first few shots through the vartarg

[Tom D]

After a long wait for my latest order to clear customs I finally received a load of bullets and some nice nosler 221 fireball brass. I had picked up the Vartarg riflefrom Steve Kershaw a few weeks ago and had been itching to have a go with it. The weather wasn't looking promising but I spent last night loading few rounds so that I could get it sighted in and broken in as well as a little load development. The weather this morning was atrocious, blowing a gale and ****ing down but later on the rain stopped, I couldn't wait any longer. With the threat of more rain and a 30-40Mph crosswind I ditched the chronograph and shot from a picnic table resting on a rolled up rug. It wasn't as steady as a proper bag but I managed to put a few holes in some paper, 4 shots to roughly zero and then 5, 3 shot groups of increasing charge. (see pic below) To say I am pleased is an understatement, if it will do this in these conditions then I can't wait to see what it will do on a calm day with a good rest.



​Largest was 0.6MOA smallest 0.4....

 

[Muir]

Nice work. What was the powder that you were using?~Muir

 

[Hornet 6]

Looks very promising for the first few shots from a new gun

Neil.

 

[Roedinator]

Come on tom lets have a pic of the new Rig ?
Also what powder and heads you using ?
​regards pete

 

[Tom D]

Its VVn130 Muir, 40 grain Accutips, which are I believe hornady Vmaxes, their vital statistics are identical and I have heard that Remington use other suppliers for their bullets. Lightest load was 17.5gn heaviest a very compressed 19gn, I think now that the cases are fire formed I ought to be able to fit 19gn in a little easier...

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Tom

Excellent results. Can you post a photo of a loaded Vartag round alongside a loaded 7mm-08 round so we can get an appreciation of how small the Vartag is?

Thanks

​JCS

 

[Tom D]

​Here's a pic, not one for the purists with the stainless rings, but this is a working gun....

 

[Muir]

Thanks for that. (Another powder we have a very hard time finding here) Remington does contract bullets, presumably from Hornady. I shoot 33 grain VM made for Remington. Are you going to chronograph the loads on the next outing??~Muir

PS: How well does it feed?? My 17 Mach IV was a crankly bugger but that was from a double stack magazine.

 

[Tom D]

Tom

Excellent results. Can you post a photo of a loaded Vartag round alongside a loaded 7mm-08 round so we can get an appreciation of how small the Vartag is?

Thanks

​JCS

Already took that one..Here you go John.

 

[Tom D]

Thanks for that. (Another powder we have a very hard time finding here) Remington does contract bullets, presumably from Hornady. I shoot 33 grain VM made for Remington. Are you going to chronograph the loads on the next outing??~Muir

PS: How well does it feed?? My 17 Mach IV was a crankly bugger but that was from a double stack magazine.

It feeds ok if you cycle the bolt reasonably quickly, its a bit finicky to be honest though, it does not eject very well though, it will eject a loaded round quite nicely but the empty case is so short that after it clears the chamber it is able to achieve sufficient angle between the bolt face and the inside of the action to come off the claw just before it reached the ejection port. If you know of any quick fixes for this problem I'm all ears...

 

[Tuck]

Have the same prob with the 17 fireball Tom end up with an empty case just sat in the chamber, and mines on the same action as yours by the look of it, don't let it bother you I tend to chuck mine in the top forget the mag, you'll be having so much fun you won't even notice it.

 

[Roedinator]

Tomm nice looking set up there mate
im up to six different powders after the midland yesterday awaiting the new arrival
of the new tac
going to be testing 39 grain blitz king and 50 and 55 grain bergers

i wish you all the best with your new toy
regards pete

 

[RPA 6MM BR]

Its VVn130 Muir, 40 grain Accutips, which are I believe hornady Vmaxes, their vital statistics are identical and I have heard that Remington use other suppliers for their bullets. Lightest load was 17.5gn heaviest a very compressed 19gn, I think now that the cases are fire formed I ought to be able to fit 19gn in a little easier...

Try using a drop tube on your powder funnel Tom. You will get your extra powder in easily, its amazing how much more a case will accept when its dribbled in with a 6 or 8" drop tube.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

View attachment 32419

Already took that one..Here you go John.

Tom. Thanks, look forward to seeing it in the flesh. Best regards John

 

[Tom D]

Tomm nice looking set up there mate
im up to six different powders after the midland yesterday awaiting the new arrival
of the new tac
going to be testing 39 grain blitz king and 50 and 55 grain bergers

i wish you all the best with your new toy
regards pete

You did well getting hold of the 39gn sierras, Steve Kershaw was raving about them, I'm still on the lookout. Having said that the accutips show promise.

 

[FreshFace]

Its VVn130 Muir, 40 grain Accutips, which are I believe hornady Vmaxes, their vital statistics are identical and I have heard that Remington use other suppliers for their bullets. Lightest load was 17.5gn heaviest a very compressed 19gn, I think now that the cases are fire formed I ought to be able to fit 19gn in a little easier...

Tom,
I use N130 in mine too along with 35g Bergers. Great looking rifle.
Steve

 

[MACKY]

Hi Tom

Good to here you are getting your new toy sorted out.
How is the magazine working out.
​john

 

[Tom D]

Good thanks, feeds ok but have had extraction probs.

 

[Tom D]

Second effort, this time 5 shot strings, the 40gn accutips didn't tighten up as much as I had hoped, but thats the difference shooting 5 shot groups instead of 3. I may start experimenting with seating depths for the 40 grainers. The 32gn Blitzkings were scary accurate; one group at .25" centre to centre and one at 0.5" which is really promising. I will be trying some more with those tomorrow as I lost the light and the chrony stopped working for the last load.

 

[PeterH]

Tomm nice looking set up there mate
im up to six different powders after the midland yesterday awaiting the new arrival
of the new tac
going to be testing 39 grain blitz king and 50 and 55 grain bergers

i wish you all the best with your new toy
regards pete

Hi Pete

When you eventually get your tac (had mine two years now) and need any help, please get in touch with me - I'm near Wellington so cannot be too far from you. I have access to take paper shots (usually) out to 500 yds. Also, have a couple of powders that you may wish to try before you buy yourself a full tub + 39gr and 40 gr heads

Peter