Tweaking my Varget Match Load

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   Earlier this year, I ran an Optimal Charge Weight (OCW) ladder test on the No. 4(T), which I reported on here in this forum. 
The test was done on my basic match load:

PPU Cases neck sized
WLR Primers
VARGET (ADI AR2208) Powder 
174 Sierra MatchKing
3.07 inch OAL

Powder charges varied from 39.4 to 42.1 grains, in 0.3 grain increments. Testing was done at 600 yards off the bench.

While my long time standard match load of 40.0 grains did well, I found it was close to a scatter node of 39.7 grains (three shot group of nearly 3 MOA). 

I picked 40.6 grains from this test and shot this load at the June D-Day match. 

In looking back thru the data, I realized that 40.3 grains would have been a better choice because 40.9 grains showed a significant elevation and deflection shift (up and right). 

So, I loaded up 40 rounds of 40.3 grains and test fired this load yesterday along with the 40.6 grain load I’ve been using this year. I tested these loads at 300 and 600 yds, the two distances the CMP Vintage Sniper Matches are shot at. 

The results were quite conclusive, 40.3 grains shot better than both my 40.0 grain standard match load for the No. 4 and 40.6 grains that I had selected from the OCW test.  This was evident in both windage and elevation spreads at 300 and 600 yards. 

While the objective of the OCW test is to find the “accuracy nodes”, it’s also to find “scatter nodes” where groups tend to scatter.  You want a load that is far enough away from the scatter nodes. 

The far line of targets is at 600 yards.

Here is the 300 yard result with the 40.3 grain Varget load. One shot slipped just outside the 10 ring, the dreaded Nine Point Nine. 

Here is 600 yards. I paid no attention to the wind, and it shows, which was quite variable in strength from 2 to 3 O’Clock. But all shots within the height of the 10 ring. 

A 99 at 300 and 97 at 600 yds is a fairly respectable score for vintage sniper. But it won’t win the match when you’re up against the 1903 A1 with 8x Unertl scope.  But, this should give ‘em a run for their money.

I’m still learning how best to hold the rifle in this shooting position (prone off a sand bag rest). I’m finding a good solid grip and pull the rifle back into the shoulder with the right hand and grasp the back of the butt with the left hand from under the right shoulder (for a right handed shooter).  It’s extremely important to keep consistent head pressure on the cheek piece, else the vertical spread of the groups increase. 

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britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: Tweaking my Varget Match Load Posted: October 26 2024 at 5:45am
	Earlier this year, I ran an Optimal Charge Weight (OCW) ladder test on the No. 4(T), which I reported on here in this forum. The test was done on my basic match load: PPU Cases neck sized WLR Primers VARGET (ADI AR2208) Powder 174 Sierra MatchKing 3.07 inch OAL Powder charges varied from 39.4 to 42.1 grains, in 0.3 grain increments. Testing was done at 600 yards off the bench. While my long time standard match load of 40.0 grains did well, I found it was close to a scatter node of 39.7 grains (three shot group of nearly 3 MOA). I picked 40.6 grains from this test and shot this load at the June D-Day match. In looking back thru the data, I realized that 40.3 grains would have been a better choice because 40.9 grains showed a significant elevation and deflection shift (up and right). So, I loaded up 40 rounds of 40.3 grains and test fired this load yesterday along with the 40.6 grain load I’ve been using this year. I tested these loads at 300 and 600 yds, the two distances the CMP Vintage Sniper Matches are shot at. The results were quite conclusive, 40.3 grains shot better than both my 40.0 grain standard match load for the No. 4 and 40.6 grains that I had selected from the OCW test. This was evident in both windage and elevation spreads at 300 and 600 yards. While the objective of the OCW test is to find the “accuracy nodes”, it’s also to find “scatter nodes” where groups tend to scatter. You want a load that is far enough away from the scatter nodes. The far line of targets is at 600 yards. Here is the 300 yard result with the 40.3 grain Varget load. One shot slipped just outside the 10 ring, the dreaded Nine Point Nine. Here is 600 yards. I paid no attention to the wind, and it shows, which was quite variable in strength from 2 to 3 O’Clock. But all shots within the height of the 10 ring. A 99 at 300 and 97 at 600 yds is a fairly respectable score for vintage sniper. But it won’t win the match when you’re up against the 1903 A1 with 8x Unertl scope. But, this should give ‘em a run for their money. I’m still learning how best to hold the rifle in this shooting position (prone off a sand bag rest). I’m finding a good solid grip and pull the rifle back into the shoulder with the right hand and grasp the back of the butt with the left hand from under the right shoulder (for a right handed shooter). It’s extremely important to keep consistent head pressure on the cheek piece, else the vertical spread of the groups increase.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 5:55am
	Chrono results for the 40.3 grain Varget load with 174 gr SMK seated to 3.07 OAL, measured with Garmin XERO. Temp - 80 deg F Mean Velocity. 2416 fps Extreme Spread. 39 fps Standard Deviation 12 fps

Sgtrick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: April 28 2020 Location: Saskatoon Sask. Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sgtrick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 8:02am
	Very nice shooting.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 8:15am
	Thanks. I just noticed that five of the shots at 300 yds scored a “10.9”, meaning they were on the edge of the three inch (1 MOA) diameter X ring. The target monitor was set for .223 bullets, these may all have been X’s if it had been set for .30 Cal bullets. The other thing I discovered is that this 40.3 grain load has a trajectory that exactly corresponds to the scope elevation setting of “3” for 300 and “6” for 600 yards. Very convenient, no chance of losing zero’s this way, which I have seen happen with two very good shooters with 1903A1’s during a sniper match.

