Berger vld 80gr 223 rem loads

[Dbk]

I know there is a manual. But I only need load data for this one bullet I'm trying out. I have a few to try a few reloads. Don't want to buy a whole book just for that.

Anyone can help me out .. I have 2208 and 2206h powders.

[deye243]

My load for 80vld is 24g of o8 at 2745fps seated to 2.890 BTO shoots good to 700y
The vid is just over 500y
https://youtube.com/shorts/jcqKiUJnysM? ... -IB53vUA_l

[bladeracer]

I know there is a manual. But I only need load data for this one bullet I'm trying out. I have a few to try a few reloads. Don't want to buy a whole book just for that.

Anyone can help me out .. I have 2208 and 2206h powders.

Haven't used the Berger but I'm using 23.5gn of AR2206H behind 80gn ELDM at 2.450".

[bladeracer]

My load for 80vld is 24g of o8 at 2745fps seated to 2.890 BTO shoots good to 700y
The vid is just over 500y
https://youtube.com/shorts/jcqKiUJnysM? ... -IB53vUA_l

Do you mean 1.890"?

[deye243]

My load for 80vld is 24g of o8 at 2745fps seated to 2.890 BTO shoots good to 700y
The vid is just over 500y
https://youtube.com/shorts/jcqKiUJnysM? ... -IB53vUA_l

Do you mean 1.890"?

Nope I forgot I use a proper method of using the Forster nut it will give you a proper measurement to the ogive Shank Junction unlike the hornady rubbish and others that mesure way off

[bladeracer]

My load for 80vld is 24g of o8 at 2745fps seated to 2.890 BTO shoots good to 700y
The vid is just over 500y
https://youtube.com/shorts/jcqKiUJnysM? ... -IB53vUA_l

Do you mean 1.890"?

Nope I forgot I use a proper method of using the Forster nut it will give you a proper measurement to the ogive Shank Junction unlike the hornady rubbish and others that mesure way off

So the overall cartridge length is well over three inches long?

[deye243]

Oops I got the brand wrong it's a SINCLAIR COMPARATOR NUT and the holes in it are only a few thou under bullet dia so it will give you a true measurement not 30 odd thou above the land contact point on the pill .
https://youtu.be/u6P3GeLn2BA?si=Go6t59d90PXO0Cv2

[deye243]

Overall length is a mystery as all the meplats on hollowpoint bullets including berger are a different length but the overall on my load is around 2.422"

[bladeracer]

Overall length is a mystery as all the meplats on hollowpoint bullets including berger are a different length but the overall on my load is around 2.422"

Okay, so how are you measuring your ogive length to be half an inch longer than the actual length of the cartridge?

[SCJ429]

In a standard Tikka barrel my load is 24.1 of 2208 with a COAL of 2.490 using Lapua brass.

[Dbk]

So it seems similar loads to my SMK 80gr.

Do Bergers do better seated very close to the rifling? I seat my SMK 5 thou ish and it does well enough that I managed to get 2 flys at the recent club flyshoot!

[SCJ429]

They are very forgiving regarding seating depth but jammed usually gives the best results. Also makes the most of the 223 pitiful case capacity.

[deye243]

My load for 80vld is 24g of o8 at 2745fps seated to 2.890 BTO shoots good to 700y
The vid is just over 500y
https://youtube.com/shorts/jcqKiUJnysM? ... -IB53vUA_l

Do you mean 1.890"?

Nope I forgot I use a proper method of using the Forster nut it will give you a proper measurement to the ogive Shank Junction unlike the hornady rubbish and others that mesure way off

So the overall cartridge length is well over three inches long?

I don't bother to zero my callipers as they are analogue dial and tmfa to do it all the time .
So I should have left out the coal.

[Dbk]

In a standard Tikka barrel my load is 24.1 of 2208 with a COAL of 2.490 using Lapua brass.

I gave in and ordered the Berger manual. It says 22.2 of 2208/varget is the max powder charge. How did you arrive at 24.1gr and any issues?

[bladeracer]

In a standard Tikka barrel my load is 24.1 of 2208 with a COAL of 2.490 using Lapua brass.

I gave in and ordered the Berger manual. It says 22.2 of 2208/varget is the max powder charge. How did you arrive at 24.1gr and any issues?

Is that at 2.490"? Length is a critical part of load data.

[Blr243]

Can I interrupt? If I wanted to load up some 80 s in my mini action. howa 16 inch 223. Twist 1/8. Is this going to stabilise a bullet of this weight Mostly I’ll be shooting 55

[bladeracer]

Can I interrupt? If I wanted to load up some 80 s in my mini action. howa 16 inch 223. Twist 1/8. Is this going to stabilise a bullet of this weight Mostly I’ll be shooting 55

Depends on the length of the bullet but I think all 80gn .224" bullets should be fine in an 8" twist.

[bladeracer]

In a standard Tikka barrel my load is 24.1 of 2208 with a COAL of 2.490 using Lapua brass.

I gave in and ordered the Berger manual. It says 22.2 of 2208/varget is the max powder charge. How did you arrive at 24.1gr and any issues?

I don't have the Berger data but don't they list data to SAAMI lengths only? If they're loading 80gn bullets to 2.260" they are going to see pressures very early compared to loading to 2.450" or longer.

[Blr243]

Thanks blade

[deye243]

This is out of the berger book .

