So, one more of my tests here - i was curious to find out for myself, and it may be useful to some degree to others who did not go yet too deep into that, as both powders are very difficult to get now. Test is on .223 20" AR15 rifle, 69gr SMK projectile seated same way at stock length, #450 cci primer.
Those 2 powders are claimed to be identical, but they are not exactly same. Varget is heavier and more compact, so the 25gr of varget are close in a volume to 24.4gr of PR, somewhat.
Here below are 50 shots in 24.2gr-25gr of varget (targets 1-5) compared to 40 shots or PR.
My developed load was 25gr of a PR - target 10 has 5 shots from old batch, this new batch in target 9 somehow is way inferior to that, which is interesting, but this new batch was using different brass i did not prep as meticulously as previous one, go figure. speed and SD matches, but groups do not, but, whatever.
So, to note the diffs - the 24.4gr varget gave the best group, at 2743 speed.
Same weight 24.4gr of PR powder gives 2670 speed and a somewhat comparable group. with more weight in loads varget spreads out, but PR tightens.
25gr varget gave 2785fps, 25gr PR gives 2760fps. Close, but not exactly same - diff closes at 25gr on compressed loads, but with lesser loads the gap in speed grows.
PS. stuff like on target 2 is extremely puzzling to me. lower 3 shots went into the same hole. rest 7 did spread 3/4" higher into a 3/4" circle. how come? go figure.
target 1 is also quite annoying - 3 in the dead center, 5 in a circle around and 2 somehow way on a side. i will retest that.
Those 2 powders are claimed to be identical, but they are not exactly same. Varget is heavier and more compact, so the 25gr of varget are close in a volume to 24.4gr of PR, somewhat.
Here below are 50 shots in 24.2gr-25gr of varget (targets 1-5) compared to 40 shots or PR.
My developed load was 25gr of a PR - target 10 has 5 shots from old batch, this new batch in target 9 somehow is way inferior to that, which is interesting, but this new batch was using different brass i did not prep as meticulously as previous one, go figure. speed and SD matches, but groups do not, but, whatever.
So, to note the diffs - the 24.4gr varget gave the best group, at 2743 speed.
Same weight 24.4gr of PR powder gives 2670 speed and a somewhat comparable group. with more weight in loads varget spreads out, but PR tightens.
25gr varget gave 2785fps, 25gr PR gives 2760fps. Close, but not exactly same - diff closes at 25gr on compressed loads, but with lesser loads the gap in speed grows.
PS. stuff like on target 2 is extremely puzzling to me. lower 3 shots went into the same hole. rest 7 did spread 3/4" higher into a 3/4" circle. how come? go figure.
target 1 is also quite annoying - 3 in the dead center, 5 in a circle around and 2 somehow way on a side. i will retest that.
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