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 3:39pm
	That's a very low SD.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 4:56pm
	I think a match grade primer would reduce the standard deviations a bit more. Match grade primers have tightened up SD’s in my .308/7.62 loads and it did show up at 800 and 1000 yards in my DCRA No. 4 as reduced vertical spread on the target. One of these days, I’ll try the CCI BR-2 primer in my No. 4(T) load to see if it further reduces group size. As odd as it might sound, I don’t see a correlation of muzzle velocity with vertical position of bullet impact on the target (within the same charge weight) with this load in the T. Obviously, larger deviations in powder charge do make a difference, but it needs to be more than +/- 0.1 grains to show up on the target. Based on the OCW tests, the vertical change in group MPI at 600 yards was 3.6 MOA over a 2.4 grain charge weight range. That averages out to 1.5 MOA/grain. For charge weights thrown within +/- 0.1 grains, that’s just +/- 0.15 MOA (less than one inch at 600 yds). That’s hardly noticeable for these rifles. However, there are OCW nodes where adjacent charge weights show group MPI clustered together. That’s the whole point of doing the OCW test. I found that 40.0, 40.3, 40.6 and 40.9 grains loads all shot into a group of just 1.8 MOA vertical extreme spread of all 12 shots (three shots for each load). Pretty remarkable. Goes to show that weighing charges does not do what we think it does….

Mayhem Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 06 2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 335	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mayhem Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 26 2024 at 4:56pm
	Nice shooting and thanks for the write up.
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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 27 2024 at 11:29am
	Thanks for sharing this information Geoff. I have some testing to do for the .303's. I have some Norma 202 powder. Unfortunately I don't get regular access to the 200m range. But will probably base my test around the 40 grains mark and see how it goes. But may not get the chance this year!
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britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 28 2024 at 11:50am
	Shaun, my suggestion for you is to choose a powder charge that gets you approx 2400 fps at the muzzle velocity with a 174 grain bullet. Interpolate on the powder charge weight; it should get you pretty close using the Norma online load data. Then perhaps try +/- 0.3 grains on that load. Might find you a great load without having to run a lot of tests. Are you loading SMKs? They seem to be very consistent when loaded to 2400 fps. This would be at lower pressures than Mk 7 ammunition produce. The SMK runs about 50 fps faster when substituted for the Mk 7 bullet in Mk 7 ball ammo (i.e. pulling the Mk 7 bullet from the cartridge and seating the SMK in it's place, keeping the original powder in the case).

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 29 2024 at 4:24am
	Thanks Geoff. Yes I use 174 grain SMK's. I will take another look at the Norma load data. I can probably check velocity at my local range. It's 50 metres only; but ok for a velocity check. I loaded some 7.62 for the L39A1 recently. 40 gr of TU 5000 under 147 grain NATO type ogives. A first test at 50m showed 0.5 inch variation in elevation; for 10 rounds. Which I think is worth taking to the 200 m range for a proper test.
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britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 30 2024 at 6:26am
	1/2 inch group at 50m, that's 1 MOA which I expect is pretty tough to beat for any L39. Sounds like you have an excellent rifle Shaun. I've never used Vectan powders before. But from what I see, TU5000 is in the burn rate range of IMR 4895 to IMR 4064 which should be just right with a 147 to 168 gr bullet. 40 grains would be mild too, less strain on the action and easy on the barrel.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 01 2024 at 3:13pm
	Back to the range today to confirm zero’s are set on the No. 4 T for the upcoming Vintage Sniper Match at Telladega in two weeks. I was able to shrink the groups a bit further by concentrating on a firm hold. The scope elevation setting is bang on at indicated range with this 40.3 grain Varget load with 174 SMK. Makes it easy to just dial in “3” for 300 and “6” for 600 yds. Hard to screw up. 300 yards shot prone with front bag support. First shot from cold bore in 9 ring at 2 O’Clock, so added one click left and reset the windage turret to “0” after this shoot (there was no wind). The X ring is 3 inches in diameter at 300 yards, so 1 MOA. I’m using a 6 O’Clock hold on the black aiming mark.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 02 2024 at 5:31am
	That's looking really good for the Match! Best of luck Geoff. Keep us informed of the results.
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britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 03 2024 at 5:00pm
	Thanks Shaun. I’ll start a new thread on the Competitive Rifle Shooting Forum which has been rather silent lately…

A square 10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: December 12 2006 Location: MN , USA Status: Offline Points: 16999	Post Options Post Reply Quote A square 10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 03 2024 at 6:10pm
	i agree with Zed , you seem to have that dialed in , best of luck my friend , please keep us posted ,

Irish Blonde Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: December 27 2024 Location: IL Status: Offline Points: 92	Post Options Post Reply Quote Irish Blonde Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 17 2025 at 6:47am
	Daggum awesome shooting. Glad I saw this before getting proud and posting pics of my IPSC plate groups! LOL