Heres my chrono data with Varget and 88s, started low for initial workup. I have some loaded up with Leverevolution. Hopefully I can get out next week and do more testing. I think I can go a little higher with the Varget charges also. I was just looking to get a feel for things. I forget my OAL.
88 gr ELD Hornady bullets in 223 (looking for load data)
- Thread starter Vmax97
- Start date
I have.
I run out of case capacity before I hit pressure. I can’t get pressure signs even if I run super compressed 25gr charges with the 88 jammed into the rifling.
15.5 is pretty slow and I personally believe there’s no load you can do in 223 to hit pressure with it.
While it’s in the same Alliant sub family as AR-Comp And RL16, it’s much closer to RL16 kernel size than AR Comp. Don’t expect great metering. Not Varget bad, but basically the same as RL16.
Despite the lack of pressure, it does seem to have good velocity. My come ups on 88s are back calculating with 600y match conditions at right around 2750fps From a 26” tube with .090 free bore. This is only about 100fps short of what a TR rifle runs with 90s and optimal fb, from what I can tell.
The issue I see is that you end up trying to stuff so much powder in that you can’t really find a good powder node. If it tunes in nicely at 23.8gr or so, you’re well below 2600fps and getting to where 80s are better for midrange.
I have a pile of 88s and only a few 80s, I’ll be switching if I can find A deal on some 80s so that I have the luxury of load development a bit.
Thanks Hohn, appreciate the input!
Now take this with a grain of salt. I’m shooting a 223 Ackley so similar but not identical to the original question. I have personally found them to like it a bit on the slow side. Say about 2650, don’t know why but there they always seem to perform better for me. This is 24.00 gr shooters World Precision (Lovex S062) in
Lapua brass and Remington 7-1/2 seated right on the touch point with a Hornady gauge ( about 20 thou from hard jam). Kreiger 6-1/2 @ 28.25.
This is NOT typical, but possible. Most groups are in the mid 2’s to low 3’s. But still it “competes”.
Lapua brass and Remington 7-1/2 seated right on the touch point with a Hornady gauge ( about 20 thou from hard jam). Kreiger 6-1/2 @ 28.25.
This is NOT typical, but possible. Most groups are in the mid 2’s to low 3’s. But still it “competes”.
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Outstanding username.
Unfortunately time has been scarce. Ive only gone out and done the same with Leverevolution. Playing with the ballistics calc the 88s only make sense for me if I get them going fast enough to have an advantage over 80gr stuff. Still I bought 250 of the 88s on sale, 26c a bullet if I remember. Here's my data looking at pressure and velocity with Lever. Seems I will get the speed but I have yet to shoot any groups with the 88s. Just single rounds of different charges to get an idea of velocity and what the brass looks like.
I have heard that lever needs to be near max to settle in SD/ES wise, well see. Also not sure how much those numbers matter anyway. Bit of an odd pressure change towards the end of my charges. All brass looked good, could go higher.
*this is a 26" 7.5 twist Bartlien, not sure of the freebore bought the gun used. These loads were right around 2.55" COAL. CCI 41 primers, LC brass.
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Whats your load?
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