working up a load with H4350 and I don't see any data for the 95-100gr data besides Barnes with their bullet. the max charge is around 47gr, I don't plan on going that high with my gas gun load. after measuring the bullet and comparing it, its a little longer than a 120 eldm but shorter than a 130 eldm, almost the same length as the sierra 123gr SMK. I have a idea of what charge weights I want to try (44.0, 44.6, 45.2, 45.6) as they worked well with that 123gr smk. I have 8lbs of H4350 so I wanted to try it and varget, I saw published 6.5 100gr load data with varget already so thats good to go, just wondering where Max is with H4350.
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Hornadys new ELD VT
- Thread starter mrcheesemoose
- Start date
Posted in the 6.5cm thread, but will post here too.
Also, there’s an alarming lack of info on the 100gr VT bullets from hornady on here so I shall bless you all with my mediocre testing results. Book max for Varget is 41.1gr with a 100gr eldm so using that info I started at 42gr of Varget because I like to live life dangerously.
Rifle and load spec:
Defiance Deviant
22” 8TW Bartlein M24 barrel
Manners T4A with EFR
NF NX8 2.5-20 Mil XT
TBAC Magnus SR
Alpha SRP 6.5cm OCD brass (also used in my match rifle)
42.0gr Varget
CCI 450
Results:
Did a seating depth test with these bullets as I had less than ideal results with the 80gr VT bullets in my 6cm. Did 10 thou off to 110 thou off lands (sammi freebore). I had pulled down 25 rounds so my ES is shit as I didn’t bother to size the necks again and had some freshly sized brass mixed into the pile.
33 rounds over my Garmin. Min 3180. Max 3250. Avg 3203. ES 71. SD 19.3. Group sizes varied pretty good. Best group sizes were 60 thou, 80 thou, and 110 thou off land. 90 was ok to hunt with but nothing to write home about either. Will post pics here in a little bit. Will update when my brass prep is normal and I will probably run at 60k off. Not going to adjust charge weight unless it’s still giving bad numbers when neck tension is consistent.
Obviously, work up to above book max. Or dont. It’s your face on the line.
Also interested in reports on these, at half the price of atips and higher BC they could be a great tac class option.
I have a 24" I may just order some any try. Decided to send my factory seconds back. No reason lol
Hodgdons reloading data center has 95gr data with those powders.
I am. shoot about 600 so far. I like them 43.8 at .065 off the lands. sd about 8 es of 25
I don't see anything in our reports folder for that combination. I'd drop a grain or two from the 75gr V-max data in our latest manual, personally.
We'll probably have to get more specific. Cartridge, caliber, twist rate, barrel mfg., factory/reload, etc.? And what's "finicky" mean?
They have to pass the same accuracy spec as our ELD-M's but the response to an individual barrel with unknown powder in unknown cartridge has a lot of room for variables.
ETA: Scrolled up and looks like you're trying the 6.5mm 100gr in a 8T Bartlein Creedmoor with Varget... I'd back off a grain or two and see if it settles in for you first. Our Factory test load is Varget in mostly Bartlein barrels. Other than that you might try Sta-Ball Match or another relevant powder. Also, not to beat a dead horse (again) but you'll be better off with some 10+ shot strings vs. 3 shot groups. 3-5 shot groups have a brutal capability to produce knotholes then open up then meh then knothole then open up etc... until your hair turns grey and falls out...
100 gr ELD-VT got it done last night. Didn’t move an inch. Wish I could figure out how to post video here.
Talking with a gunsmith who loves the 22bra and is running the 62gr eldvt in a .050 freebore chamber says they are shooting lights out. We were talking and he decided to order a custom reamer from PTG for a 22GT with a .050 freebore designed for varmint style bullets.
@Ledzep - So I'm about to load up a bunch of 174 Vt's in 308, but have this nagging thought about possible transition issues.
My range only goes to 600 so I'll be stretching these to 1500 + without knowing for sure they'll stay stable. FWIW I'm running a 10 twist so that may work to my favor. CG has to be further back on these so I'm curious & would like to avoid an ugly surprise.
Do you have any insight you could share via Radar testing r.e. transition through trans-sonic? I'm going to be pushing well past that.
My range only goes to 600 so I'll be stretching these to 1500 + without knowing for sure they'll stay stable. FWIW I'm running a 10 twist so that may work to my favor. CG has to be further back on these so I'm curious & would like to avoid an ugly surprise.
Do you have any insight you could share via Radar testing r.e. transition through trans-sonic? I'm going to be pushing well past that.
Finally got the 22 GT out today with some 62 ELDVT’s. Only running a 22” barrel but it was super flat. 2.4 to 600 and 3.7 to 750. It was definitely quicker on steel than I am used to.
3503 per the Garmin.
I was limited on time so I just set up and quickly threw 41-ish grains of StaBLL 6.5 from my Harrell's without weighing every charge. ES and SD was terrible but it was fairly accurate to 750. 39.2 of the same powder gave me 3257 with 80 ELDM’s. Also poor ES/SD, but it put three inside of about a generous foot at 1250, which is way better then I expected to do with a 22 caliber off sitting tripod and 18 max power.
Going to mess with Long Rifle now that I have about 120 rounds down the pipe.
This was six at 600 with the VT’s but the wind was favorable yesterday evening.
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I'm out of the office for a week or so but I can look at downrange stability vs. other bullets when I get back but from what I remember a 12 twist was fine and actually the calculated stability held on longer with the VT than with the 176 ATip. Real life may not follow the calculations, though.
Gyro stability increases down range so with a 10 twist you'll never have issues there, but Magnus might come to eat your lunch way out there with large AoA. I wouldn't expect it to be any worse than any other 168-175gr bullet in a 308 though.
