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Promising results with Berger 80.5gr FullBore bullets / 100yrds
Had a pretty good range day with some test loads with Berger 80.5 Fullbore bullets today.
80gr written on target (mistake) but its was 80.5gr bullets tested.
Gave Jason a PM last week to get some reload data to help establish a starting point and the first reloads were great @ 100yrds.I've found a OCW between 23.7-24.6gr for this bullet so far. Have not been able to duplicate the success guys are having with 25gr of Varget, just too hot for my rifle. As soon as I get near 25grs it completely falls apart as you see in the 24.9gr target group. I'm getting a huge jump in pressure from 24.6grs – 25grs…have to play with setting depth to see if it helps with the higher powder charge.
23.7gr was pretty much a ragged hole but slight vertical dispersion, shot #1 high to right was sight in…24.3-24.6grs each produced ragged hole groups but 24.6 was a beauty…Almost 5 in the same hole! No chromo data yet, only tested powder charges and 1 COAL to see what the bullet would do. Lots of work to do now that I have a starting point.
Targets = 5 shot groups @ 100yrds.
Lapus Brass
80.5 Fullbore bullets
Varget Powder
Coal – 2.42″
.030 off rifling in my gunI'll post 100 / 200yrd data when I get the load fully tuned.
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9 Replies
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Hey dog, nice test did you get any velocity info? I will post my data soon as I can (haven't loaded or shot yet)
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No Chrono data yet, only testing for groups to see how the bullet reacted to powder and seating depth.
Guessing I'll be around 2800fps with the powder charge thats grouping well….Guys running 25grs of Varget are getting 2900fps +++ with a 24″ barrel.I'm going to try the Berger recommended test for seating depth now that I have a good starting point.
Loving the bullet so far, everything is more consistent. -
Keep your good load and start going in. You'll see excellent results, and maybe good chrono numbers when you get to .010-.015″ off the lands…or what you call “jam”
80.5 FullBores are comparable to Hybrids, and shoot great with a slight jump.
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Keep your good load and start going in. You'll see excellent results, and maybe good chrono numbers when you get to .010-.015″ off the lands…or what you call “jam”
80.5 FullBores are comparable to Hybrids, and shoot great with a slight jump.
Thats the test I plan on this weekend shooting over a chrono to see what type of velocity I'm getting.
Sort of disappointed that my rifle can't handle the larger charge but what can you do…hoping I'm over 2800fps with 24.5grs…thats where I'm hoping to find a staple load without a drastic POI sight in different conditions.My previous load of 25.5gr of Varget pushing the 75Amax only showed slight primer flattening so thought I would be able to load up to 25grs with the 80.5 Berger but not the case.
Sure wish the Amax's where more consistent on the tips, spent a lot of time working with that bullet.Any of you guys using magnum primers with a case this full for a heavy bullet?
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Well…my gun likes Bergers with a jump, .040 off the lands shot best.
YukonAl was right on suggesting a jump may work well.
It was a terrible day for shooting, very windy and humid! But results were easy to see over multiple groups.
Shot the first round of test groups in terrible wind then the second round of groups were much better when I waited for the wind to die off while setting up any playing with the chrono.Here are the averages of 5 shot groups over 24.5gr Varget for each seating depth:
.040 off lands (2.41 coal) = 1/4 moa average (2840fps)
.030 off lands (2.42 coal) = 1/2 moa average (2860fps)
.020 off lands (2.43 coal) = 3/4 moa average (2875fps) slight primer issues…
.010 off lands (2.44 coal) NO results…could not complete test due to primer issues.Group 2 in the picture was a good group even with shot 5 pulled…GREAT chrono results:
Cold Bore – 2829 fps
#2 – 2845 fps
#3 – 2844 fps
#4 – 2852 fps
#5 – 2850 fpsIf you exclude the cold bore shot ES = 7 / SD = 4,…thats the best chrono results I have ever experienced.
BUT, I have to re-run the entire test and most of the load development over again.
I'm having major primer issues using CCI400's…I've had a few pierced primers at various powder charges well below max load during load development.
Brass is showing no signs of pressure at all but the primer is starting to become a big problem.
Spoke with a few reloaders with more experience and all suggested a thicker cup primer to handle the higher pressures. I guess thats why I can't get near max loads that most guys are able to shoot.CCI Br4, and Remington 7.5 primers seem to be what most guys suggest to move to… so starting the entire process over again to see if I can increase the velocity a get better results.
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Good info!
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@ Dog Down!
Chances are you have figured following out… There is a good chance IF you use BR4's you will not see crater issue with primers. I no longer use CCI 400's due to this reason. I ONLY use BR4's at this time and have NOT seen ANY cratered primer since.
Thanks for the info. This is exactly the information I was looking for as I just got my hands on same projectile a few days ago. Hopefully I will be able to hit range this weekend to try out first round.
FWIW: I have been running 75 A-Max's over 25.0 Varget inside Lapua Cases sparked by BR4's with great success with NO issues at all.
2962 fps average – 60 degrees
3003 fps average – 90 degreesMostly 10's then X's at 800 yards on NRA Long Range Target
Pretty good results at 1000 yards considering distance and wind.Trying out 80.5's thinking they may do better at 1000 yards.
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I was also pushing the 75Amax…used 25.2gr Varget and getting similar velocities. Very accurate!
Loved shooting this bullet but the tips were not consistent enough for me in some batches so I switched to Bergers…will give them another try at some point when my Berger stash runs out.If you like 75Amax you will love 80.5 Bergers…I can't get the same velocity as the Amax's but they are deadly accurate and consistent.
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As many of you know, the 80.5 is my favorite bullet for a 1:8 twist 223. For me, there was a substantial increase in velocity between these and the 80 grain VLDs.
The BR4s are the ticket for sure. The 400s have too soft of a cup. I pierced a couple 400s on hot days with this load.
These are some great results Dog Down!
Keep them coming!
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