quickload for 30-06 varget load?

[2ndtimer]

I was hoping someone could run a quickload estimate for a load I encountered while serving as a safety adviser at my club range. According the label on the shooter's ammo box, he was shooting a Remington 700 30-06 with 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips, Winchester cases, Winchester large rifle primers and 57.0 gr of Varget! I mentioned to him that, based on my recollection, that load was well in excess of anything I had seen in any published loading manual, and might not be safe. He replied that his father had worked up the load 15 years ago and that he had been using it for the past several years without any problems. I was surprised that the loads seemed to extract fine, and the brass didn't appear to show any signs of excess pressure. (Maybe they were loaded with 4350 and merely labeled incorrectly on the box, I don't know) But I was curious as to the approximate pressure that would be generated if someone really stuffed 57.0 gr of Varget behind a 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip and touched it off in a 30-06. Anyone?
Thanks.

 

[NYDAN]

Here is a QuickLoad projection using all default parameters for the 30-06, 165 BT and Varget.

Cartridge          : .30-06 Spring.  (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .308, 165, Nosler BalTip 30165
Useable Case Capaci: 60.130 grain H2O = 3.904 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon VARGET

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.877% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-08.8   97    52.00   2780    2831   57963   9633     99.4    1.080  ! Near Maximum !
-07.9   98    52.50   2803    2879   59617   9696     99.5    1.067  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-07.0   99    53.00   2827    2928   61319   9756     99.7    1.053  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-06.1  100    53.50   2851    2978   63069   9813     99.8    1.040  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-05.3  101    54.00   2875    3027   64870   9867     99.8    1.027  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-04.4  102    54.50   2898    3077   66724   9917     99.9    1.015  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-03.5  103    55.00   2921    3127   68631   9965    100.0    1.003  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-02.6  104    55.50   2945    3177   70594  10009    100.0    0.990  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-01.8  104    56.00   2968    3228   72616  10050    100.0    0.978  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-00.9  105    56.50   2991    3278   74697  10089    100.0    0.967  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0  106    57.00   3014    3329   76841  10127    100.0    0.955  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.9  107    57.50   3037    3380   79050  10164    100.0    0.943  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.8  108    58.00   3060    3432   81326  10201    100.0    0.932  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.6  109    58.50   3083    3483   83672  10237    100.0    0.921  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.5  110    59.00   3106    3535   86090  10272    100.0    0.910  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.4  111    59.50   3129    3587   88584  10307    100.0    0.899  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    106    57.00   3102    3525   89301   9794    100.0    0.900  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:

 

[2ndtimer]

Thank You, Nydan. That is kind of what I expected, as I was guessing it would be over 70,000 psi. If the loading data on his box was correct, eventually, he will have some problems. Hope I am not around when it happens.

 

[DrMike]

Thank You, Nydan. That is kind of what I expected, as I was guessing it would be over 70,000 psi. If the loading data on his box was correct, eventually, he will have some problems. Hope I am not around when it happens.

I've often run into people who believe their load is safe because it hasn't blown up in their face--yet. Whenever I teach courses in handloading, the students spend some time on safety rules and reading the signs of pressure. When brass does finally give way to the inevitable, it is quite the lesson.

 

[noslerpartition]

When I load for others, I send them to have the pressure checked. Costs a few bucks, but it is money well spent. With a new batch, just speed-checks....

Gesendet von meinem HUAWEI VNS-L31 mit Tapatalk

 

[Guy Miner]

YIKES!

Hodgdon lists 50.5 gr Varget as max, with a 165 gr Sierra...

He's at 57 grains? Wow... :shock:

 

[SJB358]

No way it is possible and not have a locked up gun. Sounds too much like 4350 to me.

70000+ PSI is going to leave a mark somewhere, just hopefully it is the gun/brass and not the shooter.

 

[2ndtimer]

No way it is possible and not have a locked up gun. Sounds too much like 4350 to me.

70000+ PSI is going to leave a mark somewhere, just hopefully it is the gun/brass and not the shooter.

Agree, it didn't seem possible that the cases would extract without issue, if the load data on the box was accurate. That is why I believe that maybe he had written the wrong powder on the box. It still could create a MAJOR problem for him if he goes out and buys a pound of Varget and loads his cases with 57.0 gr of that powder. I hope he at least touches bases with his father to confirm the powder and charge weight before proceeding..

 

[SJB358]

No way it is possible and not have a locked up gun. Sounds too much like 4350 to me.

70000+ PSI is going to leave a mark somewhere, just hopefully it is the gun/brass and not the shooter.

Agree, it didn't seem possible that the cases would extract without issue, if the load data on the box was accurate. That is why I believe that maybe he had written the wrong powder on the box. It still could create a MAJOR problem for him if he goes out and buys a pound of Varget and loads his cases with 57.0 gr of that powder. I hope he at least touches bases with his father to confirm the powder and charge weight before proceeding..

That is exactly my thoughts as well. 57 grains of Varget on a 165 are going to make bad things happen. Hope he checks out the data before he tries to duplicate them.

 

[Guy Miner]

Ya, 57 grains of one of the 4350's would be fine...

57 grains of Varget?

Not so fine.

 

[frankm]

I load 50 grains of Varget in an 06 with 165 BT and it does 2775-2800 and has some recoil. It's a full power load; if he puts 57 grains of Varget in something bad is gonna happen AND quite soon!

Just had a case of a friend telling me his normal 243 load stuck his bolt and blew the primer out. Upon further examination and questioning by me found his 'normal load' of 47 grs of H4831 with an 87 Vmax became a 47 gr load of Varget!! Told him he was lucky and then taught him how to pull bullets..49 to be exact