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.260 and Varget
- Thread starter Sako man
- Start date
I simply gotta say that after a year or so of loading for .223, .30BR and 7.62x39, those .260 cases are beginning to look a lot bigger than they used to look... LOL!
Did some cold bore testing. These are at 200 yards, first shot was last night after work, 90 degrees. Second shot was this morning, 68 degrees.
Third shot was this afternoon, 88 degrees with 5 mph left to right wind.
This was my 40.2 varget load with a 130 hunting vld seated at .025 jump. After the third shot I moved
the scope 1/4 moa up so should be good to go. The dot is 1 inch and the squares are 1/2 inch
I will test again when it's cooler.
Third shot was this afternoon, 88 degrees with 5 mph left to right wind.
This was my 40.2 varget load with a 130 hunting vld seated at .025 jump. After the third shot I moved
the scope 1/4 moa up so should be good to go. The dot is 1 inch and the squares are 1/2 inch
I will test again when it's cooler.
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8nbait, is that ~2915fps you're getting with 130s and 40.2gr Varget with the aforementioned 25" barrel? Lapua brass?
yes, same load. This is a hunting rifle with a #3 barrel so it heats up quick in the summer. It starts going sideways after 3 shots but should be great for hunting.
I will be shooting the 39.3/123 amax load for fun but will be using this load for hunting season. Very happy with the cold bore reliability.
It is averaging 2920 fps, I loaded the same in new unfired brass and got 2900 fps average. This picture is on the first three shots with a clean barrel and new brass.
Middle shot first then waited about 10 minutes and right shot second then waited 2 minutes and 3rd shot left, all at 200 yards.
I will be shooting the 39.3/123 amax load for fun but will be using this load for hunting season. Very happy with the cold bore reliability.
It is averaging 2920 fps, I loaded the same in new unfired brass and got 2900 fps average. This picture is on the first three shots with a clean barrel and new brass.
Middle shot first then waited about 10 minutes and right shot second then waited 2 minutes and 3rd shot left, all at 200 yards.
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8nbait,
Thanks for sharing your data, and testing with Varget.Great Job!!! Man I need to get some Varget, going to do some testing after deer season.
Thanks for sharing your data, and testing with Varget.Great Job!!! Man I need to get some Varget, going to do some testing after deer season.
No problem at all, happy to share.
The only reason I tried varget was because I just wasn't satisfied with H4350 results. I am going to revisit the H4350 loads this winter and see if the problem was related to
outside temp and barrel getting too hot. Dan Newberry suggested I try the varget so he should get credit suggesting it with the 130's.
The only reason I tried varget was because I just wasn't satisfied with H4350 results. I am going to revisit the H4350 loads this winter and see if the problem was related to
outside temp and barrel getting too hot. Dan Newberry suggested I try the varget so he should get credit suggesting it with the 130's.
Hey Guys, looking for a little help. I had a rifle put together by Warner tool. I had him chamber it for the 139 Lapua scenar and Lapua brass. What would be a good starting point (grains) if I were to try using Varget. I've been having unacceptable results using Viht N550 with the 139 scenars.... Thanks
I'd start at 36.5gr with 139s Lapua brass and work up, expecting to stop at or just over 38 grains.
Have you tried that 38.6 Varget load again to confirm?
i tryed from max down 3 or 4 gr,.3 at a time.. varget would not shoot...
this is my 140 varget test...
FYI.. 39.2 is HOT!.... dont load it...
i loaded 50 and did another 10rd test of that...
the next 10 were not as nice as those 5, but still around .5
took the 50 out on steel out to 800y, the load was 100fps slower them my h4350 load... the day after i shot those, i got a 8 pounder of h4350 in stock, so now i dont need to change
Follow up 10 rd test at 38.6...
Prone.. Rapid fire
Bottom 2 left
FPS 2720
NOT 48.6!!!!.. it was 38.6
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Just got the magneto speed, so shot a few this afternoon.
40.2 varget with 130 berger hunting vld averaged 2933 fps with a sd of 6
39.3 varget with 123 amax averaged 2909 with a sd of 3
5 shots each. It is supposed to be mid 40's tomorrow am so going to try again, it was 82 when I shot these.
40.2 varget with 130 berger hunting vld averaged 2933 fps with a sd of 6
39.3 varget with 123 amax averaged 2909 with a sd of 3
5 shots each. It is supposed to be mid 40's tomorrow am so going to try again, it was 82 when I shot these.
The 39.3 varget load was 2892 average this morning at 55 degrees. I left the ammo in the truck all night.
Also tried 40.5 varget with the 123 and averaged 2990 fps with about 1.25" 3 shot group at 300.
The magneto speed raises my POI by 1 MOA at 100 and 200 yards, didn't have it attached for 300 yard shots.
Also tried 40.5 varget with the 123 and averaged 2990 fps with about 1.25" 3 shot group at 300.
The magneto speed raises my POI by 1 MOA at 100 and 200 yards, didn't have it attached for 300 yard shots.
