9 0 gr loads

[big john 5394]

building a f-tr bolt gun 7 twist 223 need load info bullet type/powder/primers for 300/600 yds. any help would be great
thank you
big john

 

[Ned Ludd]

With a 30" barrel, Varget or H4895 would be the powders of choice for the Berger 90 VLDs in .223 Rem. Look to hit somewhere in the 2810-2825 fps range in Lapua brass with Varget, 2840-2850 fps with H4895; whatever charge weight is required with either one. There are clearly accuracy nodes in these regions with both of these two powders, simply test charge weight until you find it. Primers, brand doesn't really matter - use whatever gives you the lowest ES/SD; I am using Fed 205s. Neck tension 2.0 - 2.5 thousandths. Seating depth - most have found the 90 VLDs prefer about .005" to .010" into the lands, but in my hands they're working just fine at .015" to .020" off the lands. So, you'll really need to test seating depth in your specific setup. The ~2850 fps H4895 load mentioned is pretty stout and will be hard on brass, maybe 3-4 firings on a significant portion, although some pieces may last longer of they survive the first few firings.

 

[XTR]

[paste]

Here is the recipe, deviate at your own risk:

1. PT&G ISSF reamer with .169 FB
2. See #1 above, don't go further with less freebore or you will break something.
   
3. 1:7 twist barrel (mine is a 28" 3 groove Lilja, though just ordered have a new 30" Brux)
   
4. 90 VLDs jam .010
5. Brass of your choice, I use LC and Federal
   
6. 24.5 ±.2 gr of Varget (others work, including H4895)
7. I shoot Tula 556M primers, but you can't get them any more (Russia sanctions)
   
8. Do your load work and get it dialed.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/help-deciding-ftr-223.3921972/#post-36944662

Shot a 200-12 and a 197-11 at 600yds a couple of weeks ago with this recipe. The 3 points I dropped were all on me, not the load.

 

[xswanted]

I wouldn't count out IMR 4320

I'm using it behind 80 grainers with great results.

25.5 grains is giving me 2960 from a 24" barrel. I went all the way to 26 grains but the brass started to measure too much expansion. Velocity was 3000 with good accuracy.

At 2960 the gun is very good.

It shot a 5.5" group at 715 and a 3.5" group at 600 on Monday.

 

[XTR]

One note. Last yr at the TN State Mid-range Championship my 223 load had really bad vertical. I actually shot the last day with my 308. The 223 was shooting close to 3/4 min tall. I lost about 6 points in the corners that I should not have.

Over the winter I pondered and reviewed all my notes and took a lot of measurements on the bullets I had used at the match.

I found 2 differences from my past good loads.

One was new Federal brass vs my old LC.

Two was that I was jamming them .015 with the load I took to TN as opposed to .010 that I have done in the past.


Two weeks ago I went to a match in VT. I took a box of 50 rounds from that match in TN and pushed 25 back .005 to a .010 jam.

I shot the .015 jam at 300 yards. Shot a 199-9 with a high 9 on the second shot. The load was shooting well over ½ MOA at 300 yards. About like the TN match.

Took the ones that I pushed to .010 to the 600 yard line and shot a 200-12x with vertical that was well inside of the X ring. .005 made all the difference.

Do your load work.

 

[jsthntn247]

This needs to be a sticky at the top titled how to shoot HM scores with a 223

 

[r bose]

Been shooting 25.0g of Rl-15 for years in LC brass with 10 thou jam. In a sling w/iron sights I can't hold it steady enough. Accuracy is phenomenal.

 

[USMCDOC]

[paste]

Here is the recipe, deviate at your own risk:

1. PT&G ISSF reamer with .169 FB
2. See #1 above, don't go further with less freebore or you will break something.
   
3. 1:7 twist barrel (mine is a 28" 3 groove Lilja, though just ordered have a new 30" Brux)
   
4. 90 VLDs jam .010
5. Brass of your choice, I use LC and Federal
   
6. 24.5 ±.2 gr of Varget (others work, including H4895)
7. I shoot Tula 556M primers, but you can't get them any more (Russia sanctions)
   
8. Do your load work and get it dialed.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/help-deciding-ftr-223.3921972/#post-36944662

Shot a 200-12 and a 197-11 at 600yds a couple of weeks ago with this recipe. The 3 points I dropped were all on me, not the load.

Just a note, newer lot of H4895 is much faster burning that previous lots.. i couldn't even get to 23.8 at 10k off the lands and was pushing primers!

 

[jsthntn247]

Here is a pic of a 600 yard target during a match with the above load from gstaylorg an xtr provided.

 

[big john 5394]

it is going to take about 2 months to build have stock,action,waiting on bolt &bbl.can not wait to get it done and start testing with the loads you guys have given me
big john

 

[XTR]

Just a note, newer lot of H4895 is much faster burning that previous lots.. i couldn't even get to 23.8 at 10k off the lands and was pushing primers!

Your point is well taken.

Any time you change powder lots you need to do load work.

I've done a fair bit of experimenting with H4350. My last lot was about perfect for what I was trying to accomplish. The lot a just started on takes a full grain more powder to hit the same MV as the one before. (which is not ideal for my application) I've been told by some F Open shooters that they have seen as much as a grain and a half variation in H4350 for the same MV. Point being, in a game where we run close to the limits you need to test any time you change something.

With 90VLDs you have to check seating depths any time you change lots.

 

[USMCDOC]

Your point is well taken.

Any time you change powder lots you need to do load work.

I've done a fair bit of experimenting with H4350. My last lot was about perfect for what I was trying to accomplish. The lot a just started on takes a full grain more powder to hit the same MV as the one before. (which is not ideal for my application) I've been told by some F Open shooters that they have seen as much as a grain and a half variation in H4350 for the same MV. Point being, in a game where we run close to the limits you need to test any time you change something.

With 90VLDs you have to check seating depths any time you change lots.

I think that my issue right now is that the lot of CCI primers that i have are going into the Lapua brass so easy.. like they have been coated with butter

 

[eric n]

I think that my issue right now is that the lot of CCI primers that i have are going into the Lapua brass so easy.. like they have been coated with butter

I have a large supply of the same lot# of 450s. The last few boxes of lapua (different lot #s)I have gotten have some that go in easy as well. I'm losing pp quicker in my 80 loads also.
Anyone else seeing this?
Should add... not every piece of brass. Seem like 5-10 pieces from each box gets loose after the 2nd firing. 2820fps with the 90s.
Losing some pieces with 80s at the 3rd firing which is strange because they usually go a long time.
No biggie really, it just seems more then previous years

 

[jsthntn247]

I'm on 5 loads at 2850 with Russian primers

 

[BP1]

The 223 with the 90s will shoot,me and a buddy of mine are shooting our club match in the morning and then jumping in the truck and making the trip back down to Bayou Rifles to shoot their 1000yd match on Sunday,i had so much fun with the 223 there last weekend going back to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

 

[jsthntn247]

The 223 with the 90s will shoot,me and a buddy of mine are shooting our club match in the morning and then jumping in the truck and making the trip back down to Bayou Rifles to shoot their 1000yd match on Sunday,i had so much fun with the 223 there last weekend going back to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

Wish bayou wasn't 8 hrs or I'd make the trip a few times a year. Best ran match I've been to, right up there with than Palo Alto.

 

[USMCDOC]

Wish bayou wasn't 8 hrs or I'd make the trip a few times a year. Best ran match I've been to, right up there with than Palo Alto.

Yeah..i will have to make the trip sometimes.. if for only once!