F T/R Competition What is your F/TR load?

[XTR]

I know this is a reloading question but over in the reloading forum it'll get lost. Not wanting to compromise OPSC here, but what load are you shooting in<span style="text-decoration: underline"> F/TR </span>at 1000 yds?

I'm shooting a 24" Rock barrel till I re-barrel my gun.

175SMK
44.2 Varget
CCI #200 primers
36.75 MOA from my 100 yd zero at 950 elevation.
.010 off the lands
BH Match Brass for now


I've looked at Scenars and Bergers and I just cant justify another 20¢ to 25¢ per round to gain about .2 MOA of windage at 10MPH (at least according to JBM.) It effectively doubles the cost of your bullets. Maybe if someone else was paying for them. Am I missing something?

 

[notquiteright]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

If you like the 175SMK you might just love the 178Amax. Many have switched to the Hornaday bullet and not looked back.

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land


2. 185 Scenar
Lapua Case
CCI BR Primer
Eiher 44.0 grains Varget of 47.0 N550
2.92" OAL


I use 155s 95% of time

185s are for winds blowing at me over the berms.

 

[nesikabay]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I shoot 185 Berger LR with a very stiff load of RL 15 im getting right at 2825 fps

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nesikabay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 185 Berger LR with a very stiff load of RL 15 im getting right at 2825 fps </div></div>

How long is the barrel?

 

[Emilio]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

155 Scenar
Lapua case
Wolf LR Primer
46.5 Varget

30" barrel 1-13 twist.

 

[nesikabay]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nesikabay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 185 Berger LR with a very stiff load of RL 15 im getting right at 2825 fps </div></div>

How long is the barrel? </div></div>

My barrel is 28

 

[mjh30]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

XTR, running the same but Lapua brass and BR2 primers at mag lenght.
Tactical really interested in using VV550 with heavier bullets in another build that I have going, or using the Berger 185BT's or JLK's 180bt's with this powder.

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

MJH, the N550 is great for heavy bullets but stay away from Palma Brass ( small primer) with 185s and N550. Had terrible results with the Wolf 223 primer, with N550 and 185s. Switched to same load of N550 in Large Rifle Brass with CCI BRs and one hole agaiin

 

[cpt.creedmoor]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

185 berger vld molyed, lapua brass, (censored) grains of varget, .010 into the lands.....2840ish.....29.75 from a 100 yard zero


that load has taken alot of scalps over the years.....however the 208 is tail grabbing its ass....might be a change comin up

 

[mjh30]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Thanks Tactical, appreciate all the info.

 

[holdoff]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

24" Remington PSS all single load

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua Brass/neck sized and shoulder bumped .002"
CCI BR primer
Varget 45.2gr
COAL 2.850" (jumping a ton in factory barrel)
+/- 2740 fps (way slow for this bullet, but very consistent)

2. 168 AMAX
Winchester/ neck sized for .002" tension
shoulder bumped .002"
Wolf Large Rifle Magnum primer
Varget 46.5gr
bullet seated at lands (not much bullet in the case)
+/- 2745fps (solid .5 MOA to 600yds)

3. 178 AMAX
Winchester or Lake City
Varget 44.5gr
bullet seated to lands
- no chrono data -

On the List to try are 185 Bergers and 190 SMKs with Reloader 15
and 8208 XBR with the 155 Scenars.

 

[TiroFijo]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land


2. 185 Scenar
Lapua Case
CCI BR Primer
Eiher 44.0 grains Varget of 47.0 N550
2.92" OAL


I use 155s 95% of time

185s are for winds blowing at me over the berms.

</div></div>

Mike, what velocities are you getting with these loads?
What barrel lenght?
How is the temperature stability of N550 vs Varget?

TIA

 

[Trevor]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cpt.creedmoor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">185 berger vld molyed, lapua brass, (censored) grains of varget, .010 into the lands.....2840ish.....29.75 from a 100 yard zero


that load has taken alot of scalps over the years.....however the 208 is tail grabbing its ass....might be a change comin up </div></div>

You are the 2nd person i have heard that is shooting moly'd berger do you do the moly yourself?

1. 155 Scenar moly'd
Norma case
CCI BR Primer
47+ Varget
.010 into lands
3070 FPS

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

TIA I get 3050 fps from 155 load in 30" 1x11 twist Krieger
and 2800 fps with 185s.

As to N550 versus Varget. The Varget has been mainstay load and has proven very stable. I have only ben using the N550 for last year and dont have enough time behind it to say its as stable as Varget, but so far so good

 

[memilanuk]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I've seen several bullets disappear between the firing line and the target courtesy of Vihtavouri double-base powders (N540 & N550) when the temps went up. Two in a team match @ 2007 FCNC in a team mate's gun, and two last summer in my gun (.223 Rem 1-7" tw 90gn VLDs). Call me simple, but I don't need to repeat that experience any more to figure out N540/N550 ain't got a place on my loading bench.

