I loaded some Berger 168 grain "Hunting" VLD's with 36 to 44 grains of Varget to develop a good big game load for Alaska. The recommended minimum is 38, and the recommended maximum is 42, I am dyslexic (as well as impatient) and rushed my process. I got to the range about 1100, it was 31 degrees, 0 wind, pretty good day for shooting!
Shooting 5-shot groups, this is what I got:
1st Load: 36 grains, 2" groups @ 100 yards, completely disappointing!
2nd Load: 37.5 grains, 1.5" groups @ 100 yards, better, but I'm not happy.
3rd Load: 39.5 grains, three shots in one hole, two shots touching at the edge of the 3-shot hole, AWESOME (I thought)!
4th Load: 41 grains, three one-hole groups, two .5" groups (I stopped there, no need to push it)!
Load info:
Berger 168 Hunting VLD
41 Grains of Varget
CCI #200 primers
Federal Match Brass
COAL: 2.825
I am VERY pleased with this combination, I am intending to use M118LR surplus brass, so I will have to rework it. I guess I will start at 40 grains with the thicker brass. I also am going to chronograph the next iteration so that I will have a good data set. My buddy, while spotting, got more excited than I did, asking me to develop some .300 WM loads for him with these bullets.
Shooting 5-shot groups, this is what I got:
1st Load: 36 grains, 2" groups @ 100 yards, completely disappointing!
2nd Load: 37.5 grains, 1.5" groups @ 100 yards, better, but I'm not happy.
3rd Load: 39.5 grains, three shots in one hole, two shots touching at the edge of the 3-shot hole, AWESOME (I thought)!
4th Load: 41 grains, three one-hole groups, two .5" groups (I stopped there, no need to push it)!
Load info:
Berger 168 Hunting VLD
41 Grains of Varget
CCI #200 primers
Federal Match Brass
COAL: 2.825
I am VERY pleased with this combination, I am intending to use M118LR surplus brass, so I will have to rework it. I guess I will start at 40 grains with the thicker brass. I also am going to chronograph the next iteration so that I will have a good data set. My buddy, while spotting, got more excited than I did, asking me to develop some .300 WM loads for him with these bullets.