20240428_201835_copy_768x1645.jpg (380.98 KiB) Viewed 499 times

[Dbk]

i have the book now and was referring to the fact that they suggest 22.2 gr of varget (2208) is the max load.

i am only getting 2450-2500 fps from this powder charge with the bullet seated jammed 10thou into the rifling. there is a lot of empty space in the cartridge when i shake it!!

what max charge (2208) have people safely used?? im tempted to go higher than 22.2 but wanted to know what people have done before i blow myself up

[bladeracer]

i have the book now and was referring to the fact that they suggest 22.2 gr of varget (2208) is the max load.

i am only getting 2450-2500 fps from this powder charge with the bullet seated jammed 10thou into the rifling. there is a lot of empty space in the cartridge when i shake it!!

what max charge (2208) have people safely used?? im tempted to go higher than 22.2 but wanted to know what people have done before i blow myself up

If you are seating the bullet long then you would expect to be down on velocity. Seat the bullet to 2.260" COAL as stated in the load data if you want that sort of velocity. I'm seating my 80's at 2.450" and they are still well short of jammed so you probably need to be closer to 24gn.

A max load is only the point where they started seeing pressure signs during their testing, with their firearm, and their loading techniques. Your max in your firearm could be earlier or later than theirs (if you are increasing the size of the combustion chamber by seating long then your max will be significantly later). To find your own max load you will have to keep increasing the charge until you start to see pressure signs. I prefer AR2206H over AR2208.

COAL is a critical part of the load data as it dictates the pressure - powder type/charge weight/bullet weight/COAL.

[Dbk]

i have the book now and was referring to the fact that they suggest 22.2 gr of varget (2208) is the max load.

i am only getting 2450-2500 fps from this powder charge with the bullet seated jammed 10thou into the rifling. there is a lot of empty space in the cartridge when i shake it!!

what max charge (2208) have people safely used?? im tempted to go higher than 22.2 but wanted to know what people have done before i blow myself up

If you are seating the bullet long then you would expect to be down on velocity. Seat the bullet to 2.260" COAL as stated in the load data if you want that sort of velocity. I'm seating my 80's at 2.450" and they are still well short of jammed so you probably need to be closer to 24gn.

A max load is only the point where they started seeing pressure signs during their testing, with their firearm, and their loading techniques. Your max in your firearm could be earlier or later than theirs (if you are increasing the size of the combustion chamber by seating long then your max will be significantly later). To find your own max load you will have to keep increasing the charge until you start to see pressure signs. I prefer AR2206H over AR2208.

COAL is a critical part of the load data as it dictates the pressure - powder type/charge weight/bullet weight/COAL.

I see. thanks for the insight. I loaded it jammed, them 40 thou off, 80 thou off and 120thou off the rifling as per the berger VLD suggestions. it is seated quite deep at 120thou off as the ogive was almost into the neck at that point. could just measure the CBTO measurement. cant remember exactly what it was. will check the COAL tonight when i get home.

i chrono it at the deepest seating depth and the velocity was around 2500+. so still quite low.

if i understand you correctly, you are suggesting i can exceed the max charge in the book if i seat it longer than their COAL... but i should probably increase the powder charge slowly ...

[bladeracer]

I see. thanks for the insight. I loaded it jammed, them 40 thou off, 80 thou off and 120thou off the rifling as per the berger VLD suggestions. it is seated quite deep at 120thou off as the ogive was almost into the neck at that point. could just measure the CBTO measurement. cant remember exactly what it was. will check the COAL tonight when i get home.

i chrono it at the deepest seating depth and the velocity was around 2500+. so still quite low.

if i understand you correctly, you are suggesting i can exceed the max charge in the book if i seat it longer than their COAL... but i should probably increase the powder charge slowly ...

Yes, they're aiming their data at AR15 platforms which are restricted to 2.260" in length.

Yes, load data are only indicative so you have some idea of which powders you should use and what region you should be working within to start working up a safe load in your firearm. If you are loading jammed, your rounds must be somewhere close to 2.500" in length? In which case you have a long way to go before you should start seeing pressure signs, probably over 24gn of AR2208. COAL is one reason to be careful asking other people for their load data, if they don't include their COAL then you can get into serious trouble.

I wouldn't be too concerned about chasing maximum velocity, these bullets have very high BC numbers. The difference between 2500fps and 2700fps at 500m is .77 and .83 of a second - six hundredths of a second. Work the load up but if you find a great accuracy node I would go with that over chasing maximum velocity.

[SCJ429]

In a standard Tikka barrel my load is 24.1 of 2208 with a COAL of 2.490 using Lapua brass.

I gave in and ordered the Berger manual. It says 22.2 of 2208/varget is the max powder charge. How did you arrive at 24.1gr and any issues?

Just do a ladder test until you run out of room in the case, with a drop tube and some tapping you should be able to get over 25 grains of Varget into the case.
Find out what shoots well with your chamber and brass, I am betting around 24 grains or so.

[Dbk]

So my coal with approx 10thou jam is 2.430in

Going to load 24gr 2208 and see.

Thanks guys

[deye243]

Well it would be prudent to try 23 23.5 then 24 ...... you may get a surprise if you go straight to 24 .

[Dbk]

Well it would be prudent to try 23 23.5 then 24 ...... you may get a surprise if you go straight to 24 .

Haha. Yes. True. But I have reload hundreds of 80gr smks and have loaded these to 25gr 2208

We shall see this weekend when I get a chance to shoot them

[Oldbloke]

Well it would be prudent to try 23 23.5 then 24 ...... you may get a surprise if you go straight to 24 .

100%

[bladeracer]

So my coal with approx 10thou jam is 2.430in

Going to load 24gr 2208 and see.

Thanks guys

If you're only at 2.430", and jammed, 24gn may be on the hot side. I'd work up to it but if you have to go to a range to do the testing then I'd load ten of each at .3gn increments up to about 24.5gn (10rds so you can shoot two non-consecutive groups). If you start seeing pressures at 23.8gn or so then disassemble the rest of them. Jamming the bullet into the rifling also increases pressure, though I'm surprised you're jammed at that length.