YMMV,

Monte

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land

</div></div>

That's gotta be a compressed load. Wonder what I'd get out of a 24" tube

 

[Radar360]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I have just started using N540 and N140. I didn't know N540 changed that much that it would be off the target with temp changes. Does N140 change that much also?

I've been working some loads for my .223 and thought I give N540 a try. It seems to perform well but I don't have data on a range of different temps.

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land

</div></div>

That's gotta be a compressed load. Wonder what I'd get out of a 24" tube </div></div>


XTR Read again at overall length. I did not pull the loads out of my ass. Been setttled on those loads for last couple of years. Those Varget loads are what I used in last Worlds and N550 for every match this year. No problems and lots of X's

Monte could it have anything to do with having a 155 going 3150fps in the cold, to start with? LOL You guys keep going Nuclear on loads and those things happen. I had same type of thing happen to my 3150 fps loads of H4895 a couple of years ago, so now days I just go for the 3025-3050 fps with 155s and 2750-2800fps with 185s

 

[memilanuk]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Mike,

The first one (2007 FCNC), after the fact we correlated some data, like the shooter's POI had been going up, up, up, and figured he had to have been pushing those B155VLDs a tick or two past 3200 - from a 10 twist.

My loads normally run way slower than those mini-pipe bombs Darrell calls 'loaded rounds' - normal Palma speeds, 2950-3000fps.

The 90gn loads that went 'poof' were mine. They'd done okay earlier in the year, but in August from a hot barrel... POI started going all over the place, piercing primers, and then a couple grey 'poofs' about 300-400yd down range. They weren't overly hot loads - ~2680-2700fps from a 30" tube, IIRC.

More power to ya if you get them to work reliably - I'd recommend a Lil' Igloo cooler to keep them temp stabilized. Me, I've got my fingers crossed for Raton in 2012/2013... cuz I know one or two of the European folks are big fans of N540/N550. Those powders + summer heat in Raton... should be interesting to watch - from a distance.

Monte

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land

</div></div>

That's gotta be a compressed load. Wonder what I'd get out of a 24" tube </div></div>


XTR Read again at overall length. I did not pull the loads out of my ass. Been setttled on those loads for last couple of years. Those Varget loads are what I used in last Worlds and N550 for every match this year. No problems and lots of X's

Monte could it have anything to do with having a 155 going 3150fps in the cold, to start with? LOL You guys keep going Nuclear on loads and those things happen. I had same type of thing happen to my 3150 fps loads of H4895 a couple of years ago, so now days I just go for the 3025-3050 fps with 155s and 2750-2800fps with 185s </div></div>

I wasn't trying to dismiss you loading or your load development. I've never poured 47gn of Varget into a 308 case, but I know that 45 comes up into the neck, so 47 had got to be way up in the neck. Compressed loads happen. I was just making conversation.

I'm still wondering what I'd get out of a 24. Probably mid 2800s to maybe 2900.

I've chronoed some old (85 head stamp) M80 ball out of my 26" stock varnmint. Upper 2900s to a max of 3007 and that shite is hot, obvious ejector ring marks, but it's in super thick Lake City brass too.

 

[Policeman]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TiroFijo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two loads BOTH ARE TOO HOT FOR A MAG LENGTH WEAPON AND NEED TO BE STARTED SEVERAL GRAINS LOWER FOR YOUR RIFLE

1. 155 Scenar
Lapua case
CCI BR Primer
Either 47.0 Varget or 50 grains N550
2.92" OAL, just off land


2. 185 Scenar
Lapua Case
CCI BR Primer
Eiher 44.0 grains Varget of 47.0 N550
2.92" OAL


I use 155s 95% of time

185s are for winds blowing at me over the berms.

</div></div>

Mike, what velocities are you getting with these loads?
What barrel lenght?
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">How is the temperature stability of N550 vs Varget?</span></span>
TIA </div></div>

I am working with both Varget and N550.

I shoot 185 Rebated boattail bullets made by Dietlein. I shoot a 28" Obermeyer 10 twist and I started my N550 loading at 44.5 grains and worked up to 47.2 grains in Winchester fully prepped brass, both wolf and BR2 primers for comparisons. I seated my bullets to the ogive 2.218 which is .010 off the lands.

In temperatures below 45 degrees 47.2 was just starting to show flattened primers with no extractor marks.

Temperature 58 degree. I loaded up 5 rounds of 46.0,46.2,46.4,46.6,46.8,47.0 grns I only got to 46.8 grns before it was leaving extractor marks, flattened primers.

