[wily1]

Just bought a box of Varmint Grenades for my .223 and was wondering how much Varget Powder I should use in my first loading. I think 25 grains of Varget would be a safe first load. I was thinking of loading them the same as I would the Hornady 40 grain V-Max for min and max loads.

[killer]

I have not used that powder but if I understand you correctly you have used the powder with a 40 grain V-Max? What grain bullet is the Varmint Grenade?

I have on occasion been stuck in similar situations where the bullet I wanted to use was not shown with the exact powder I wanted to use. I did find other manuals with the same or nearly same weight bullet and the powder I wanted to use and in fact some of my manuals state this procedure is ok to do while other manuals I have recommended 10% below min and work my way up.

I do have a manual showing a Nosler 40 gr BT using 25.0 grains of Varget as a starting load so....

[wily1]

they are 36 grain and almost identical in size with the v-max, the varmint grenade is .2 mm longer according to my digital calipers.

[killer]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

If you go to their site it concurs what I've stated above but no info for anything lighter than 40 grain bullet.

I did find a Speer load in my manual starting with 26.0 grains of Varget and a 40 grain bullet.

So in conclusion: Yes I would start with 25.0 gr of Varget if it were my gun.

[turkn8r1]

Go to barnes bullets web site and they have loading data for it that is printable. Of course they are only going to show a couple of options but it will be a starting place. Barnes 4th edition manual is out but hard to get I know it will have the data in it.

[samuel]

As long as you are under the 40gr load there is no safety issue.As you work up in 1/2gr increases you should be able to surpass the 40gr load.I would just look for accuracy. sam.

[wily1]

Thanks for all the help gents, hoping to get out to the range today if it isn't to chilly, the wind is cranking at the moment. Then tomorrow and Tuesday will be hunting coyotes and skinning the ones we have.

[Arkiemike]

Hey, just start with enough powder to make the bullet disintegrate about 3 feet from the muzzle, then back off until it stays together. That's the redneck way!! LOL
Seriously, contact the manufacturer, they will have tested the bullet/load and can give you a suggested combination.
Keep us posted, and good luck!

[killer]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Arkiemike

Hey, just start with enough powder to make the bullet disintegrate about 3 feet from the muzzle, then back off until it stays together. That's the redneck way!! LOL

Haaaaa.....I had a buddy that insisted all his loads had to be above max. When the bolt started to get hard to work he would back off a tad and stay. He did it with all his calibers.

I kept telling him why don't you just step up to the next caliber. If you want your .223 to give you 220 swift performance...buy a 220 swift.

I've found most of my guns do the best around minimum powder charges to halfway to max per what the manuals recommend.

[Palladin8]

I would be interested in the performace of these bullets. Keep us posted on how they group and especially how they perform on varmints.

[irish murphy]

I have tried these projies in my 222.They shoot alright in the first load i tried.If i develope the load it will shoot better.Am using the australian equivalent of hodgdon benchmark.The rabbits i have shot with it had varying effect.I head shot some hopping lamb and the bullet was imploding inside the head.I picked up the animals head by the ear and it was only conected by the skin.The whole skull was shattered inside the skin.I am going to try these in my 22.250.I think the extra couple hundred fps will make them perform better.

[wily1]

Well loaded the Varmint Grenades (36 grain) did 3 with 25 grains of Varget and 3 with 27 grains of Varget and the cases looked fine afterwards and I still have my good looks and all my fingers lol. As far as accuracy I'll have to get back on that once it warms up enough to sit out at the range for awhile. As always I took the first shot with each from the hip, and later on at a piece of plywood. So was just taking standing shots from the shoulder not a good way to judge groupings. And it was pretty chilly out today the wind chill was making it feel about -30 or so. May be a wuss and give the coyotes a break tomorrow as it may get as cold as -44 with the wind chill, oh the joys of living in Manitoba