 grains shot just under half an inch, 42.5 opened up a bit, 43 back down to half an inch but I hit pressure. So I'm going with 42 grains. I wish I could get more out of it like most of you guys are go shoot 43-45 grains but I'll take a half an inch with 42 grains any day. How accurate do you think the Berger reloading manual is as far as velocity goes with posted powder charge?

July 27, 2015, 12:36 PM	#2
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	I'd rather have accuracy than top velocity. Still, if you want more fps, I'd suggest a different powder. I'm really not that big a fan of Varget. Hasn't been wonderful in any of my rifles.

July 27, 2015, 01:32 PM	#3
wjarrell Member Join Date: May 25, 2014 Posts: 57	What powder would you suggest country? I have two pounds of varget that I need to use up before I try anything else but I would try something different as long as it is temperature stable.

July 27, 2015, 02:22 PM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	IMR 4064, IMR 4350, RL15, RL17 are all possibilities.

July 27, 2015, 03:42 PM	#5
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	I've long been a fan of 4064, and it appears that R15 is as good, and about the same burn rate. If it's 308 you are loading, I've used IMR 3031 for the 150's and it works great. But behind the 168's there are others on the forum with better and more current information.