03-14-2025, 09:21 PM
Decided to add Varget to the mix after all. This is a 20” barrel, bolt action, it was 80 degrees ambient temp where I was shooting. Each charge weight is a single shot so keep that in mind. It was just a test to see what I’m working with. Used 103 ELD-X & 108 ELDM. Using Starline brass & CCI 450 primers.
With StaBALL Match there was full compression powder crunch at 28gr, going to 28.5 started to deform the bullet ogive when seating. I included it, but stopped shy of doing that with the other two powders. Once I damaged the ogive with the others I pulled the bullet and stopped. With Varget & H4895 I used a long drop tube and sometimes an electric toothbrush against the case to get them better compacted; their compressed numbers reflect this. With H4895 there was full compression powder crunch at 27gr and with Varget this occurred at 28gr. Hornady data shows 28.5 max under the 103 bullet but I couldn’t get that under the bullet without damaging the bullet. YMMV.
103 ELD-X, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2452
27.0: 2490
27.5: 2540
28.0: 2592
28.5: 2633
108 ELDM, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2411
27.0: 2441
27.5: 2493
28.0: 2493
28.5: 2587
103 ELD-X, H4895
25.0: 2528
25.5: 2597
26.0: 2633
26.5: 2686
27.0: Didn’t fire
108 ELDM, H4895
25.0: 2489
25.5: 2527
26.0: 2576
26.5: 2615
27.0: 2660
103 ELD-X, Varget
26.5: 2556
27.0: 2606
27.5: 2654
28.0: 2669
108 ELDM, Varget
26.5: 2503
27.0: 2538
27.5: 2578
28.0: chrono was turned off. Oops.
Also did ten shots with the 108 ELDM over 28.7 LeverEvolution.
Avg 2612, ES 25.9, SD 8.3
With StaBALL Match there was full compression powder crunch at 28gr, going to 28.5 started to deform the bullet ogive when seating. I included it, but stopped shy of doing that with the other two powders. Once I damaged the ogive with the others I pulled the bullet and stopped. With Varget & H4895 I used a long drop tube and sometimes an electric toothbrush against the case to get them better compacted; their compressed numbers reflect this. With H4895 there was full compression powder crunch at 27gr and with Varget this occurred at 28gr. Hornady data shows 28.5 max under the 103 bullet but I couldn’t get that under the bullet without damaging the bullet. YMMV.
103 ELD-X, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2452
27.0: 2490
27.5: 2540
28.0: 2592
28.5: 2633
108 ELDM, StaBALL Match
26.5: 2411
27.0: 2441
27.5: 2493
28.0: 2493
28.5: 2587
103 ELD-X, H4895
25.0: 2528
25.5: 2597
26.0: 2633
26.5: 2686
27.0: Didn’t fire
108 ELDM, H4895
25.0: 2489
25.5: 2527
26.0: 2576
26.5: 2615
27.0: 2660
103 ELD-X, Varget
26.5: 2556
27.0: 2606
27.5: 2654
28.0: 2669
108 ELDM, Varget
26.5: 2503
27.0: 2538
27.5: 2578
28.0: chrono was turned off. Oops.
Also did ten shots with the 108 ELDM over 28.7 LeverEvolution.
Avg 2612, ES 25.9, SD 8.3