During a recent State F-Class 1K shoot I shot 46.2 grain. On my sightron 36X scope I have 30 MOA dialed for Tullahoma, TN. I dont have a chronograph so I don't know extactly what the velocity is. But JBM puts it around 2750 to 2800.

My point is N550 would not let me shoot 46.4+ grains above 60 degrees. To be honest as the summer goes on I am probably going to go down to 45.8 grains. I don't trust it at all temperature wise. I have not had that issue with Varget but I can keep the same load all seasons.

Po-Po

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

XTR in a 20-23" bbl I run H4895 with 155 scenars. Here is load data

44.0-45.0 grains depending on case. With Lapua I like 44.5 grains, loaded to 2.82"

That gets me nearly 2900 fps in 20" 11 twist obermeyer and over 2900 in 23" Krieger
Monte an dothers soundslike my Varget load will be mainstay. Between back being botched and just draw of nature I have not shot the N550 enough in high heat to see the problems you guys have but no need to hit me on the head when Varget works so well.

 

[Jon Lester]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I have ran 47g varget under 155 lapuas in win brass forever in my TRG getting 2930 vel. Its a solid load.

 

[AK Sgt Maj]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Memilanuk:
What barrel are you using with those 90 grain .223"s? When Sierra first came out with them I called them and talked to their tech's and they told me not to use them with a cut rifled barrel, as the jackets are to thin and the cut rifleing goes all the way through the jacket. They told me that they were designed to be used with button rifled barrels. That could cause all kinds of problems. I just stayed with the 80's.

 

[JRWALLSIII]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I run 47.0 grains of varget with lapua brass and Fed 210M primers under 155.5 Berger fullbore bullets

1/12 kreiger 26 inches = 2965 fps

yes it compressed and yes the powder comes way up the neck

 

[matchking]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

90% of the time I will run the following:
45.7 gr. Varget
Lapua brass
BR-2 primers
155 Scenars @ 2940 fps

occasionally I will run:
43.1 gr. N150
Lapua brass
210M primers
175 Berger VLD (can't remember velocity)

Both are run through a 25" Rock, 11-1/4 twist barrel

 

[turbo54]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I recently bought some of the 155 Scenars, and loaded up a ladder to run through my SPR, starting at 44.5gr (Varget) and ending at 49.5gr.... All loaded .001" jammed. 49.5gr needed to be tamped, and it had my LC Match brass completely full. I was curious what was going to happen when seating the bullet - nothing dramatic, just pushed right in... Didn't much care, figured I'd find pressure around 48gr anyway.

Wrong. Never found pressure, primers had a nice radius in the corners, bolt never felt sticky at all. Rifle doesn't have a typical ejector - so you don't get ejector marks with it.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AK Sgt Maj</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Memilanuk:
What barrel are you using with those 90 grain .223"s?</div></div>

Savage 12 F/TR .223, 1-7tw 30" factory tube. Shoots B82BT like a laser, B90VLDs were always a little 'eh' in the accuracy dept. by comparison. Figured they'd make up for it in the wind @ long range. Except they went completely gunny-bags on me, with accuracy being pretty poor beyond 600yds, along with the occasional blow-up in the heat.

The chamber really needs to be longer... I'm pretty sure the factory used a JGS Wylde chamber, as the brass comes out almost identical to what comes from my WOA spacegun with that chamber, and the seating depths are close to identical also. Works great for 80gn, not quite long enough for 90, especially in a bolt gun.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

same load in both a krieger 25" 1-12 and box stock TRG22,

175 SMK
45 varget
win brass
any primer
2.815 COAL

very simple.

 

[esromvre]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

For TR I use...

@600
175SMK or Berger 175 or the 170 D46
43.2 RL15
210M
Lapua Brass

@1000
185 Scenar
43.8 N140
210M
Lapua Brass

 

[USFTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">TIA I get 3050 fps from 155 load in 30" 1x11 twist Krieger
and 2800 fps with 185s.

As to N550 versus Varget. The Varget has been mainstay load and has proven very stable. I have only ben using the N550 for last year and dont have enough time behind it to say its as stable as Varget, but so far so good </div></div>

I used to use N550. When the temps got up to 90+, it got interesting. At one practice match, I just put up my rifle rather than risk blowing it up. If you close the bolt during a string and wait 30 seconds, you were guaranteed a 8 out the top. N550 was just too sensitive to temperature for me. With the 185's, Varget gets me 2800 fps and is safe at 100 degree temps with that load.

 

[ryhag1]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

139 SCENAR
REM 260 BR
WOLF PRIM
45.5 4831SC

 

[Tactical]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Brother, he asked for F TR Loads. That means either 308 or 223 not 260.

