Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7_08 Velocity

I ran some 120 Barnes and BT tips though my chrono last weekend. I had loaded R15 and Varget both at 44 grains. Varget Avg was about 80 fps faster with both bullets. I am going to re-run them soon but does that sound normal. Is varget that much faster.

Maybe I had a bad test?

Thanks

My Tikka is kinda slow with Varget, at least compared to reloading manuals. Nosler is aggressive with their data, for sure.



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Noslers BC's and book velocities wishful thinking.

Wouldn't think that 80fps would make any meaningful difference to anything. However, if it makes YOU feel better go for it.

I actually get a little better accuracy out of R15. It just Suprised me.

I'm shooting the 120 TTSX with 44 grs of RL-15 and getting about 2950 fps. Barrel length is 22".

Load which ever powder is the most accurate. In my rifle, it's RL 15. I haven't seen much difference in velocity between the two. I get 3000 fps +/- with 44 gr. of either powder in my 22" Cooper with the 120 grainers.

They used a 26" barrel for their 7-08 data. Which makes no sense to me, but there it is.

I can get up to 3100 with a 120 NBT and Varget at the max book load in my 22" barrel, but 3050 is the accuracy load.

If looking for velocity with 120's, try CFE-223, 2000MR, or Big Game. You won't be disappointed.

What are the specifics on your 2000mr load?

Big game will whoop them all.

80 FPS difference from book is nothing.

I've seen loads varie 300 fps from book.

If the books were accurate for your rifle, no one would need a chronograph.

No doubt.

CFE-223 will actually whoop them all. I have used Big Game in mine and Cfe223 is faster than Big game by about 90 fps and ES are more consistant than big game. My gun has a 20" barrel with 120 ttsx I am doing 3230fps. That is the max published load for cfe-223 for all the guys that will ridicule me about being over pressured or over max load.

CFE-223 will actually whoop them all. I have used Big Game in mine and Cfe223 is faster than Big game by about 90 fps and ES are more consistant than big game. My gun has a 20" barrel with 120 ttsx I am doing 3230fps. That is the max published load for cfe-223 for all the guys that will ridicule me about being over pressured or over max load. [/quote

Yep, I am .6 grains below max with CFE in my 22" x bolt and getting 3275 fps With the 120 ttsx. Max load on a 85 degree day was 3350 fps. Primers still had rounded edges and no problems with bolt lift or primer pockets.

That's cooking right there.

Velocity is your pressure sign..

Not really. Ever look at a pressure graph? Max pressure is only realized in the first few inches of the barrel. Then it drops rapidly. If you can extend the burn time at or near max pressure, you have more velocity. i.e. more area under the curve. I bet the gunpowder makin folks have used that technology thing to do just that.

Not in my rifle.