All,
I have developed an extremely accurate load for my Savage 10FP with 24" barrel. 55 grain Ballistic tip over 26 grains of Varget. Prints shots exactly 2" high at 100 yards into less than .5" all day long. This is my primary coyote rifle. Finally got around to checking velocity and it was only around 3100. This was the average over 10 rounds and ES was somewhat bigger than I expected given the accuracy. My question is does this sound reasonable? The Nosler manual doesn't list any powders as being any faster but a number of other manuals do. My charge weight is 1 grain over their max load but it doesn't show any pressure signs and the loads will be shot in cold weather. Appreciate any comments or replies.

NoCAL

That does not seem hot enough to be 1 gr over manuel max. I have seen data (and shot, in the proper chamber) 25.0 grs of Varget with an 80 grain MatchKing. I recall 27 grains being listed as max with the 55 grain bullet. Sounds like you have a good load for you rifle and purpose so don't worry about it.

What are you using the rifle for? 3100 FPS sounds about right for a .55 Gr. bullet, and if you are mainly paper punching then who cares as long as it is accurate? I am getting around 3600-3700 in my .22-250 with a 55Gr. bullet. But those are near max loads that will hopefully be used for long range varmint's. I have found that the Nosler manual is the most conservative of them all, and I have most of them. You can spend an hour going through all of them in order to create a range, or simply go to Steve's Reloading Pages and get them in 2 minutes. You might want to try going up slowly in charge weight watching for pressure signs (assuming the other powder mfgs. recommend). Chances are you will hit another sweet vibration point in the barrel and achieve higher velocities and similar and possibly better accuracy. Or switch to a 50 gr. bullet because I think velocities increase significantly in the .223 between a 50 and 55gr. bullet. I'm certainly a novice at all of this, so please take what I say with that in mind. I am sure that many more competent people will respond in kind. Good shooting!

SB,
I use this rifle for coyote hunting so velocity is important but I'm probably fast enough to get anything done within the range that I need to shoot. Unfortunately I've already loaded 50 rounds and I'm not going to pull them so I'll live with mild velocity and outstanding accuracy. I also have noticed Noslers tendency to be the most conservative (except for Sierra). Could it be that they know something about their bullet shape that we don't? I know most companies list 27.5 grains of Varget as max with 50 and 55 grain bullets but they only go to 25 in Vol 4. I may have to try going higher and seeing what happens to velocity but for now I'm happy with this load.

NoCAL

[ 10-09-2002, 03:21: Message edited by: NoCAL ]

You are finding about the same thing I did when I tried Varget in my .223 Remington. It shot pretty good groups, but the velocities where NO WAY close to what the reloading manuals promised.

I have had a lot better luck getting reasonable velocites and groups in my .223 using H 335, 748, XMR 2015, or N 133.

I routinely shoot 40 grain bullets nearly 3700 fps using H 335 or N 133, and have little problem shooting 50 grain bullets 3400 fps using either 748 or XMR 2015.

I really like H 4895 and Varget in some other varmint cartridges, but have been dissapointed in both in my .223 Remington.

R F

My 24" Savage runs about 50 fps slower than my 20" Rock River service rifle with the same loads. Coincidentally, most of my Savage loads (50 - 55gr) run about 3100 and shoot bugholes! Enjoy!

Redial

http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide

Varget is made by ADI, and is known as AR2208. Their guide lists a max of 27 grains.

AA2230 works well and give good high velocity even with 69 grainers and it is accurate! Good Luck

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've got H335 and Benchmark laying around. I was never happy with the accuracy of H335 and haven't worked with Benchmark enough to know what it will do. I've heard good things about 2230 from a couple people now and may give it a try.

JB, Thanks for the info from Down Under. Looks like Nosler is being a little conservative. The Hodgden manual also lists 27.5 as max with a Sierra bullet.

For now I'm happy with the accuracy but once these loads are shot up I'll be experimenting more.

NoCAL

With the right load, you can probably get another 150 fps out of your 55's, but obviously accuracy is more important that a small amount of added velocity.

H-335, AA 2230, and WC 844 are all manufactured to the same specs, but of course, lots will vary. This powder was designed for the 5.56mm (.223) and usually exhibits excellent pressure/velocity ratios in the .223. If you want to increase your velocities, I would suggest playing around with your H-335 or 2230 to see if you can't come up with an accurate combination.