 

[seanhagerty]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

223 Rem
75gr Hornady BTHP
24.5gr Varget
CCI SR
OAL 2.255"
I get 2750 FPS out of my 20" AR barrel

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

Trying some new loadings here is what I've got for me.

I'm trying out the 155SMK Palma [2156] and the berger 185 BTs.

I'm shooting BHA/Win brass running CCI#200 primers and Varget

I worked up to 47.0gn of Varget for the 155s. Seated .020 from the lands, 2.929 OAL. The primers are starting to look flat, that's probably pretty close to max loading (actually the case won't hold much more) From my 24" barrel I'm only getting 2810fps. That buys me a bunch of elevation over 175SMKs running at 2650 but according to JBM it doesn't buy me anything appreciable in windage.

Now the 185 Berger my hold promise. I found nothing I felt I could rely on to work up the load so I started low and worked up, but it looks like I didn't work up far enough. I only loaded up to 43.5 gn of varget. These too I seated .020 off of the lands with a monster OAL of 2.962. What I found was nothing at all for pressure signs at 43.5 and a MV of 2536, now that's only one data point, when I saw how slow they were running I only fired one of each load just to see where it was putting me, but I'm thinking that I'm going to be able to get up to about 44gn of Varget and a MV in the 2550 range. According to JBM that gets me two inches of windage, that is assuming that I can find an accurate loading in that vicinity.

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

We were supposed to have a 800/900/1000 Full Bore today but we got rained out so we did some squadded practice. I loaded up 50 or so of the 185s with 44.0 gn of varget, and left them seated .020 from the lands.


They seem to have shot well. My vertical was good, I didn't get as many 10s as I'd like but in 35 rouinds "for record" in my book I think I only had two 8s. I had trouble in my first string of 10 but in the second one I only dropped 5 points. In my second time on the line I treated it like a full bore and took 2 sighters and 15 for record. It would have been a 141 if it had been scored. Not winning anything, but not awful.

I think I'm going to work on this load a bit, I think it will work for me.

Just the facts:
185 Berger Target BT
Winchester Brass (2x)
CCI #200 primers
44.0 gn Varget
24" barrel (from the bolt face)
MV 2594



<span style="color: #FF0000">
WORK UP TO THIS LOAD, AND NOTE THAT IT IS WAY BEYOND MAG LENGTH AND NOT INTO THE LANDS. MOST OF THE DATA I COULD FIND SAYS THAT IT IS FAR BEYOND MAX LOAD.</span>

Haven't had a chance to chrono it but based my elevation it's right around 2550 fps. This morning I was just at 36MOA from 100 yd zero, in the rain, steaming humidity and upper 70s. and after it warmed up this afternoon that dropped down to about 35.0.

(batteries were dead on my kestrel or I'd have DA data)

 

[Malcky]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I'm running a Remmy 700 blue printed, AICS, Schmidt & Bender PMII 32" Border Barrel, Silenced and a 308 Precision Bi-pod all finished up with a nice lick of Duracoat from LM Refinishing! I won in the Irish Open last weekend so it all seems to have come together well now!

155 Lapua
Lapua Brass
210 fed primers
45.5 gr Varget

 

[Leaddog]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

I find that the Varget loads posted here for the Berger 185 BTLR are quite hot as in y'all be careful. I get ejector marks at 41.8 and blown primers above 42 grs. Berger suggests a max load of 41.6 grs of Varget and it is certainly true in my rifle.

My load chronoes at 2580 at 50 degrees. I have plenty of retained velocity for 1000 yards in warmer weather.

 

[XTR]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Leaddog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I find that the Varget loads posted here for the Berger 185 BTLR are quite hot as in y'all be careful. I get ejector marks at 41.8 and blown primers above 42 grs. Berger suggests a max load of 41.6 grs of Varget and it is certainly true in my rifle.

My load chronoes at 2580 at 50 degrees. I have plenty of retained velocity for 1000 yards in warmer weather. </div></div>

I chronoed mine today at 2594. I would imagine that if I pushed another 0.162 inches of bullet back into the case to make it fit in a mag or maybe if I was using brass with a lower capacity than Winchesters then I'd have a problem. I did work on seating depth today and found that I can seat to the lands with this load. I've got slightly flattened primers, but nothing more than what I get from 175SMKs over 44.2 Varget, but I agree that if you pushed it back to mag length it would probably be way to hot.

 

[Shooter21]

Re: What is your F/TR load?

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!! OR ANYWHERE ELSE WITHOUT LOWER GRAINAGE

Lapua Brass
.002 Neck tension
51.2gr RL17
208 AMAX
WOLF primer
3.060" COAL = .015" off lands
2725 fps from 26" factory Rem tube

what's wind?