My go to load is 41.3/Varget behind a 123 gr. SMK, Lapua brass, Fed 210M. The bullets are Boron Nitride treated. I average 2976 f.p.s. out of a 25" tube. This stays supersonic to about 1325 yds. I have had good luck shooting out to 1k yds. which is as far as I have tried it. It averages about .4 MOA out of my rifle with a medium Palma contour barrel. I like it.
Seems most people are having good loads with the 123's surprised not more 140 - 142 loads are popping up.
Ok, finally got the 260 out today. I have to say Mark at Spartan Rifles makes some laser accurate hammers. So here is just an example of some of the groups I was getting today with Varget.
This load was out of a 24 inch barrel.
142 SMK
37.8 grains of Varget
Lapua Brass
CCI Large Rifle
2.840 OAL
MV 2721
Standard deviation 7FPS
Ogive???? waiting on my thingy to measure that.
There is no arguing with the results. I didn't measure the group but it's 4 rounds in a hole about the size of a single 30cal bullet hole. Have a few groups that are similar or close.
This load was out of a 24 inch barrel.
142 SMK
37.8 grains of Varget
Lapua Brass
CCI Large Rifle
2.840 OAL
MV 2721
Standard deviation 7FPS
Ogive???? waiting on my thingy to measure that.
There is no arguing with the results. I didn't measure the group but it's 4 rounds in a hole about the size of a single 30cal bullet hole. Have a few groups that are similar or close.
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Thanks man, but trust me if I could shoot like that all the time then I would have a different job.
Posted on the Spartan build thread as well.
24" Bartlin 1:8 very heavy barrel
AICS AX
Huber trigger
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I ran a couple OCWs today with Varget through my 20" 1:8 McGowen.
This barrel evidently doesn't like the 123 A-Max with Varget in the 39.0-39.6gr range one bit, but 37.4gr Varget showed some real promise with a 142SMK.
This barrel evidently doesn't like the 123 A-Max with Varget in the 39.0-39.6gr range one bit, but 37.4gr Varget showed some real promise with a 142SMK.
So, on my 24" Bartlein if I run 142smks with anything higher than 37.8 Varget and my brass goes to the dumper after one firing. Loose primer pockets and all. And yes that's with Lapua brass. As long as I can still get out to 1k with some oomph and extreme accuracy I am cool with getting lower velocities, it's a balancing act.
Varget is horrible with .260... please I shall pay you to send all you have to me so I can properly dispose of it...
I shall properly dispose of it 39.3gr at a time with 123 scenars @ about 2925 in a 26" 1:8 barrel, with .25-.4 MOA from 100-1000yards
I shall properly dispose of it 39.3gr at a time with 123 scenars @ about 2925 in a 26" 1:8 barrel, with .25-.4 MOA from 100-1000yards
my CBI was the same, 123amax + varget was crap... 140 was ok, but slow as shit...
retesting varget 123 in a AI kriger this week
Sweet, I've got a 22" .260 that I'd like to try Varget in. I'll consider these number and do a work up and see how they do. I'm running IMR4350 right now at 42.8gr.
I worked up a quick OCW using Varget.
I shot the 39grs of varget and it shot well with speeds around 2800 fps.; however, it wanted more powder so I did an OCW test starting around 39.7grs Varget. Wish I could have tested higher charges, got zero pressure signs at 40.6grs. Maybe load up some 40.9grs to verify.
No flat primers,marks,or hard bolt lift. Measure case no stretch, or case head expansion.
260 Rem
130 VLD Hunting
Lapua Case .002" neck tension.
Varget powder
CCI-BR2 primers
COL 2.950" / 2.282" with comparator
All Shot round robin. 109 yards
Temp around 63 degrees
Loads tested :
39.7grs. 2855,2855,2867
40.0grs. 2879,2879,2879
40.3grs. 2892,2936,2923
40.6grs. 2911,2917,2904
I shot the 39grs of varget and it shot well with speeds around 2800 fps.; however, it wanted more powder so I did an OCW test starting around 39.7grs Varget. Wish I could have tested higher charges, got zero pressure signs at 40.6grs. Maybe load up some 40.9grs to verify.
No flat primers,marks,or hard bolt lift. Measure case no stretch, or case head expansion.
260 Rem
130 VLD Hunting
Lapua Case .002" neck tension.
Varget powder
CCI-BR2 primers
COL 2.950" / 2.282" with comparator
All Shot round robin. 109 yards
Temp around 63 degrees
Loads tested :
39.7grs. 2855,2855,2867
40.0grs. 2879,2879,2879
40.3grs. 2892,2936,2923
40.6grs. 2911,2917,2904
just curious if varget is a slower powder than 4350 why are the charges so low...
I run 43.5gn of H4350 comes in at 2905fps ... Lapua Brass / 139gn Scenar
I run 43.5gn of H4350 comes in at 2905fps ... Lapua Brass / 139gn Scenar
Nope, it's a faster burn rate power per Hodgdon burn rate. Hence, faster powders lower charges, slower powders higher charges.Something like that!
Hey, I got a box of those sitting around, guess I should give 123s a try now. Don't worry I can find a place for my leftover Varget, thanks for the offer.
Just loaded some test loads today using varget and some 95 gr vmax and 120 gr speer spire points to tackle a coyote problem and will let you guys know how it goes.
