223 bullet question

[MildBill]

I am curious as to what others have found regarding powder charge weight and different bullets of the same weight.

There may very well not be any sort of trend, but out of curiosity...

I have two different powders (imr 8208 xbr and benchmark) each a different charge weight that shoot extremely well in my 223 with sierra #1345's the 55 grain flat base blitz and equally as well with the #1360 55 gr spt flat base. consistently around a half inch group at 100 yards.

so far, however, I have not been able to identify a charge weight that works with either powder for the #1365 gameking 55 grain spitzer boat tail. And I work up from low to higher with each different bullet because for me safety is #1 no exceptions.

is this likely because it is a boat tail and a whole different can of worms or what?

thanks for any ideas or experiences you can share.

or maybe the questions should be... what should I try different with the boat tails?

 

[mikecr]

Did you do seating tests?

 

[MildBill]

if you mean measure the cartridge over all length with the different bullets to tough the lands and adjust seating depth accordingly

yes I have.

typically will start and 30 thousandths off the lands and work from there, it that does not work will try 20 thousandths off and 15 off.

I am loading for hunting loads and hope to be able to keep them out of the lands for ease of load and unload.

 

[pacificman]

Seems there are rifles that will shoot only one or two bullets real well while the one bullet you want to use just won't shoot no matter how many primers/powders you try! : ;D I have been through this a few times and yes it can be frustrating. I think the right powder/primer combo is out there but you may have to put a lot time and rounds through the barrel to find it. With the accuracy you are getting now I think I would save wear on the barrel and shoot what your rifle likes.

 

[bheadboy]

Spitzer boat tails are generally longer over all than the flat base of the same weight.

the length of the bullet being longer requires a slightly faster twist.

I would think you find the Sierrs 55 gr Blitzking takes a faster twist thn the 55gr Blitz.

if you have a 14 twist that could be the problem, if a 12 it should not be a problem

Bob

 

[MildBill]

it is a 12 twist

 

[bheadboy]

it seems you are doing the normal things, seating depth changes, etc, I would think at this point you would take the powder out of the equasion,

Try h335, Blc2, h4895, with the boat tail and see what happens withabout .020 jump.

also try 7 1/2 primers
Bob

 

[MildBill]

I do like Rem 7 1/2's

thanks

 

[pacificman]

I agree with bheadboy and would also consider H322 and RL-10x if you can find some to try.

 

[K22]

I have several 223 bolt rifles of different brands, all 12" twists. With the 55 grain bullets, H / IMR 4895 works quite well with all of them especially with Federal 205 match or Remington 7 1/2 primers.

Another powder that work exceptionally well with 55 grain bullets is H335.

 

[mac86951]

Without giving direct advice on loading, my experience is yes I often have many different loads for bullets of same weight different style, and even same weight, same style but different manufacturers.

Example: 223 with 77gr Berger != 77gr Sierra Matchking != 77gr Nosler. Interesting that the 75gr Hornady load is very near the 77gr SMK load, and the 77gr JLK CO bullet is hotter than any of the above.

I have been happy with Federal 205M, or Rem 7/12 in a pinch. In the above cases, all were loaded to 2.260" (for mag feeding).

-Mac

 

[brainiac]

I have a 12 twist 223 that won't shoot a 55 boattail of any kind. 40's no problem. It shoots 55 flat base well but nothing heavier than that. Tried Varget, Benchmark, CFE223, IMR 4895 and three different primers all to no avail with 50gr boattails and just couldn't make it work. Some guns are picky