223 AI, 50 grain bullets and 3031
- Thread starter MLC
- Start date
I don't think that you can get enough 3031 in the case to reach those velocities. A denser powder like WW 748 or H335 would be a better choice.
That is impressive that you could load that much. Do you know the case water capacity? What OAL are you using?
It's 2x Lapua brass necksized.
I measured the internal volume and it is nearly identical to Lake City fire formed brass.
Quickload which lists the capacity at 31 grains of H2O to overflow.
Using a syringe and filling slowly I measured 2 1/8CC's with the Lake City and barely less with the Lapua.
I'm not 100% sure my measurement was accurate so I've been using the QL volume in my workup.
I'm loading them out close to the lands of my chamber which is cut for a 75 amax.
So far I can fit 27.4 grains in the case by using a drop tube and swirling the power around the funnel then tapping the case to compact the grains.
27.4 is just starting to creep up in the neck.
I did have enough light to chronograph them off the deck this evening.
I'm not sure if the broad ES and SD were because of bad readings or a bad load.
FWIW
20" Broughton 5C with a suppressor.
3 shot avg. fps
26.8 3328 ES 23 SD 11
27.2 3349 ES 65 SD 37
27.4 3417 ES 71 SD 36
The ES and SD were higher than I'd like.
It probably won't will shoot well out to 300 but for 1-150 yard hogs it might work.
I could probably get 28 grains in but I agree, a different powder would be better.
335 has given me some issues in the past with heat and humidity in a straight 223.
IMR 8208 might be a good alternative as it has fine grains and will give velocities similar to 3031 and H4895.
I measured the internal volume and it is nearly identical to Lake City fire formed brass.
Quickload which lists the capacity at 31 grains of H2O to overflow.
Using a syringe and filling slowly I measured 2 1/8CC's with the Lake City and barely less with the Lapua.
I'm not 100% sure my measurement was accurate so I've been using the QL volume in my workup.
I'm loading them out close to the lands of my chamber which is cut for a 75 amax.
So far I can fit 27.4 grains in the case by using a drop tube and swirling the power around the funnel then tapping the case to compact the grains.
27.4 is just starting to creep up in the neck.
I did have enough light to chronograph them off the deck this evening.
I'm not sure if the broad ES and SD were because of bad readings or a bad load.
FWIW
20" Broughton 5C with a suppressor.
3 shot avg. fps
26.8 3328 ES 23 SD 11
27.2 3349 ES 65 SD 37
27.4 3417 ES 71 SD 36
The ES and SD were higher than I'd like.
It probably won't will shoot well out to 300 but for 1-150 yard hogs it might work.
I could probably get 28 grains in but I agree, a different powder would be better.
335 has given me some issues in the past with heat and humidity in a straight 223.
IMR 8208 might be a good alternative as it has fine grains and will give velocities similar to 3031 and H4895.
If it can fit in the case and doesn't show pressure, why not? My .223s (std) both are 31 grains water either with Lapua or Winchester brass. You might have 33.0-33.5 capacity. QL still shows low pressure, ~45ksi, at a full case. If the load groups well, the AI brass should last forever at that pressure.
A mere fifty grain bullet will find stout solace backed via a 25.2 grain powerpack of Alliant ReLoder 10x. Just a guess, but a great CCI 450 primered starter load. A standard C.O.L. of 2.250" is expected. Rifling twist will stab the heart of the beast, since 1-in-12" rifling should be the rifling of choice regarding FIFTY grain prowess. Other powder choices include: 26.2 grains of RamShot X-Terminator, and a relatively few other great powder selections. Cliffy
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
MLC said:
The 223AI will do much better than that. Loading to only 3300fps is wasting the potential of that cartridge. With a good barrel-chamber-brass-powder combination, 50's should be doing 3650-3700 even from a 20" barrel. And I wouldn't mess with 3031 anyway, that stuff meters just terrible. Shooting 50's in the 223AI, I've used a whole bunch of AA2015 which is very fast and very accurate.......VV133 is even better.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
MLC said:
You want to get the full potential of this one? No point in settling for less than what it's capable of doing. A pound of powder isn't that expensive. Use what'll make the cartridge do what it's supposed to do.......AA2015 is awesome and VV133 is just magic, either will give top velocity along with unreal accuracy in the AI and also a std. 223. And use good strong brass.....IMI or Lapua Match, maybe Lake City although I've never tried it. We get outstanding performance from this cartridge. People have said it won't do what it does, but they're also not using the same components. Some things just work better than others.
Ackman
Gold $$ Contributor
MLC said:
I've never used quikload, my gun can't read anyway. The 50gr load is
28.0/vv133 = 3825. Brass IMI, Rem 7-1/2BR. Barrel 14" twist, 25" long. Chamber is minimal, 1.765" length, .250"nk, NO freebore. I shoot this load in 100+ degree weather with no signs of overpressure.
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